Pastoral Support Team < CEF Pastoral Services - Evangelisation & Formation (CEF) : Commissions, Departments & Services

Pastoral Services

Let the word of Christ in all its richness find a home in you.
(Colossians 3:16)

The Pastoral Support Team was created by Bishop Thomas McMahon in January 2007. It has a wide ranging remit and is currently concentrating its efforts on specific areas of pastoral life in the parishes, deaneries and across the diocese. The Team quickly identified the need to focus on offering effectual pastoral help for all parishes including those which may be linked in the future.

Bishop Thomas McMahon appointed the team which includes Fr Adrian Graffy, Lucy Studham, Sylvia Lanz, Fr Tom Saunders, Fr Jean-Laurent Marie, Margaret Bailey, Patrick Daly and until his sad recent death, Michael Doe. The newest members of the team are Sheila Wright and Paul Samuels. Co-opted members are appointed from time to time.

A survey has been made of the existing linked parishes through interviews with the priests involved, the Brentwood Diocesan Pastoral Council parish representatives, the Parish Pastoral Council chair persons and Pastoral Assistants. Where possible clergy involved at the time of linking and currently in the parish were interviewed along with three lay members of the parish.

The Team offers practical assistance, derived from the feedback of those who have experience of linking themselves, to all parishes, especially those going through the process of change, helping them to seize the opportunities for growth and development.

Sessions are offered on preparing for change and the experience of linking by members of the team and those who have been involved with the survey. This is very useful and gives parish members the chance to speak directly with those who have gone through the experience of change and linking. The reasons for change need to be clearly identified and understood, skills need to be shared and above all communication needs to be clear.

Details on the survey conducted of parishes already linked and information regarding this have been published as Building on Experience: A Report on Linked Parishes in the Diocese of Brentwood.

Assistance to parishes in developing their Parish Vision through planning and discussion is offered, alongside the support offered to Parish and Deanery Pastoral Councils. The Team will also explore ways of providing support and assistance to the clergy, and will seek to respond to requests for specific expertise.

The Pastoral Support Team is working to improve and develop existing communication in the diocese and will be looking at improving and progressing existing effective initiatives as well as developing new ones.