Our primary mission is to share the great Jesus story
We call it Mission Hope and as a parish we have agreed to focus our resources on this – reaching out to young adults and families. The Finance Committee and Council of Advisors agreed to use the Parish’s financial resources to employ a small team to work with Deacon Stephen to make this a reality. Explore the groups we have set up and the ways in which we are helping.
Called for More - a group for young adults
Young adults are a difficult group to pin down! We started with this group meeting regularly each Friday evening, but work shifts and better offers kept getting in the way! We have decided to keep this group fairly loose and arrange meet-ups for events such as fun-runs, day pilgrimages, praise and worship evenings, and days out rather than regular meetings. Join our Facebook page to find out when the next event is and contact Mary Ann Enriquez or Claire Duffield to join this group.
Family of Faith - a group for families
This group is an opportunity for families to meet other families, build community, pray, and grow together. It provides an opportunity for parents to grow in their own faith and give them the tools and encouragement to live it and teach it to their children. This group meets once a month on a Saturday afternoon. There is a shared lunch and then a short input session about our faith, usually linked to the time of year, to make it purposeful to the children, and then activities linked to the input. It has been exciting to see this group grow and make links outside of the session we hold at church. Contact Mary Ann Enriquez or Claire Duffield to be included in mailing for this group.
Pilgrimages
Time to take a step back from daily life, set out to meet others get an experience of the wider Church, find out more about our faith, discover and praise God through the beauty of His creation. In the Autumn we have a pilgrimage to Walsingham, to visit Our Lady’s Shrine. We have also supported parishioners to go to Lourdes with the Diocesan Pilgrimage.
Warm spaces
For the past couple of years we have run a warm space every Thursday lunchtime at St Thomas More, providing lunch, wifi, support, company, and a warm space for anyone who needs it. Initially we thought this would be taken up by those experiencing financial hardship in our community, however as time has gone on, we have realised that this is a valuable time and space for those who are living alone to meet and relax in the company of others.
Pastoral visiting
We have a number of ill and housebound people in the parish. Visiting these people and taking them Holy Communion is an important task. Many people feel isolated when they cannot get out of the house. When someone takes the time to visit and talk it can remind them of their dignity as a member of the community who is loved and valued.
Project Galilee
With the closure of St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Lewes and the Bishop’s Diocesan Plan we have plans within our cluster to take over the St Pancras School site and use it as a Mission Hub for our new Parish of Lewes. It is a great central location in the new parish and will allow us to all pool resources for formation, prayer, and other events. Find out more
“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” – Mother Teresa