Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Teddington

Easter Triduum Services

Welcome to Sacred Heart Teddington

Welcome to the Roman Catholic parish of the Sacred Heart, serving the people of Teddington and Hampton Wick.

 

We are a very mixed parish and our main services try to cater for the needs of young and old, familes, and those who come to church on their own.  Weekend Masses are normally:

 

-          Saturday 6.30pm (Vigil Mass of Sunday), which is a quiet Mass;

-          Sunday 9.30am, with modern music from our MASH – Music at Sacred Heart – group, a creche and liturgy groups for the Under-5s and 5-8yr-olds; and

-          Sunday 11.15am, with more traditional Mass settings led by our choir.

 

Whichever Mass you attend, we hope you will always find a welcome and come away enriched.

Open the Doors

OPEN THE DOORS!

SATURDAY 30 JUNE AND SUNDAY 1 JULY 2007

What's this about?

Some weeks ago we were told at all Masses about 'Open the Doors' - an exciting opportunity to celebrate the life of our parish and to reach out to our neighbours, regardless of their beliefs - or absence of them. This idea grew out of a suggestion from Cardinal Cormac that all parishes in the diocese should arrange an event during 2006 and open their doors to the community.

What's being planned?

A small group of parishioners has been working on a plan for the weekend of 30 June/ 1 July, trying to get the right mix of spiritual and social events - things which would appeal to a broad range of people, whether Catholic or other Christian, other faiths, or none. We have a basic plan, but there is still time to add your own views and ideas.

before the event	plan, design, print and distribute a leaflet about the weekend, to go out to all homes in Teddington and Hampton Wick
Saturday, 30 June	prayer and meditation opportunities guided visits displays, including displays by CAFOD, the Passage, Catholic Children's Society, APF, etc gospel meditations schools projects and activities by the school opportunities to talk to people about our faith teas/ coffees, plus a barbecue Space for children to play Saturday's events will end in time for the 6.30pm Mass
Sunday, 1 July	Morning Masses as usual teas / coffees and a barbecue visits / information for visitors Sacred Heart's 'Songs of Praise' Sunday's events will finish by around 6.00pm

What Now?

Now we need your help. We need volunteers for specific roles and we hope that as many of you as are able will become involved in one way or another. Here is a breakdown of the range of volunteers we need:

Pre-event – by the end of May

Opportunity Number 1:

Getting the message across – current contact: Theresa Read

One of the first things we will need to get started on is letting all our neighbours - regardless of their beliefs - or absence of them - know what is going on.

As far as possible, we plan to leaflet every home in the parish, both to let them know about Sacred Heart Church and what we offer week in and week out, and also to invite them to come and visit us during the Open the Doors weekend. As well as this, there will be posters for all the local churches, plus in as many local community organisations and businesses as we can persuade to display them.

This part of the programme will entail planning and designing the leaflet itself, and then printing and delivering all of them  - some 7000 or so!

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator plus 3-5 people to:

• design a poster and a leaflet,
• arrange the printing of around 7000 leaflets and 30 posters

1 co-ordinator plus around 40-60 volunteers to:

• deliver the 7000 leaflets and 30 posters to every home in our parish.

Leaflets need to be delivered by the early part of June. So everything needs to be completed by third week in May, ready for the meeting of Churches Together in Teddington on May 22.

Opportunity Number 2:

Housekeeping – current contact:   Ivan Lowe

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator plus 10-15 people to:

• plan the design and layout of the building for the event
• put up new interior and exterior notice board
• paint the outside doors
• clean windows at front
• organise the supply and layout of literature for the event

For the event itself

Opportunity Number 3:

Catering and Refreshments – current contact: Nancie Alleyne

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 4-5 people to:

• plan and organise the supply of small refreshments – biscuits/snacks and liquids (not alcohol) – throughout the two days
• plan and organise the supply of related articles such as plates, cups, utensils, etc.

1 co-ordinator and 15-20 people to:

• organise and provide refreshments to the public throughout the two days
• generally keep the place tidy and hazard-free

1 co-ordinator and 7-10 people to:

• organise the supply and provision of the barbeque and related tools and utensils
• organise and “do” the BBQ throughout the two days – this is not a continuous task like the small refreshments, but a good couple of hours each day.
• generally keep the place tidy and hazard-free

Opportunity Number 4:

Provision of Music – current contact:  Maria O’Brien

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 3-5 people to:

• liaise with Sacred Heart School with the aim of the children providing 2 singing slots on the Saturday
• liaise with the teenagers of our church with the aim of them getting involved.
• choose music to be performed throughout the weekend
• create a timetable of music events and ensure piped and live music available
• manage and oversee the musical equipment and keep hazard-free
• liaise with other churches re: what music they’d like to do on the Sunday and finding out what they need in terms of space/equipment
• produce an information sheet about the music at Sacred Heart and how you can join either of the current groups
• check who in the current groups are available for the weekend

Please note that the above jobs do need volunteers extra to those who currently are in the choirs and music group.

Opportunity Number 5:

Organisation of Displays and Presentations – current contact: Jim McLean

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 6-8 people to:

• obtain/collect display boards for use during the event
• liaise with charities and organisations we have contact with to provide display materials
• arrange and display relevant material from our Church, School and Community along the theme of our event
• organise and manage the other displays – e.g. rolling/looping video and PowerPoint presentations, including obtaining the equipment and ensuring sufficient power sockets are available
• oversee displays and presentations during the event to ensure protection of equipment and to ensure areas are hazard-free.

NB – none of the above requires much technical or professional expertise in itself, mainly organising and overseeing.

Opportunity Number 6:

People to act as general guides and welcomers (no requirement to discuss Faith or Theology – just to welcome people, talk to them, show them around) – current contacts: Fr. John / Theresa Read

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 15-20 people to:

• organise, on a rota basis, sufficient numbers of welcomers to be around throughout the event
• show visitors around, make them welcome, sign a guestbook/comments book
• talk about the various displays
• be able to show and guide to WCs, refreshments, children’s area, etc.

Opportunity Number 7:

Organisation and management of the children’s (toddlers') play/respite area:

current contact: Jim McLean

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 15-20 people to:

• develop an area where there are facilities for toddlers / baby changing.
• arrange basic activities as creative or as basic as you want, but indoor activities
• oversee, on a rota basis, and prevent hazards.

NB – we are NOT asking you to operate a “crèche” in any form.

Opportunity Number 8:

Volunteers willing to discuss / reflect on our faith – current contact: Fr. John

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 10-20 people to:

• organise and run sessional groups for Gospel reflection at various points throughout the two days
• organise and run/participate in sessional prayer and meditation activity throughout various points in the two days
• organise and manage - on a rota basis - sufficient numbers of volunteers who are willing to be available throughout the two days discuss their faith with visitors, or talk about why the Church is important to them

NB – Again, this does NOT require you to be an expert in theology or the Catholic Faith.

Opportunity Number 9:

Sacred Heart School link – current contact: Fr. John

Who We Need And What We Need To Do

1 co-ordinator and 4-6 people to:

• look into the possibility of pupils from Sacred Heart being able to contribute to the event
• liaise with the school to look at practicalities
• give time to work with the pupils to prepare a presentation – drama, artwork or music, or variety
• arrange and manage a morning and afternoon presentation by the children.

Church Community Rooms

CONFIRMATION AT THE SACRED HEART

Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation into the life of Jesus Christ and His Church.   It brings to completion the making of a Christian.  It seals their baptism, and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that they can live as an active member of the Church.      If an adult is baptised or received into the Catholic Church, he/she is confirmed at the same time.     Adults wishing to receive the Sacrament should contact their Parish Priest to arrange a suitable preparation.

In this parish the Bishop normally visits to confer the sacrament every two years.    Young people wishing to receive the sacrament must be in school years 9 or 10 when they begin their course.

When a candidate joins a Confirmation course, they are effectively entering into a discernment process to discover if they wish to further strengthen the gifts they have already received in baptism.      Receiving spiritual gifts from God is part of a two way process; we receive, but we also respond to what we receive, and we use the gifts we are given.
In the discernment process, which is normally a matter for the candidate first, but with the support of the parish priest, catechists and parents, the candidate will be  offered a vision of how we might respond to the gospel through personal prayer, participating in community worship and actively working for justice.    The course at the Sacred Heart attempts to give the candidate a sense of how this vision extends beyond the confines of school and parish.

The Parish Priest has responsibility for presenting the candidates to the Bishop and assuring him that they are ready to receive the gifts and assume the responsibilities associated with the sacrament.    In order to do this he needs to be satisfied that

1. the candidate is demonstrably a ‘practising’ Catholic and intends to remain one.

2. the candidate really wants to receive this sacrament, free from parental or peer pressure, for genuine spiritual motives and not just from social custom.

3. the candidate has attended all the required sessions and fulfilled the course requirements.

4. That the candidate has given positive evidence throughout the course of their serious desire to receive this sacrament.

He will interview all candidates before the course and after the final retreat, in order to ensure that each candidate is ready to receive the sacrament.    If necessary parents may be asked to meet with him as well at this time.

Practical Requirements (to be completed before the course begins).

Certificate of Baptism, if not baptised in the Sacred Heart Parish.

If baptised at the Sacred Heart, details of year and month of Baptism.

To have chosen a sponsor.     The sponsor must have been confirmed, must  be a practising catholic, and ideally should be one of the baptismal godparents.

To have chosen the name of a patron saint.     The candidate must also be able to give a brief summary of the story of this saint and the reasons he/she has chosen the particular saint.

First Holy Communion at the Sacred Heart church

When does it take place?

Baptised Roman Catholic children generally receive Holy Communion for the first time in Year 3 of Primary School, around May or June.. However, if parents feel that their child will be too young at that stage to understand what they are doing, it is possible to defer this moment to a later time.

Where does a child receive its First Communion?

Normally a child receives their First Holy Communion in the parish in which they live, after a period of preparation which is organised by the parish concerned. Each parish makes its own arrangements, and determines how long the immediate preparation should be, and when that preparation takes place.

The Sacred Heart Parish will be happy to accept children from other parishes attending the Sacred Heart School for the immediate preparation leading to First Holy Communion, provided that their family have been attending Mass regularly at the Sacred Heart church since, or before, the child began their schooling.

Families attending Mass at St. Mary’s College

Families who normally participate at Mass in St. Mary’s College will need to prepare their child through their local parish, as the College does not organise such preparation.. Those who normally attend a national church (eg. one of the Polish churches) or the Cathedral should first check with those churches about the arrangements for First Communion

What preparation is required?

For a child to receive their First Holy Communion their parish priest has to have evidence that they have prepared sufficiently. In this parish there is an expectation that in addition to attending the Sunday preparatory sessions the child has been attending Mass on a weekly basis with at least one of their parents for at least one year before receiving their First Communion.

Who is responsible for the preparation?

Preparation is a shared responsibility between parents and parish. The child will attend about 12 sessions led by the Parish Catechists after the family Mass on Sunday mornings. This is not just about learning, but about inserting the child more deeply into the community of the parish centred on the Eucharist.

Parents have the responsibility of preparing the ground for each session at home and to do some follow-up work after the session. It is our experience that when parents enter into this process in faith, they discover that their own faith and knowledge is renewed. Parents are also expected to attend three sessions intended to explore an adult attitude to the sacraments.

Enrolment

Parents are invited to enrol their children some time before the course actually begins.

The time for enrolment is normally announced at Sunday Mass several months prior to the beginning of the course. Once the candidates are known, a meeting will be organised for the parents in which they will be given a timetable for the course, the date of the First Communion Mass and other essential information.

Getting Married?

Marriage.

Who must we notify, and how long in advance?

Whether you are planning to get married in your local parish, or in another part of the country, or abroad, you must get in touch with the Parish Priest of the Parish in which you live at least six months before the proposed date of your wedding. If you are unsure, contact the Parish Priest of the Church where you attend Mass regularly.

This period of notice may seem long to you, but you will not be the only couple getting married, and the Church needs enough time to ensure that all the paperwork is done correctly and that a Marriage Preparation course has been attended. This is particularly important if you intend to get married abroad, or if you have been married before and received an annulment.

What documentation do we need?

The documentation you require will vary according to circumstances. In every case you will need to provide documentation demonstrating your freedom to marry in the Catholic Church.

Roman Catholics must provide a Certificate of Baptism issued approximately six months before the proposed date of the marriage. Other Christians must produce a Baptism Certificate, but it does not have to be recently issued. You may also be asked to provide a ‘Letter of Freedom to marry’ or to produce an affidavit signed by a Commissioner for Oaths, according to your circumstances.

Can Catholics get married in the church of another denomination?

Canon Law states that all Roman Catholics must marry according to the form of the Roman Catholic Church, if the marriage is to be valid. In certain limited cases a dispensation may be granted ‘for good canonical reasons’. A request to marry in another church ‘because we want to’, or ‘because we like the church’ or ‘because it is near the place we are holding the reception’ would not be considered a sufficient ‘canonical reason’. The Priest will be happy to discuss this with you.

Must we do a Marriage Course?

Normally, yes. At present we do not have the resources to run such a course within the parish, so the facility is provided by ‘Marriage Care’. The courses are run by married people and usually take place on Saturdays. To book a course phone 020 7792 2199 or email

marriagecarelondon@lineone.net

to book a place.

Do we also have to contact the Civil Registrar?

Yes. In order to be married in any Catholic church, civil law requires that both parties must produce a ‘Certificate for Marriage’ from the Registrar for Marriages. It is against the law for a marriage to be solemnised unless these certificates have been given to the Priest in advance of the wedding.

If you live in the London Borough of Richmond you should apply to the Registrar’s Office at 1, Spring Terrace, Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1LW. Tel 020 8940 2853. It is advisable to check the opening hours before going there.

If you live outside the Borough of Richmond, you must apply to the Registrar for the district in which you live.

To give notice to the Registrar you will need to have a form of identity such as a birth certificate or passport. Ask the office and they will advise.

What about Fees.

Please consult the Priest and the Registry Office regarding current fees.

Contact the Priest

Parish Priest: Fr. Reg Dunkling

SACRED HEART CHURCH
262 Kingston Road,
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 9 JQ

Tel 020 8977 2986

or email teddington@rcdow.org.uk

Going into Hospital

If you have to go into hospital, please bear in mind that a chaplain will only call if you ask for one.

It is best to let your parish priest know in advance if you are going to be in hospital for any length of time.