PARISH GROUPS
Initial contact for any of the following groups should be through the Presbytery/Parish Office. For contact details, please follow this link
Some groups or activities which are temporarily not running are included here so that they could prompt readers/parishioners for their attention/activation in future. * =Not currently active
DESCRIPTIONS
Serve regularly at either the Sunday morning or evening Masses and also should be willing to serve at major Church festivals such as Easter and Christmas.
Full instruction and training is provided.
meets usually every month, for one hour, and explores a topic which is selected previously or is presented at the beginning of a meeting. The purpose of the group is to deepen each one's faith and their knowledge from the insights of others through subsequent discussion and summaries. Joint prayer binds and reinforces the total experience of the group.
The Catholic Student Society is here to help and support the students during their time at Sunderland University. Our numbers fluctuate from one year to the next, however, the different students who start out as complete strangers become good and firm friends over the following few months. We have had students from various countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and from the USA, We usually meet on Sundays at 7.30, after the 6.30. Mass, in the Parish Centre. It is hoped that the students will set the agenda for the term, and so, as well as merely meeting to chat and relax with one another we have regular trips to restaurants the cinema, bowling, football, days out and retreats, and naturally the pub. The students are encouraged to help out with the parish confirmation programme.
is an international brotherhood of catholic men who meet socially, at least once a month, at local branches or 'circles'
Joining the association gives you the chance to:
Meet other catholic men with similar values
Become part of a community offering lifelong support and friendship. Become part of a group that helps each other and their families in all aspects of life.
Provide your family with opportunities for friendship and social activity,
Membership requirements are:
You must be male and over 21 years old.
You must be, and remain, a practising member of the Catholic Church.
If you would like to have the opportunity to meet other catholic men and to build a lifelong friendship with both them and their families, then come and meet us and see how we can enrich your lives and you can enrich ours.
A catechist is a member of the parish community who works with individuals or groups of adults, young people or children who wish to learn more about the faith usually by following one of the rites and/or programmes offered by the church: e.g. R.C.I.A., baptism, confirmation, marriage, etc.
In their work catechists enable this growth in Faith through discussion, instruction and worship, but most importantly, they share their own faith with others. We are all catechists. We as Christians should strive to witness to our faith through our lifestyle. Parents and teachers are certainly natural catechists, but training and courses are offered in order to help us in our confidence and to widen the material and its presentation that we offer to one another about our faith.
is held during the 11 a.m. Mass on most Sundays and aims to present the message of the gospel of the day for children to understand. We have resources to follow with ideas for activities such as writing a prayer or colouring a picture. A leader talks with the children and two helpers assist preparing the activity, meeting up half an hour before Mass starts. We need leaders and helpers to get a rota taking turns hopefully once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Special skills such as 'Blue Peter' badges are not necessary but all adults will be asked for references to comply with child protection guidelines
This celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation , is run jointly between the parishes of St Mary's and St Cecilia's. Each parish provides catechists. The children are mainly from Year 8 and from the schools of St Anthony and St Aidan. The programme lasts for about five weeks and the last session is normally an 'away day'. Parents are invited to be involved and training is given encourage them to help fully in this key time for their children's spiritual growth. All of the catechists who have been involved in the past have found this a very rewarding experience and a growing period in their own on-going faith journey.
Counting Teams count and account for the collections and specialized appeals such as Missions, Education, Cafod Penny Pyramids or Cans.
Ministers distribute the Body and Blood at all Masses at St Mary's and the Convent. They also visit sick parishioners in their homes, residential unit or in hospital. . To be commissioned, would-be Ministers attend a course and after being commissioned (which is renewed yearly) they are also asked to attend occasional Days or Half-Days of Recollection or Retreat.
Here is an opportunity for anyone interested in these hugely important issues to start a group in the parish or to become involved in the plans to extend FAIRTRADE opportunities and the activities and support for groups in Sunderland.
The inaugural meeting of the Parish Finance Committee for St Mary's Parish took place in February 1993. The Committee was set up to comply with Canon 537, which states that every Parish must have a Finance Committee. In English Charity Law the parish priest is the agent of the Diocesan Trustees, and in administering parish finances and property, must abide by their instructions. The Parish Finance Committee exists to help the parish priest to fulfil his obligations to the Trustees. The Committee usually has three meetings in the course of a year, to consider the budget and the accounts and to measure progress in relation to the budget.
No qualifications necessary but a love of flowers helps! Presently two ladies are working alternate weeks. Flowers are ideally arranged on Saturdays but can be done Fridays. Extra help is always needed at Easter and Christmas
Each week a small and dedicated group fold each newsletter by arrangement or usually after 12.05 Mass on Saturday. They would welcome any volunteers – the total task usually takes about forty minutes.
Not currently active. Used to play fortnightly at 11 a.m. Mass. Keyboard, guitar, flute or similar instruments used. Practices usually before Mass at around 10.30 a.m. The activities and frequency varied occasionally due to other (seasonal) commitments of the players.
Lay Leaders are commissioned to lead Eucharistic services in the absence of a priest. Eucharistic, or Communion Services, are in fact long established in the Church. In the not too distant past, on Holydays, there was a communion service before the first Mass in St Mary's for those starting work early.
Eucharistic Services do not, clearly, take the place of Mass, but are linked to the Mass through the Eucharist itself. As the number of priests declines, Eucharistic Services will become more prevalent and essential to enable us to receive Communion regularly.
Members meet for prayer and service. Works include door-to-door evangelisation, parishioner visitation, visitation of the sick or aged, visiting the newly baptized, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. The Legion usually meets weekly.
Marriage Preparation is offered to all couples who marry in St Mary's. Couples are encouraged to explore their own relationship in order to understand how it works and to identify possible issues which may create problems for them in the future. They also learn basic communication skills so that they can deal with these problems effectively. Couples enjoy the luxury of focusing on each other rather than wedding arrangements and setting up home. The course also enables them to receive support from others when they share their experiences with one another.
Our Over 60's club meet every Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Parish Centre. We offer companionship with tea, coffee and biscuits followed by Bingo and a prize Raffle, On certain weeks speakers are invited, and demonstrations are on offer also, Each year members enjoy a birthday party, a Summer outing and a special Christmas dinner New members will be assured of a very warm welcome, and a chance to make new friends.
Meets term-time Thursday mornings 9.45 to 11.45 in the Parish Centre. It has been in existence for many years but always welcomes new members no matter how short the stay. There is a nominal charge. The age range is from young babies to starting school – parents, grandparents, guardians welcome.
The Parish Pastoral Council represents our worshipping, missionary community of St Mary's in Sunderland. It seeks to serve the families, children, young people, the aged, the poor, and the needy in the parish of St Mary's. It seeks to be sensitive to civic and political life, to work and industry, Christian unity and the world at large, all in the name of Jesus Christ. All parishioners are welcome to the meetings which are held every two months, or raise issues through a note to the Council Chairperson.
Parishes throughout the Diocese are linked together in Pastoral Area Councils with St Mary's, St Cecilia's, St Leonard's and St Patrick's, Ryhope, forming the Sunderland South Pastoral Area. Each parish is represented by the clergy of the parish and two lay people:
The purpose of Pastoral Area Councils is: to help each parish to develop lay leadership and to involve as many people as possible in taking some responsibility for the affairs of the parish: to enable parishes to initiate joint action where and when appropriate: to prepare for a time when we may no longer have a resident priest in every parish and to enrich and extend the mission of the Church.
The stall stocks religious cards, gifts and a small selection of books. At present it is only open before and after 11 am Sunday Mass and Monday's and Tuesday's mid-day Mass.
If more helpers were available the Stall could also open at other times.
at Mass are responsible for reading the 1st and 2nd readings, the Psalm and Bidding Prayers.
We have a rota for readers for the Sunday Masses, and currently each person reads approximately every 4 to 6 weeks. Instruction and practice is available to anyone who may be interested in becoming a Reader
The Sacraments are an important part of our Catholic life.
Preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist and Marriage is undertaken within our Parish by various catechists and helpers, all of whom would appreciate further support.
has a very strong choral tradition and there has been a choir attached to the Church since its opening in 1835.
The present choir sings each Sunday at 6.30 p.m. Solemn Mass and at important feasts. We would welcome new members, especially those with choral experience and those who are able to read music. Rehearsals take place after Benediction each Friday (6.40 – 7.30 ) in the Gallery.
A group of people dedicated to organising social events in the parish. All proceeds go towards the parish or charities. The group needs more people who are willing to give up their time to help in various ways, especially those who may have bright ideas for future events. Why not come along to one of their meetings and find out what it's all about?
The SVP is there to serve Christ's poor effectively in these changing times. Membership is open to all Christians of all ages and of both sexes, who have the will to commit themselves to active personal service in the society's works of charity. The society needs people of all ages from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, because the needy are themselves from all walks of life. In St Mary's we meet usually every 2 weeks. If you are interested, YOU ARE NEEDED. You will be serving God. You will be helping the needy.
You will be working with a dedicated group of Christians.
extend a warm friendly greeting to people arriving for the Sunday morning and evening Masses. More are needed to carry out this important role as the "welcomer" may be the first person a stranger to St Mary's Church will see and talk with.
