St. Teresa of the Child Jesus
  • Home
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Documents
  • Parish Groups
  • Gallery
  • Links
  • Contact us
  • RCIA
  • Safeguarding
Roman Catholic Church in Morden, Surrey

Vatican issues new guidelines for parishes: 5 things you need to know

25/7/2020

 
New guidelines for Parishes and Dioceses have been issued by the Vatican.
A close look at this new 22 page document will be summer reading for all our Bishops. Early reading of it to help guide our Vision for St. Teresa’s is a must. These are some of the main points that catch the eye. 
Pope Francis with pilgrims from the Italian dioceses of Bologna and Cesena-Sarsina in St. Peter's Square, April 21, 2018.
Denver Newsroom, Jul 20, 2020 / 01:20 pm MT (CNA.- The Congregation for Clergy on Monday published new guidelines for the world's parishes, which aim to encourage parishes to think of themselves as missionary communities of evangelisation.
The guidelines do not publish new norms or policies for parish life, but they do encourage Catholics to think prayerfully about what their parishes are, and what they’re for.
Here are a few themes and takeaways:
The parish is mission.
The guidelines offer parishes "a call to go out of themselves, offering instruments for reform, even structural, in a spirit of communion and collaboration, of encounter and closeness, of mercy and solicitude for the proclamation of the Gospel."
"Since its inception, the Parish is envisioned as a response to a precise pastoral need, namely that of bringing the Gospel to the People through the proclamation of the faith and the celebration of the Sacraments," the document says.
To meet its mission, "a renewed vitality is required that favours the rediscovery of the vocation of the baptised as a disciple of Jesus Christ and a missionary of the Gospel." Especially in parts of the world where many people do not know or practice the faith, the document encourages parishes to
discern how to think of themselves as missionary communities, and how to focus on proclaiming the Gospel to all who will hear.
The Eucharist and the poor should be central to parish life.
"The celebration of the Eucharistic mystery is 'the source and summit of the whole Christian life' and accordingly, the essential moment for building up the Parish community," the guidelines instruct.
The Mass should be the centre of parish life, the document says, and the place from which the parish receives its mission. In the Mass, the parish "welcomes the living presence of the Crucified and Risen Lord, receiving the announcement of the entire mystery of salvation.”
And, the document says, the poor should be invited to the heart of parish life.
"A 'sanctuary' open to all, the Parish, called to reach out to everyone, without exception, should remember that the poor and excluded must always have a privileged place in the heart of the Church," the document says.
"The Parish community evangelises and is evangelised by the poor, discovering anew the call to preach the Word in all settings, whilst recalling the 'supreme law' of charity, by which we shall all be judged."
Territoriality matters, but can't be a limit.
Most parishes are defined by territory. With few exceptions, a parish is, properly speaking, the communion of the baptised within the limits of a certain territory, which is defined by the bishop. In the West, that concept has mostly been forgotten, Catholics tend to go to Mass at the parish where they feel most welcomed or fed, and despite encouragement from some bishops, many Sunday Mass-goers don't know about parish boundaries.
The Congregation for Clergy's guidelines recognise that reality. “Increased mobility and the digital culture have expanded the confines of existence," the guidelines state, "people are less associated today with a definite and immutable geographical context, and digital culture has inevitably altered the concept of space, together with people's language and behaviour, especially in younger generations."
But the document insists that territoriality matters. That "interpersonal relationships risk being dissolved into a virtual world without any commitment or responsibility towards one's neighbour."
The parish is not a self-selected or self-defined community, but a set of people with obligations to each other, and the guidelines warn against losing that sense.
Because the parish is intended to encourage in neighbours a sense of Christian responsibility for one another, the document is clear that parishes building plans for evangelisation and missionary work must take into account "those who actually live within the territory. Every plan must be situated within the lived experience of a community and implanted in it without causing harm, with a necessary phase of prior consultation, and of progressive implementation and verification."
Still, the guidelines say, a parish's mission doesn't end at its territorial boundaries. In light of a changing world, "any pastoral action that is limited to the territory of the Parish is outdated."
In short, the guidelines urge Catholics to think of their parishes as a community, with obligations of neighbours to one another, who share a mission to proclaim the Gospel, together, beyond the limits of their own community.
Structures are for mission, but bureaucracy kills.
The guidelines emphasise that while the parish needs policies, programs, and structures to fulfil its mission, it must "avoid the risk of falling into an excessive and bureaucratic organisation of events and an offering of services that do not express the dynamic of evangelisation."
To overcome a tendency towards bureaucratisation and formalisation of the Church's sacramental and catechetical life "conversion of structures, which the Church must undertake, requires a significant change in mentality and an interior renewal, especially among those entrusted with the responsibility of pastoral leadership."
The guidelines also urge dioceses to consider developing new structures and roles that can coordinate activity between parishes, especially those in close geographic proximity to each other.
Responsibility for the parish mission belongs to everyone, but each has a role to play.
The document emphasises the co-responsibility of clergy, religious, and laity for the mission of the parish in the world. But the document also emphasises that each person work for the Kingdom in the role to which he is called by baptism and vocation.
The guidelines emphasise that the parish pastor is entrusted with the full "care of souls" in the parish, a role unique to priests.
The document acknowledges a canonical provision that allows lay people to be entrusted with pastoral care in a parish because of a shortage of priests, but emphasises that such a situation should be rare, and "a temporary and not a permanent measure," that can only be used when there is a true lack of priests.
"We are dealing here with an extraordinary form of entrusting pastoral care, due to the impossibility of appointing a Parish Priest or a Parish Administrator, which is not to be confused with the ordinary active cooperation of the lay faithful in assuming their responsibilities."
"Furthermore, it would be preferable to appoint one or more deacons over consecrated men and women or laypersons for directing this kind of pastoral care," the guidelines suggest.
The document takes care to urge against the "clericalisation of the laity" so frequently warned about by Pope Francis, in which laity are urged to take up roles more typically occupied by priests.
At the same, the document says that laity are called to give their lives to the mission of the Gospel and the work of the Church.
Laity are called "to make a generous commitment to the service of the mission of evangelisation, first of all through the general witness of their daily lives, lived in conformity with the Gospel, in whatever environment they are in and at every level of responsibility; in a particular way, they are called to place themselves at the service of the Parish community."
The guidelines also encourage a vision of deacons as ministers of service, rather than as assistants to parish priests, and of religious men and women as contributors to the evangelising mission of a parish through the witness of their religious consecration.
"Outgoing Dynamism."
The guidelines conclude with a call for "outgoing dynamism" that directs parishes toward an evangelising mission, the task of the entire People of God, that walks through history as the "family of God" and that, in the synergy of its diverse members, labours for the growth of the entire ecclesial body.
It urges that "the Parish might rediscover itself as a fundamental place of evangelical proclamation, of the celebration of the Eucharist, a place of fraternity and charity, from which Christian witness can shine for the world.” 
Picture
Pope Francis’ Five-Finger Prayer:
Using the fingers on your hand, start with the thumb and pray these intentions in order:
Picture

May They Rest in Peace

25/7/2020

 
  • EDWARD PATRICK O’NEIL R.I.P. Funeral Mass: Thursday 30th July 10.30a.m.
  • ERIKA BERTA MATIN R.I.P. Funeral Mass: Wednesday 5th August 10a.m.
    The O’Neil family gather this Thursday to lay to rest a much-loved member of the family. Our Requiem Mass starts at 10.30a.m. on Thursday. Eddie was father to five children. His wife Rosemary was called to Eternal Life back in 2009. They were blessed with wonderful grandchildren. The family were close friend with Fr. Joe Gill. Baptisms, weddings and other special moments in the O’Neil family were lived out here at St. Teresa’s. Eddie left for Paradise from his family home with his family around him. His call to meet our Heavenly Father came on 10th July, in his 82nd year.
    May He Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
    Erika Matin expressed a wish to leave life on earth as a Catholic. Her daughter, Anita, and her son- in-law are honouring her wishes. Her funeral Mass will be at 10.a.m. on Wednesday 5th August. Her parents were Swiss. Erika was born in Furtwangen in the heart of The Black Forest in Germany. Erika’s parents blessed her with eight brothers and sisters. In the 1930’s/1940’s she had to ski to school through the forest and mountains in winter. She is survived by two brothers and one sister, living in Germany.
    With her husband Abdul, she settled in London in 1961. He was an author and international journalist. We keep Erika and her husband Abdul in our prayers and send out a blessing to all branches of the family.
    May She Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
    Lord Jesus, we love you and wish to prayerfully remember all our loved ones and friends who have been called to Eternal Life. Our parish wishes to reach out to one and all. Please give them comfort and hope and may they be at peace knowing that they will rest in God’s arms eternally.
    Thank you for our sweet memories of them and for the good times we shared. Without hesitation we commend their holy souls to your Mercy. We keep them in prayer, in love and ask Our Blessed mother to intercede for them. May they reach their Heavenly destination. May we too stay close to You and may our soul in a state of Grace reach its final resting place. Amen.

To all parents of children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion

25/7/2020

 

St. Teresa’s Parish General Protocols

18/7/2020

 
The Cardinal and the Archbishop wish to reassure you that THE DISPENATION of the faithful from the obligation to attend SUNDAY MASS remains in place for the time being. NO ONE IS OBLIGED to attend Holy Mass whilst dispensation is in effect.
  • All Sunday and Weekday Masses will continue to be Streamed Live on the Internet via the usual link.
  • Attendees and volunteers from demographic groups at a greater risk of serious illness, such as people 65 years of age or older and individuals with chronic medical conditions, are encouraged to stay safe by avoiding public gatherings, but are not prohibited from attending Mass if they so choose.
  • Anyone attending Mass does so at their own risk.
  • All attendees are strongly encouraged to wear a mask before entering the church, until they leave. Each person should bring their own masks.
  • Another reminder: ANYONE who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain home.
  • THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY, (at this time), at Holy Mass is JUST 40 to be compliant
    with physical distancing guidelines issued by The Bishop’s Conference and the Government
  • Until further notice: Our Parish will adopt a FIRST COME, FIRST-SERVED approach at all our Masses.
  • Please watch out for signage. Separate points of entry and exit will be clearly designated.
  • We are required to keep a register of all attendees. So please put your name, address, contact telephone number, email address (if applicable) and the Mass you are attending on a piece of paper which you will hand in on entrance to the church.
  • All attendees will be directed to their own special seat so as to monitor occupancy.
  • Two benches will be designated for families.
  • Infants and children should remain with their parents AT ALL TIMES.
  • It is O.K. to wear disposable gloves. Those cleaning or altar cloths, replenishing candles or handling the parish collection should wear disposable gloves.
  • We will have one point of entry in order to control the number of people entering. Once the maximum number of attendees is reached, no one else will be allowed entry.
  • Doors will be locked until 25 minutes before Mass begins.
  • If weather permits, all doors will be propped open before Mass as you arrive so that you do not need to touch the handles or doors to enter.
  • At the end of Mass, exits will be signposted and indicated by the parish priest to expedite the guided departure and minimise chances of people encountering one another. In all cases, PHYSICAL DISTANCING MUST BE OBSERVED.
  • I will be delighted to see you back, but please note that I must refrain from greeting you personally at the end of Mass. I must not impede or delay the orderly and rapid departure of you and your family.
  • The Parish Church is closed at the end of each Mass for a special cleaning. Our thanks to the parish team.
  • Please be aware that there will be NO toilet facilities.

Mass at St. Teresa’s

18/7/2020

 
Over the past few weeks our Parish and many others have worked diligently to implement the health and safety protocols necessary to welcome back our congregations.
I am truly grateful to our Parish Reopening Team. They have made it possible for us to go from private prayer to the public celebration of Holy Mass.
At this time, we are limited to 40 attendees per Mass. Our thanks to our parishioners for their patience and the responsibility they have shown to others attending Holy Mass. The pandemic is still with us and so the following guidelines are still in place.

<<Previous

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    March 2013
    December 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Registered charity number in England: 1173050
  • Home
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Documents
  • Parish Groups
  • Gallery
  • Links
  • Contact us
  • RCIA
  • Safeguarding