The Home Groups were started in St Joseph’s in 1998 and are open to all in the Guildford Parish of Guildford. They provide members with an opportunity to deepen their faith and experience a greater reality of Christian family as a complement to their weekly attendance at Mass.  Many members are also involved in other ministries and voluntary activities in the Parish. There are over 100 parishioners in five Home Groups and the membership covers a wide age range with both married couples and singles.

The Home Groups meet fortnightly on Thursday evenings during term time, mostly in members’ homes; there are usually a couple of joint meetings in the hall with visiting speakers from time to time.  The programme follows a theme each term with opportunities for discussion and sharing as well as socialising. Meeting dates are published in the Parish weekly newsletter with contact details to get more information.

Outside of the regular meetings, there are social events – pub evenings, walks, cinema, etc.

Members of the Home Groups are also involved in voluntary work in the Parish and the community.  There are two teams which clean the church on a monthly basis. We also run a team for a local organisation called Besom which, in conjunction with Social Services, decorates homes and clears overgrown gardens of people who are unable to do this for themselves.  Many local churches are involved with Besom and the Home Groups team operates once a term, ie, three times a year.

Joining the Home Groups is a great way of meeting new people and you would be very welcome to come and see for yourself.  For more information, contact Peter Charlwood on peter@charlwood.org or Peter Rockhill by phone on ​07964 451197.