Let the word of Christ in all its richness find a home in you.
(Colossians 3:16)
CEF’s activities for and in parishes
A Question of Faith
CEF’s newest initiative is A Question of Faith which was first held in October 2009 in Wanstead.
These events have a similarity with BBC’s Question Time, in that an audience is able to ask questions of a panel, and the event is held in various places in order to give as many people access to it as possible.
The questions are on living the Catholic faith, and generally come under four topics: moral issues and quandaries, theology and scripture, the Church and its history, and the Church in today’s world. In the A Question of Faith evenings held so far, there have been questions about human suffering, child abuse, the revised Roman Missal, the history of the Church, the liturgy, the Ordinariate and many other issues.
The panel is made up of priests and lay Catholics and the evening is moderated to allow a maximum number of questions to be answered.
Drinks and nibbles make for a lively and enjoyable evening which is free of charge to participants. Look under the Events Tab or CEF Events to see if there is A Question of Faith evening planned soon near your parish, or ask your priest to contact us if he would like to host such an event.
Take and Read
Since the Second Vatican Council we have been encouraged to read and pray the Scriptures as never before. CEF's director, Fr Adrian Graffy is one of the authors and the editor of the exciting new series, Take and Read: the Gospels, published by Alive Publishing, which meets the need for good material to assist in this process. All four authors, Ian Boxall who wrote on St Luke’s Gospel, Adrian Graffy who contributed the St Mark volume, John J Henry who created the St John book and Henry Wansbrough who composed the St Matthew sections, are skilled in presenting the insights of biblical scholarship to a wide audience and were present when CEF hosted the launch of these very important books in October 2009.
Fr Jeremy Corley, professor of Scripture at Ushaw College, Durham, said about Take and Read: the Gospels: "These beautifully produced books offer a warm encouragement for readers to reflect on key passages in the four Gospels."
Take and Read: the Gospels is designed to help people explore the four gospels more deeply, encouraging meditative and prayerful reading in an accessible and attractive way. The books can be used both by individuals and by groups gathering to study and pray. The Commission arranges ‘Take and Read Days’ and ‘Take and Read Weekends’ both within and beyond the Brentwood Diocese.
We are pleased to announce that the next volumes of Take and Read, covering other books of the New Testament, are being prepared for publication now, with volumes on the Old Testament to follow.
To organise a Take and Read event or to find out more, please contact CEF or Fr Adrian.
Walk With Me
These accessible booklets offer prayerful preparation for Advent and Lent and are used by nearly every parish in the Diocese. Many of the Diocese’s schools have also found them and the related calendars invaluable tools to use with their pupils. Walk with Me is designed to assist people with daily prayer, reflection and reading of Scripture throughout Advent and Lent. Each season has its own theme and the booklets are suitable for use in a group as well as for individual prayer. They are published by Alive Publishing specifically for the Diocese. Ali also produce the monthly Bible Alive and Faith Today publications which offer thoughtful encouragement to prayer in today’s world. Check with your parish priest to make sure that he asks for enough copies of Walk with Me for your parish. There is a small charge with most of the proceeds going directly to the parish.
Pastoral Deaf Service
CEF also supports the Pastoral Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Signed and communicated Masses are arranged throughout the diocese and support is offered to those Catholics who are hard of hearing. This help includes being an intermediary and supporter in filling out official forms and in communicating with such organisations as health care and schools. Several of the diocese’s priests are skilled in the use of sign language, so look out for a signed mass in a parish near you. The Deaf Service works with the Catholic Deaf Association, whose symbol of signing hands is presented here.
Accepting Change Roadshows
The Pastoral Support Team, created in 2007 by Bishop Thomas, offers practical assistance to deaneries, to parishes and to individuals throughout the diocese. The Team focuses on the process of change, especially where this change is related to the linking of parishes, and provides Accepting Change sessions. In February 2011, CEF launched a comprehensive report on the survey the Team undertook of linked parishes. One of the report's recommendations is that "a panel of lay people with positive experience of living through the process of linking be set up to visit and reassure parishes which are due to be linked." The PST will undertake these visits.
The Team will also explore ways of providing support and assistance to the clergy, and will seek to respond to requests for specific expertise.