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ECUMENISM & SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Justice and Peace GroupStarted in 1989, the group gives focus to areas of social injustice both at home and abroad and works to highlight ways in which the Parish community can respond. The group meets every two weeks. Topics emerge through discussion and reflection and often follow campaigns being promoted by CAFOD or the World Development Movement. Recently, the group has publicised the Jubilee 2000 campaign against Third World Debt, including the human chain demonstrations in London and Cologne and sending postcards to the Japanese ambassador in preparation for the G8 summit in Japan. The group is also responsible for recommending the projects that receive a target amount through the Red Box collection - a monthly retiring collection which is well supported by the Parish. At Christmas, they support the Amnesty International Christmas card campaign, by encouraging parishioners to send Christmas cards to prisoners of conscience.
Churches Together in Sydenham and Forest HillAn ecumenical Christian group comprising Christian Churches in Forest Hill and Sydenham - Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ichthus, Methodist, Society of Friends and URC. Each Church has representatives who attend planning meetings. The group now operates in two sub-divisions, Sydenham and Forest Hill. The main principle is to promote co-operation between the Churches in the areas in which they can work and pray together. The main group meets about twice a year, and the sub- groups about once every 10 weeks. Several member churches run Alpha courses or groups. The Voluntary Care Centre in Sydenham was set up by its predecessor. Churches Together organises ecumenical services from time to time, notably during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January and at Pentecost. Our parish representative is .
The Knights of St Columba is the largest organisation for Catholic Men in the UK. It serves the Church and fellow men in charity, unity and fraternity. Council 472 was formed in 1952 and covers the parishes of Forest Hill, Sydenham, Kirkdale, Catford, Lewisham and Downham. The Order exists to support the mission of the Catholic Church, whilst also working for the spiritual, intellectual and material welfare of its members and their families.
Council meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month except August.
ACTS Credit Union was founded in 1992 by the 22 Christian Churches which belong to the Association of Churches Together in Sydenham and Forest Hill. Following an audit of the needs of the community, they decided to do something practical by trying to help both those who did not have access to any form of credit and those who did, but at exorbitant interest rates - ACTS Credit Union was born. It is a non-profit making financial co-operative run by its members for the benefit of the Community. It has been established in our parish for about two years. Aims and Objectives Members may save on a regular basis and take out loans at a low rate of interest. Current Activities ACTS Credit Union is active and open for parish members to join. Juniors are also encouraged to join and save.
Parish Administrative AssistantThe parish has recently appointed Andrea Dyer to a new post of Parish Administrative Assistant. Andrea was appointed in late 2002 following an open recruitment exercise and takes over from Marion Wilkes, who served the parish as secretary almost since Fr. Patrick arrived. Andrea works on a part time basis, for 16 hours a week, based in the parish office. She works Monday and Tuesday mornings and all day on Thursday providing essential administrative support to help the Parish run smoothly. Her main activities cover: Keeping the parish records Answering correspondence and taking phone messages etc Preparing the weekly newsletter and inserts Preparing information leaflets . Organising rotas for Ministers, readers and servers Preparing parish certificates (baptisms etc) Accounts monitoring and monthly bank statement reconciliation General typing, copying and filing Providing general administrative support
How do I get involved?Although we have an employed administrative assistant there are still jobs to do! If you think you could offer service in the Parish in an informal administrative capacity, to complement the work done by Andrea, please contact the Chair of the Finance Committee.
Finance CommitteeThe Finance Committee was formally established in 1999 under the "stewardship" responsibility within the Parish Pastoral Forum. It is a consultative body for Fr Patrick, whose members are appointed by him. Its function is to assist and support him in the administration of the assets of the Parish. It fulfils the requirements of Canon Law that the Parish Priest should share the burden of administration of the goods of the Parish with at least two other members of the Parish community. The Committee is chaired by Peter Swift, the Stewardship Representative on the Parish Pastoral Forum. The Committee meets three times a year, to consider the financial outcomes of the previous year, the mid-year results of spending against budget, and the budget for the following vear. The Committee also discusses the repairs and maintenance work needed for the church building and parish house and the Parish covenant scheme, and any other financial matters referred to it by the Parish Pastoral Forum. Financial issues are flagged up from time to time in the Stewardship Section of the PPF noticeboards in the Narthex.
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