Worthing Deanery report

Webmaster • December 13, 2024

WORTHING DEANERY

REPORT FROM A MEETING OF ALL WORTHING DEANERY PARISHES TO EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF

THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL PLAN

i. The meeting took place at St Michael’s, High Salvington on Thursday 14th November, 7pm–8.30pm. Representatives from all parishes across the deanery were present, including all the working clergy (perhaps about 80 people in total).

ii. Fr Terry Martin, dean of Worthing Deanery, oversaw the meeting and introduced the evening with a PowerPoint presentation, arising from which discussion followed.

iii. Essentially, the message of the presentation was that the term “moderated parish” is unhelpful and refers, instead, to the creation of a new, large parish, which will, in the next few years, replace the deanery. The yet-to-be-appointed moderator will work as a ‘first among equals’ within the clergy team, and each of the priests will retain their canonical/legal status as parish priests.

iv. In parish groups, participants were asked to consider two questions: “What works well?” and “What would be even better if…?”

v. At a plenary feedback, after discussion, the following strengths were highlighted across the deanery: • some parishes are already working together around matters like finance and RCIA;

• sacramental programmes are working well in many of our parishes;

• our parish communities are generally welcoming and caring; • SVP and J&P groups already model good practice in terms of deanery-wide working together.

vi. Likewise, the following challenges were identified:

• a greater need for volunteers across the board;

• commitment to higher quality adult formation;

• a need to engage more successfully with young people after they have completed sacramental programmes (and to work also with their parents).

vii. Then, in mixed groups (i.e., folk from several different parishes), further questions were considered: “How can we work better together?”, “What can we share?”.

viii. A plenary feedback produces the following comments:

• work together across parishes in sacramental programmes (but can’t be too big);

• share knowledge and expertise;

• set up some kind of forum for admin staff and parish secretaries to share good practice and knowledge;

• look at and extend community outreach;

• use online technology to work together effectively — e.g., with programmes and courses;

• a shared minibus;

• consider more closely how to effectively engage with schools — and together;

• sharing of ideas/expertise/wisdom among catechists and parish leaders;

• local need for sacramental programmes — travelling being an issue for many;

• seek help from the Lourdes Pilgrimage in terms of engaging with the young;

• keep local teams — but ensure that they are fully integrated into the new, large parish.

ix. The appointment of a moderator for the clergy team is still awaited and, in the meantime, catechists and parish leaders were encouraged to meet together informally and to take the initiative in setting up mutual gathering (i.e., don’t wait for the clergy to do it!). With the appointment of a new moderator, a further, similar meeting will be called, alongside meetings between the new parish and the diocese

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