Catholic community plans two-week mission

Eighteen months of planning have gone into a two-week parish mission designed to address 21st Century spiritual needs.

Acting as the catalyst for a venture in which it is hoped all Catholics in the town will be involved is the Scion Community, from Brentwood in Essex.

Doug Robertson, parish coordinator for the mission, explained this week: "Eighteen months ago we were looking ahead to the centenary celebrations of the church, which was very much about what had gone on and what the church had achieved in the past, so we decided that we would turn ourselves to the 21st Century.

"The Sion Community is a mixed community - young and old, male and female plus one priest.

"It was set up in 1984.

"The various things they have done have included work in schools, parishes and churches.

"They have been to St Richard's Catholic College on a couple of occasions.

"Their work is to do with people re-discovering their faith and evangelism."

A party of 10 will be coming for the first week of the St Mary Magdalene's Mission from February 9 to 17. The community is sending a party of five for the following week.

They will be accommodated in parishoners' homes. A parish hospitality team will supply lunch and dinner for them daily at the presbytery.

Mr Robertson said: "The first week will be preparing the ground and during the week there will be various services.