As many parishioners will know, back in 2019 our three parishes set out on our ‘maintenance to mission journey’. The pandemic slowed us down, but we are now making plans to try to get back on track. We have made decent progress during the past few years, not least the regular Alpha courses and the Connect Groups that have been formed following Alpha. However, there is so much more to do.

Divine Renovation (DR) UK, who have provided support and resources to us since the start of our journey, are holding their first UK Conference since the pandemic. It is called the Catholic Parish Summit and will take place in Harrogate (Yorkshire) from 12 to 14 June. This is an important event which offers the opportunity to be equipped with tools and resources to help us, as a Cluster, on our journey, as well as to connect with others on the maintenance to mission journey and share ideas. We will benefit from it in the longer term as we have done from a previous such event in 2019.

I will be going to Harrogate with 5 parishioners – Eileen Lewis, Libby Marshall, Gerry Mulvenna, Margareta Tan and John Whitlock. A few years ago, we were given a substantial donation that was to be used for ongoing faith formation and it is this fund that we will use for Harrogate.

Can I please ask that you pray for us and the success of the gathering in Harrogate, and that you also pray for our parishes as we continue to journey forward together in faith.

If you are new to our faith communities and would like to know more about our maintenance to mission journey and Divine Renovation, please let me know.

Fr Alex