Parish Pastoral Plan
The Parish Pastoral Plan has three objectives:
- Mission - Evangelisation of people of all ages and every culture, through helping the poor, the disadvantaged and the marginalised.
- Prayer - to enable every parishioner from infancy to old age to worship God through participation in the Mass, the Sacraments, and other devotions.
- Formation - to promote programmes for adults, youth and children that deepen understanding and experience of faith.
1. Mission
- Promote evangelisation by programmes that transmit the Faith and reach out to all.
- Explore the sociological needs of the wider Guildford community, reaching out especially to the disadvantaged and to new arrivals.
- Review and expand outreach opportunities that support children and families across the Guildford area.
- Build a strong parish St Vincent De Paul Society community.
- Build a bereavement group.
- Develop Ecumenical relationships to encourage fellowship.
2. Prayer
- Promote participation in Devotions, Eucharistic Adoration and Sacraments.
- Encourage participation in and hosting of Diocesan activities.
- Develop and implement family-friendly, child and youth opportunities for worship.
- Review the Mass environment of each church to ensure the disadvantaged, newcomers and latecomers are welcomed and facilitated.
- Seek out the elderly and the housebound to facilitate their access to the Sacraments.
- Review, improve and expand community-building and inter-community activities.
- Develop and facilitate study and home groups across the Parish.
- Develop teams to actively welcome and support newcomers and regulars.
- Expand post-Mass gatherings of communities.
- Increase awareness among parishioners of a pro-life issues from conception through to natural death, enabling them to proclaim the teaching of the Church.
3. Formation
- Provide training for readers, extraordinary ministers and musicians.
- Design and host programmes of retreats and study days for adults.
- Adopt and develop programmes which encourage children, youth and parents to feel positive about being part of a Catholic community.
- Deepen relationships with local Catholic schools, proposing and serving as Governors, encouraging teachers, and supporting non-curricular activities.