SAINT ANSELM S SOUTHALL 1
Revised January 2013 PROFILE AND MISSION OF THE PARISH PRIORITIES FOR 2013-2014 Profile and Mission of the Parish St Anselm s Parish in Southall is a multi-cultural Catholic community in West London which seeks to witness to its faith in an area of some deprivation and considerable cultural and religious diversity. Apart from a wide variety of Christian churches, within the bounds of the parish are some ten Sikh gurdwaras, four mosques, three Hindu temples, and a Buddhist vihara, not to mention many more informal placers of worship. In addition to all the normal 2
pastoral needs of a large, thriving Catholic community liturgy and prayer, catechesis and instruction, pastoral visiting and support St Anselm s needs to attend to the special demands of life in such a pluralist environment. The presence of large communities of faith, notably but not exclusively from the Indian subcontinent, should be seen as an opportunity not just to work for the common good of all the people of this town but in so doing to deepen our faith and to learn more about the ways of God with human beings. As the 2000 declaration from the CDF, Dominus Iesus, puts it: Interreligious dialogue, which is part of the Church s evangelising mission, requires an attitude of understanding and a relationship of mutual knowledge and reciprocal enrichment, in obedience to the truth and with respect for freedom. (DI 2) LIVING IN SOUTHALL: Southall has 19,623 households. A high proportion of these households are living in terraced housing (41% compared to 30% for Ealing), semi detached 3
housing (25% compared to 24% for Ealing) and detached (5% compared to 4% for Ealing). The levels of owner occupation in Southall are higher than for the borough as a whole (67% compared to 63%). The proportion of households renting from the council is similar to the average for the borough at 12%, however renting from private landlords is lower (11% compared to 16% for Ealing). Around 28% of households in Southall are overcrowded, which is higher than the Ealing average of 20%. Within Southall is the largest potential brownfield site in West London (a former gasworks) due for controversial residential re-development. It is expected to increase the population by around 15000 in the next decade. St Anselm s Parish, Southall is a wonderfully vibrant, warm and welcoming community, bursting and teeming with life in the highest ethnic minority area in the country (census 2001). If multi-cultural churches may be said to be a taste of heaven on earth St Anselms is a very good living example. 89% of the Southall population 4
belong to ethnic groups other than white British. 76 % of the population belong to Asian ethnic groups with 55% being Indian. The parish mirrors the ethnic diversity of the wider population and is perhaps rather conspicuous if not unique amongst churches and other faith communities in the pronounced way in which it does so. There are monthly Sunday Masses in Malayalam, Urdu, Konkani and Tamil and the parish goes out of its way to welcome the different ethnic chaplaincies drawn to this place. There is a Sinalese community and many other Asian communities, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Punjabi. There is also a lively Afro-Caribbean community in the parish. There is the remnant of a once strong Irish community. An aging community, it nonetheless, continues to contribute very positively and generously to parish life. Southall is very often called Little India, but it is so much more than that! Old Southall is now known as Little Mogadishu. We have a very visible Somalian community on our door steps. Other more recent arrivals in 5
Southall are Afghans, Poles and Russians and so on. The Southall parish has also over the years welcomed large numbers of traveling families who seem to feel at home and at ease here and able to be themselves. At the heart of our ministry is a constant challenge to bring people together from many different strands, backgrounds and ethnicities. To reach out to the whole parish community and encourage a spirit of openness and welcome and awareness of the need to remember that we are a community of communities and be truly Catholic. At the same time there remains the responsibility to galvanise the Catholic community in Southall to act in its defence, give it a voice, confidence, self-respect and determination to project its identity that it may enter peacefully into dialogue with people from other faith communities. 6
PEOPLE IN NEED: In terms of multiple deprivation, 13 areas within the wards of Norwood Green, Dormers Wells, Southall Broadway and Southall Green feature within the top 20% most deprived areas in England. If the measures of deprivation are considered individually, areas within Southall appear within the top 5% most deprived in the country in terms of income deprivation, crime and barriers to housing and services. Many people, (asylum seekers, migrant workers legal and illegal, young people on student visas, unemployed, low paid and exploited workers, domestic violence) come to the door of the Rectory for immediate assistance and help with their job prospects, housing problems and day to day survival etc. Dealing with this is quite challenging and time consuming. Ministering in Southall requires one to be willing to give time to the poor and marginalized and to be sympathetic towards their difficulties. It requires one to have a firm determination and be able to deal with the many social problems that arrive at our 7
door. It demands a willingness to give the time to listen patiently and draws one to offer a loving pastoral and practical care for individuals in real and crying need. Noise, dirt, traffic and crime. How does one cope, enjoy and minister in such an area? How can we work for the transformation of the society in our area? We are involved with West London Citizens a lobby organisation which seeks to improve the lives of our areas citizens, as a member of West London Citizens the parish campaigns for justice issues which reflect the struggles of some of our parishioners. Those who attend churches, mosques and temples in Southall are people who struggle with those problems every day. Membership of West London Citizens gives us the opportunity to offer a critical solidarity, as Christians, alongside those of other faiths, to live in the hope and possibility of change and regeneration. In particular, our shared task is to highlight the 8
plight of the poor and the disadvantaged, and to work for justice. Some fifty of our parishioners take an active part in the campaigning work of West London Citizens. A group of 12 parishioners and the parish priest meet regularly to plan the greater involvement of the parish. This group helps the parish to be more involved in the life of Southall and to work more closely for justice issues and the common good. In that way we hope to develop and strengthen our links with existing community organisations In an inner urban area of multiple deprivation such as this there is a crying need to develop the Church s commitment and activity in the areas of Social Justice and commitment to the poor. St Anselm s Parish: Mission and Aims We will cherish our vibrant, warm and welcoming community in our prayer and in the liturgy. We will seek to build it up. We will strive to show a personal care and concern for each and for all. 9
We will continue to celebrate life and faith and hope and share our joys and sorrows in a constantly changing situation We will seek ways of contributing more energetically and imaginatively in Southall particularly in serving the poor and vulnerable and powerless. We will strive to become a more missionary parish and support efforts to create a vigorous Churches Together in Southall and let the light of the Gospel penetrate the life of the wider community. We will actively support efforts to establish a Faiths Forum for Southall and work for the common good of all the people of Southall. We shall do out best to harness the potential of our buildings for apostolic purposes. 10
We will grow stronger through active lay leadership and involvement in the community. We will make this happen by active encouragement and invitation and by providing training. The parish will encourage parishioners to undertake serious training for lay ministry. We will seek funding to make it possible for us to employ a Pastoral Lay Assistant for a further three year period from 2015-2018. The Pastoral Assistant will combine catechetical and adult education and the promotion of Ignatian spirituality with a responsibility to assist the parish in developing positive relations with other faith communities. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PARISH Our most recent parish meeting describes some of our progress SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER 2012 11 A.M. MASS FOLLOWED BY PARISH LUNCH & MEETING What have I done for Christ? 11
What am I doing for Christ? What ought I to do for Christ? LITURGY: Sunday Mass attendance. Our Sunday Mass attendance has increased by over 400 over the past couple of years. The recent Mass count shows an average of 1276 people attending Mass on Sundays Weekday Mass: Our Weekday Mass attendance has also considerably increased Christmas Eve Masses: To allow for our growing congregation this year it was necessary to celebrate a third Christmas Eve Mass. Numbers will also present us with a great challenge during this coming Holy Week Music: The parish continues to assimilate the chants from the Roman Missal. In addition the parish has learned a more popular lively Mass setting. Also The primary school, Missionaries of Charity Catechetical school and the parish will learn a new setting of the Mass for children 12
Travellers: The travelling community holds a weekly gathering and prayer meeting in the Parish Centre. They have requested a regular Sunday Mass in St Anselms to build up the travelling community and provide it with support and as a pastoral response to those drifting away from the church to fundamentalist sects. Ethnic Masses: The Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu and Konkani Masses continue to thrive. The Goan congregation has grown considerably over the past couple of years Carribean Community: We will develop closer links with the Carribean chaplaincy and will celebrate a Carribean Sunday in the Summer. International Mass: We will celebrate an International Mass on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St Anselm to stress the importance of belonging to a single worshipping Catholic community. BUILDING WORKS: 13
The parish will soon have to undertake some major building work. For example, while the roof of the church has been regularly repaired over many years it is now coming to the end of its useful life and the parish must plan for a new roof within the next two years. The church floor also requires attention while the church and presbytery are both in need of maintenance and redecoration. The Parish Centre needs a complete makeover to make it fit for purpose! PASTORAL LAY ASSISTANT Jan Janoszka was appointed Pastoral Lay Assistant in March 2012 and started work on April 16 th. Since then he has made relevant contacts and liaised effectively with a number of parish groups, Christian and other faith communities or civic organisations in Southall. He has successfully completed induction programme which consisted of two courses: 1) Living and Working in an Ignatian Way; 2) Citizens UK Leadership Training. 14
Over the last 7 months he has achieved positive results in creating, fostering and developing new partnerships as well as initiatives. For instance, with respect to his pastoral/catechetical responsibilities, he has managed to: become an active member of the Parish Team set up a new parish website and link it with the diocesan website support on an on-going basis those parishioners who expressed an interest in undertaking a one year catechetical course and developing their knowledge as well as leadership skills; currently there are 12 people registered with the RC Diocese of Westminster and the University of Dayton, Ohio, USA, out of which 6 completed the first term of the Archbishop s Certificate for Catechists. take responsibility for some aspects of the First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion programme at St Anselm (collaborative work, planning, leading sessions) offer practical help when it comes to the weekly activities that deepen our prayer life during the 15
Year of Faith (by leading a Bible reflection group or showing Fr Barron s Catholicism ) cooperate with the Missionaries of Charity and better understand the Montessori method in order to introduce it for the benefit of children and parents With respect to ecumenism & inter-faith dialogue, he has managed to: coordinate a day of interreligious experience for a group of 25 volunteers from the Jesuit Missions team (a programme of talks and visits to the De Nobili Centre, the local Gurdwara, Mandir and Hindu Meditation Centre) complete the first phase of re-editing of the book written by Br Daniel Faivre, SG Glimpses of a Holy City a Pilgrim Guide to Southall at Worship. strengthen the cooperation of faith communities and civic organisations by bringing them together to celebrate Brother Daniel s Memorial and his legacy to the people of Southall; help with the practicalities of the event (correspondence; booklet; display/exhibition; hospitality) 16
strengthen the cooperation of faith communities and civic organisations by helping to plan and organise the Southall Festival of Faiths in June 2012 ensure that the parishioners of St Anselm s understood the significance of the Southall Inter-Faith Forum, and participated in its launch And finally, with respect to his social ministry, he has managed to: design and deliver a series of 7 workshops: An Introduction to Asylum, Refugee and Human Rights Law ; the aim is to clarify and explain the legal terminology used in the context of immigration; assist with informal advice, write a supporting letter or accompany to the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), when appropriate. create and maintain links with organisations (e.g. Praxis) that are determined to challenge the reform of legal aid for asylum and immigration cases, which introduced serious restrictions on legal aid. 17
strongly encourage parishioners to contribute to the process of social change by getting intelligently and meaningfully involved in West London Citizens address the issues affecting the lives of local people by getting actively engaged in several campaigns, e.g. in the NHS consultation and the march against the cuts of vital health services; minimizing the level of crime by setting up 15 City-Safe zones along King St and The Green, plus 4 City-Safe Havens (always in cooperation with other faith communities, the police and local civic organisations). present the fruits and challenges of campaigning and social action to a wider public (eg. by means of the West London Citizens Assembly at the Islamic Centre, Maida Vale; or creating displays at the back of the parish church) be recognized as one of the leaders of the City- Safe campaign (supported by Mayor of London and Tessa Jowell, MP); received an award A City Safe Champion. The impact of the Pastoral Assistant 18
- The parish is much more engaged with other churches and faith communities in Southall and wider afield. The Parish Interfaith group has been reenergized - City Safe Project has really taken off - A major Consultation exercise for North West London National Health Service Consortium about the reconfiguration of Hospital and Health Provision was carried out by Ipsos Mori. Of the 1770 detailed responses received over 600 came from the efforts made by the Pastoral Assistant and other parishioners. - Training in Asylum, Refugee and Human Rights Law has been completed by members of the Life organisation who locally give support to single expectant mothers faced with settlement challenges. Members of the Catholic Womens League Refugee and Relief Committee have also attended the course - Practical Advice and Support to Asylum Seekers including effective advocacy work. - Effective renewal and development of new and experienced parish catechists 19
Sustaining the position of Pastoral Lay Assistant: We have funding in place grant from Porticus and grant from Farm Street Church to cover salary and other costs for three years from April 2012 April 2015. The appointment is initially for a three year period. In the second year of the project we will begin applying for grants for a second three year period. One of the main aims of the project is to empower and enable members of our community through training and formation to take on leadership roles and thus help sustain the activities of the project beyond the period of funding. Street Homelessness in Southall: How St Anselm s Parish can help. Street homelessness is the most visible and challenging expression of housing need and social exclusion in Southall. 20
Planning permission has been received from Ealing Borough to adapt the garage and outhouses at St Anselm s Rectory to provide changing and showering facilities and a drop in centre for the homeless in collaboration with the Sikh Welfare Awareness Team This will also enable St Anselm s Parish to support and develop its work with the Ealing Churches Night Shelter and St Mungo s Homeless Charity. The availability of changing, showering and laundry facilities in our premises will greatly enhance the service we offer to users of our Winter Night Shelter which runs from December to April each year. This facility will enable St Anselm s parish, in cooperation with St Mungos Homelessness charity local outreach worker for Southall, to continue to provide temporary emergency accommodation when necessary for destitute 21
asylum seekers and other forced migrants and street homeless. Welcoming and hosting homeless persons gives an invaluable opportunity for migrant support agencies, such as St Mungos, to work on cases and stabilize clients so that they are able to reaccess public funds or even resolve their case so that the right to live in the UK is granted to them. Working with local homeless agencies (St Mungo s, Acton Homeless Concern, and Ealing Soup Kitchen, Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter and SWAT) help to provide homes for people. Referral Procedures help guests to find accommodation and step back into settled society Working with SWAT we will provide direct and immediate basic help for street homeless in Southall, helping them to keep clean, provide a place for them to come for a change of clothes 22
and a cup of tea and access to immediate health care. The cost of this project will be 48k. It is expected that building works will be completed by Easter 2013. Year of Faith In our immdediate pastoral planning we follow the broad structure which guides the Year of Faith. This comprises four seasons, beginning in October 2012 and ending in November 2013. The seasons present four fundamentally important themes of our Christian life: The first season, from October to Christmas 2012, will examine the role of Faith itself, what experience we have of Faith and how we understand and present the invitation to Faith: The parish will mark the first season in four ways: 23
CATHOLICISM: Journey Around the World and Deep into the Faith a series of 10 films about the Catholic Faith will be screened in the Parish Centre in AUTUMN 2012 on Monday at 8 p.m. SMALL GROUPS will meet on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to reflect together on the call to share the faith. Archbishop's Certificate for Volunteer Catechists for the Year of Faith: With the arrival of the Pastoral Assistant and spurred on by the Year of Faith we have decided to renew our catechtical provision in the parish. We have managed to recruit a very encouraging number of new catechists and some 13 new and long serving catechists are taking part in a renewal course run by the Diocese and University of Dayton. CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD: The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children aged 3-12 years. It is rooted in the Bible, the 24
liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an "atrium," a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials they use to help them absorb the most essential proclamations of the Christian faith. ( The Baptistry of the Church will become our atrium). Training is provided by The Missionaries of Charity and sisters and parishioners will be develop this form of catechesis 2. The second season, from New Year until Easter, will concern the Sacraments as the means by which we nourish and celebrate our Faith. A programme of three sessions on the Sacraments and Everyday life Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist- will be held in the Parish Centre RCIA: The parish RCIA group ceased to exist a few years ago. At the present moment the 25
parish priest meets with individuals on a one to one basis for instruction of those adults who would like to be baptised or received into full communion with the Church. During this season the Parish Lay Assistant and other catechists will receive training for the diocese with a view to re-establishing the RCIA in the parish. 3. The third season, covering the schools summer term, will consider the practicalities of living our Faith and the expression that has through our social outreach. a) We shall celebrate the opening of our homeless project and shall have a parish meeting to reflect on our social ministry. b) We shall have a recruitment drive to build up our parish St Vincent de Paul Conference. c) An Introduction to Asylum, Refugee and Human Rights Law: St Anselm s will be running seven free and informative sessions on Saturday evenings in Spring for Southall Churches and 26
Faith Communities. The sessions will be delivered in an informal but friendly way and they are for everyone who may be interested in and wants to learn more about the relevance of both the law relating to existing categories and the new provisions applying to some vulnerable immigrant communities/groups. Topics: Key concepts, terms and categories (asylum, refugee, human rights, immigration law); UK Asylum application process; The structure of appeal rights and asylum support; The 1951 Refugee Convention, refugee status determination; The Statements of changes to the Immigration Rules; Legal Aid and Representation; Useful organisations and support networks. No previous knowledge is required. Facilitator: Jan Janoszka, d) SPECIAL NEEDS: With the support of St Joseph s Pastoral Service and parents of children with special needs the parish will look at 27
ways we may respond more sensitively and practically to persons with disabilities for full participation in the life of the Church community. e) Leadership for Social Change : A Six- Month Course for Activists, Future Leaders and Trainers, Addressing issues of Race, Caste, Religion and Social Class in St Anselm s Church, Southall This six - month course aims to prepare activists, future leaders and trainers to work effectively for social change especially in those movements defined or inspired by issues of race, caste, religion and social class. Jointly sponsored by: Voice of Dalit International (VODI) Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) Maryvale Institute, Birmingham f) CitySafe: We shall apply for a small grant of 6,000 from Ealing Council to develop and expand the City Safe Zone in Southall. 28
g) Health Campaign: Southall is a community of about 100,000 people many of whom are amongst the most deprived in the country, who have significant health needs This community lives with a particularly high burden of disease, including TB and high levels of diabetes, heart disease and stroke There is especially poor access to GPs, and many people don t have access to a car, so easy access by public transport to A&E is especially important The Parish will continue to campaign against Health Inequalities and for the implementation of excellent Out of Hospital Care and promote the case for Ealing Hospital to be a Major Hospital h) Supporting Migrant: The Diaspora Caucus of UK Citizens exists to promote community organising among institutions and leaders which are based in the UK remain connected to their country of origin by nationality, language, religion or culture. Through training, leadership development and action, we aim to build the 29
power of diaspora communities to tackle social injustice and to improve public attitudes to migrants through working with others for the common good. Training provided by New Citizens team will extend this work to Southall and support the work the parish already does for migrant workers 4. The fourth season, taking us from the autumn to the close of the Year of Faith, will reflect on prayer and the growth of our own personal spirituality. In preparation for the fourth season we have established regular retreat evenings on the First First Friday of the Month with the celebration of Mass and Guidance & suggestions for personal prayer & meditation. We shall also follow the Novena of Grace from 4-12 March. In the autumn we shall put on the Living and Working in an Ignatian Way Programme and in Advent we shall have a retreat Interfaith: Conversations around the legacy of Brother Daniel Faivre will continue 30
YOUTH During 2013 and 2014 the parish will seriously attempt to begin developing a programme of events for young people and for our altar servers. Altar Servers: The parish has a group of 50 active and enthusiastic altar servers who like to come together for training sessions and outings. We shall develop activities for this younger group and establish a club for them. St Anselm s Primary School: There is a very good partnership between the school and the parish which enables the children to thrive in a close-knit caring community. The Parish Priest is a frequent visitor to the school, leading assemblies and celebrating the feasts and seasons of the Church s year. Mass and 31
Liturgies are celebrated regularly. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated in Advent and Lent. SICK AND HOUSEBOUND: Until recently a very small number of Eucharistic Ministers and the Missionaries of Charity and the Priests of the parish have visited the sick and the housebound. We need more Eucharistic Ministers to be involved in this important work. this has all been completed they shall be a great support and assistance to the sick and housebound of the parish.legion of Mary: Our new group was established a few months ago. Lively and enthusiastic and very apostolic, they visit residential homes in the parish with Father Leo on a regular weekly basis and they have very much enhanced our ministry to the sick and housebound. They have also supported West London Citizens in visiting local shops and businesses in City Safe Mapping Exercise: They have begun to visit the homes of new parishioners and will develop a welcoming ministry to new comers and during the Year of 32
Faith will organise a series of street masses. They will also explore the possibility of starting a Legion for teenagers. 33