The Parish has a wide range of groups for you to get involved with:
Association for the Propagation of the Faith
This international Association supports, through prayer and sacrifice, all the mission dioceses of the world. As Pope John Paul II said, ‘No Christian community is faithful to its duty unless it is missionary. If it is not missionary, it is not even a Christian community! … The poor are hungry for God, not just for bread and freedom.’
In our Parish, Association members assist the missions with their prayers and the famous ‘little red boxes’. These are small red mission boxes held at home and provide greatly needed financial support for the Association. If you would like to contribute in any way, please ring the Parish treasurer, Mr. R. Cavey on 798 0898.
Brownies, Rainbows & Guides
The Brownies and Guides are both members of the Guide Association and meet in groups called Packs, usually aged between 7-10. The 13th Prestwich (Our Lady of Grace) Brownies Pack meets every Wednesday evening during the school term between 6.30-8.00pm.
If you would like your daughter to join the 13th Pack of the Brownies, please ring Mrs. Veronica Bainbridge on 798 8549.
The 8th Prestwich (Our Lady of Grace) Brownies Pack meets every Monday, between 6.00-7.30pm whilst the 8th Pack of the Guides meets between 7.00-8.30pm in the Upper Hall. The leader of the Brownies is Grace Watson who you can call on 07535 254 342.
CAFOD
The Parish supports CAFOD’s work in several ways. We raise funds through the ‘Starving World’ boxes and with collections in Mass twice a year for their FastDays. We also run a Traidcraft stall on the first Sunday of each month after both Masses in the Parish Hall that sells an excellent selection of fairly traded goods. If you would like to get involved in either (or both!) of these initiatives you are welcome to contact Vin & Sue Allerton on 773 3318. You can also visit CAFOD’s main website www.cafod.org.uk for more information.
The Catenian Association
The North Manchester & Middleton Circle of The Catenian Association meets each month at Pike Fold Golf Club, Hills Lane, Unsworth, Bury BL9 8QP. It is open to practising members of the Church and you must be sponsored by an existing Catenian and have a sound business or professional status. The Secretary is Mr Peter Hood, 0161 799 1044 website www.circle168.co.uk
Caritas
Caritas Diocese of Salford is the principal social welfare charity of our diocese. Caritas’s mission is to eradicate poverty and disadvantage in the diocesan communities through one-to-one support of families and individuals.
Caritas House, Nobby Stiles Drive, Collyhurst, Manchester, M4 4JF
0161 817 2250
www.caritassalford.org.uk
@CaritasSalford
Catholic Family Care
Formerly known as the Catholic Needlework Guild, this organisation provides new clothes for those in need. Each member is asked to contribute two new garments and 50p annually. Mrs. Maureen Makin is the contact for this parish.
Catholic Truth Society
The CTS is the Catholic bookshop for the Diocese of Salford. Known as Cathedral Centre Books, it is at Cathedral Centre, Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP. Tel: 0161 817 2208, bookshop@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Catholic Women’s League, Whitefield
The object of the League is to promote and support charitable works at parish, diocesan and national levels. Their meetings are held at St. Bernadette’s Social Club on the second Wednesday of each month at 8pm. All ladies are welcome.
Churches Together in Prestwich
This initiative seeks to promote Churches of all denominations working towards Christian Unity. As Pope John Paul II said, ‘What we can do together we should not do apart.’ The Council meets throughout the year on a regular basis. Our Lady of Grace is represented by Thomas Allen, Paul-Thomas Allen and Catherine Swinburne. Activities include joint prayer, a Good Friday Walk of Witness, joint support for Christian Aid and unity services.
Marriage Preparation
As soon as you have decided to get married, it is important you talk to your local parish priest to make all the necessary arrangements. At least 6 months notice must be given.
Please contact the Presbytery for further details.
Prayer Group
The Prayer Group meets fortnightly on Mondays, 7.00 – 8.00 in the cottage. All are welcome.
Sacramental Programme
In the Sacramental Programme, children receive instruction from a dedicated band of catechists who enable them, with the help of parents and the school, to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation, Penance and Holy Communion. The parents meet at the same time as the children for a separate discussion about their child’s/children’s instruction. The meetings take place in the Hall. Those parishioners who are involved also serve as Prayer Partners for the children. The leaders are Jacqueline Edgar and Mark Kehoe.
Safeguarding Commission
Our Lady of Grace Safeguarding Commission is located at the Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford M3 6DP. The Diocesan Director is Dawn Lundergan (817 2206) whilst our Parish Representative is Robert O’ Rourke (773 2324).
SVP Society
The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is a group that works together mainly at Parish level helping people in need. The Society was founded in the 1830s, by a young man called Frederick Ozanam, to alleviate at least some of the suffering of very poor people. It is now a world wide organisation. Our patron is St Vincent de Paul who himself had tackled many forms of poverty in an earlier age.
People are poor where, through lack of resources, they are excluded from ordinary living patterns and face a constant battle to live with dignity. Poverty includes loneliness, the inability to organise a home, being an orphan, having no aim in life, any kind of sickness or depression or being mentally ill, as well as having severe learning difficulties, being homeless, unemployed or suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction. Prostitution can also be poverty as can bereavement and the inability to cope with problems. These are only some examples identified in our societies. Christ said: “You have the poor with you always” (Matt 26,11).
If you would like to respond to the challenge of giving some help where it is needed in this area you are most welcome to join the local conference at Our Lady of Grace. Membership is open to women and men, young and old, of any denomination. All that is required is that members accept fully the Christian ethics of the Society and are committed to express their love of God through personal service to their neighbour. We hope to help in reducing prejudice and to foster understanding between races and cultures. The SVP respects religious liberty and values all people. The motto of the organisation is “Turning concern into Action”
Meetings are held fortnightly. Please contact: Mrs M Makin (President) through the Presbytery on (0161) 773 2324.
Walsingham Association
Website: www.walsingham.org.uk