The Catholic community in Spalding is preparing for a parish mission. It is 21 years since the last mission took place, and it is was felt it was about time to have another.
A lot has happened since the last Mission – not least the construction of a new church complex, which was completed in 2004. Ten years ago saw the departure of the Norbertine Fathers, who served Spalding since 1784; because of the shortage of priests available, the parish was handed over to the Diocese of Nottingham, and Fr. Jim
Burke was appointed to be the first diocesan priest to serve both Spalding and Holbeach parishes.
The parish has required some major repairs, and still does. In addition to the ongoing repairs, 2013 saw the creation of a parish office and the complete refitting of the sacristy (vestry).
Fr. Jim told us: “A parish mission is intended to encourage parishioners to take time out of our everyday, work-a-day lives and stop to ponder the direction of our lives and where we are in relationship with God and the Church”.
The mission will begin on June 11 in St Norbert’s Catholic Primary School. The children, staff and governors will be taking part in various activities, services and workshops throughout the entire week. It is hoped parents will join in some of the services. It is six years since the first school mission, which was a resounding success.
On a personal note, the mission rekindled in me a much deeper understanding of my own faith and beliefs. It made me reach deep into my heart and reflect on what life really meant and what were the most important values and beliefs.
The leaders were lovely even when I resorted to tears when the mission was over. It was like a piece of my heart was leaving with them as they had really touched me deeply.
There are moments and memories in life that forever stay in your mind and heart, the school mission was one of those.
The impact they had on the spirituality and faith of staff and children was truly amazing.
The school mission will finish on June 15.
The following day the ‘visiting team’ will arrive and they will spend a week visiting Catholic homes in the parish – inviting them to take part in the third and final week of the mission – The Celebration Week.
The Celebration Team arrive on June 23 and there will be a number of Mission Evening Services throughout the week culminating in a closing Mission Mass at which Bishop Patrick McKinney will be the principal celebrant.
The theme chosen for the mission is ‘One Family in Christ’ to reflect the cultural diversity of the parish community.
Fr Jim is assisted by the parish deacon, Rev Dennis Brady. The Polish Catholic community are served by Fr Stanislaw Kowalski and Fr Daniel Glocko, and the parish also offers a Syro-Malabar Mass and a Lithuanian Mass, both on a monthly basis.
The mission will be led by the Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism, based in Brentwood, Essex. The Mission Priest, Fr Ged Kelly, has written to parishioners to say how much he and the teams working with him are looking forward to their visit to Spalding and to encourage them to participate fully in the mission programme.
Mary Hurst, the Parish Mission Co-ordinator, extends an invitation to anyone who would like to participate in the mission to get in touch, or to come along to any of the services. We welcome enquiries, whatever religious denomination or none – you are welcome to attend the mission services – or if you want to talk in confidence to any of the mission team, receive a visit at home – just contact the parish office on 01775 722056, and we will be glad to hear from you. You can send us an email to: [email protected] – and you can visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.
Mannii Pinnick
Mission Publicity Coordinator
