Apostolic Groups

Parish Justice & Peace Group

The Group is long established - it first met on 8th March 1982 and has met regularly ever since. The numbers in the Group have varied over time between five and fifteen. It normally meets about once a month in the church porch on Monday evenings ( 7.30-9.00pm ) to review its work and to plan its activities. These tend to follow a regular pattern framed by the Church's calendar, interspersed by responses to specific issues and campaigns. Around Christmas for instance we organise a collection of goods for the homeless and send cards to prisoners of conscience, and at intervals throughout the year arrange for fairly-traded goods to be on sale after Mass. Please join us to share in our efforts to promote justice and peace at home and abroad based on the social teaching of the Catholic Church. No prior knowledge or expertise is required, just a willingness to learn and participate in our work on behalf of CAFOD and other agencies, Catholic, ecumenical and secular, working to improve conditions for those less fortunate than ourselves and to influence national and international policies and practices of Governments, businesses and individuals for the common good, including environmental issues where they impinge on our activities. We would particularly welcome more young and middle aged members, and the level of commitment can be flexible. Contact Mike Crawley, Tel. 0161 973 9333.  

 

The Association for the Propagation of the Faith (A.P.F.) assists each and every one of the Catholic Church's 1,062 mission dioceses and territories to provide pastoral care and preach the Gospel effectively. It was founded in Lyons, France in 1822 by a young French woman, Pauline Jaricot. She began by persuading local working people to supportthe missions by giving a farthing a week. A century later, when the organisation was establishe in almost every country of the world, Pope Pius XI made it the official mission-funding society of the Catholic Church.

The APF works in England and Wales with the Mill Hill Missionary Society, the only major missionary society to have been formed in England. Mill Hill was one of the first societies to introduce lay missionaries, and its priests, lay brothers and associates work in 27 countries and every continent  

In England and Wales funds for the Missions are collected through the famous Red Mission Boxes for collecting loose change. These can be found in 200,000 homes and they have helped raise millions of pounds for the missions. If you would like one of these boxes, please contact our Parish A.P.F. agent, Margaret White, on 0161 941 5676.  

 

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official international development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and a member of the Caritas International Confederation, a worldwide network of Catholic relief and development organisations. Our parish for many years has contributed most generously to this cause. We take a  monthly retiring collection (normally on the 3rd Sunday of every month), and envelopes are always available to enable tax-payers to 'gift aid' their donations.

 

St Vincent de Paul Society (S.V.P.)  

Following the amalgamation of the two parishes of St Hugh of Lincoln and St John the Baptist, the hitherto separate SVP Conferences also decided to unite. Apart from providing help and support to needy parishioners, the Conference also is twinned with three Conferences in India: Nitya Sahaya Matha, Nellikunam; Mary Martha, Edakkunam, Kanjirapilly CC; and Ss Peter & Paul, Pudur, Uthumanur. In addition, other funds and charitable causes are supported provided they are established by or linked to the SVP: e.g. David Young’s Charity which provides grants for people in need, hardship or distress; the SVP Disaster Fund; work in Sudan; and other special funds established to assist SVP projects. The Conference meets on Thursday evenings at 7.00pm in the porch of St Hugh of Lincoln Church, 314 Manchester Rd, West Timperley, Altrincham, WA14 5NB.

St Vincent’s Shop & the SVP Furniture Unit

The SVP Charity Shop,136 Moorcroft Road, Northern Moor, M23 0AH, Tel. 0161 998 3507.Open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm, and on Saturday from 10.00am to 3.00pm, but closed all day Wednesday and Sunday.

The SVP Furniture Unit can be contacted through the above number.  

 

Serra International GB is the British arm of Serra International, a lay organisation within the Roman Catholic Church, charged by the Holy See to promote vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious, or Vowed, Life. Serra exists world-wide with some 24,000 members working through 770 Clubs in 36 countries and all five continents.

Our Parish contact person is Denis McConville, Tel. 0161 980 4231.  

 

LIFE provides help and support to thousands of women and men each year. Its core services are Caring, Education, Housing and the Fertility Care Programme. It offers free, confidential information, counselling and support for women contemplating abortion, suffering after pregnancy loss or struggling to cope after abortion. It has a nationwide network of care centres, a free national helpline open 6 days a week (0800 915 4600) and a ‘text-to-talk’ service (0778 620 0330). LIFE can also provide financial and practical help and support before and after birth. It runs a network of baby shops which can supply baby clothes and equipment, and its care centres can also supply clothes and equipment to anyone who might need help.

Parish contact: Madeleine Ingram, Tel. 0161 980 8972.  

 

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (S.P.U.C.) is a U.K. based non-profit-making organisation established to affirm, defend and promote the existence and value of human life from the moment of conception, and to defend and protect human life generally. While SPUC is primarily an educational and lobbying organisation, it also responds to requests for assistance from expectant mothers facing difficulties.

Parish contact: Brendan Coyle, Tel. 0161 972 0476.  

 

The Catenian Association

An international brotherhood of Catholic men who value Faith, Family, Friendship and Fun. They meet socially at least once a month and their gatherings regularly involve wives, children and families. They support each other including access to a Benevolent Fund if required, care for widows of deceased members, offer bursaries to young Catholics who wish to help others, and are active in promoting Vocations to the priesthood and religious life. 

There are two local circles:-  

The Brooklands Circle . Circle Number: 196. Inaugurated: Apr 20 1961 .

Meeting Times: 8:00pm . Meeting Date(s): 3rd Thursday of the Month.

Venue: The Woodheys Club, 299 Washway Road , Sale , Cheshire M33 4EE.

President: Jim O’Mahoney, Tel. 0161 962 8290.  

 

North Cheshire . Circle Number: 154. Inaugurated: Nov 20 1950 .

Meeting Times: 8:00pm . Meeting Date(s): 3rd Monday of the Month.

Venue: Ringway Golf Club, Hale Mount, Hale Barns, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8SW.  

 

Knights of St Columba (K.S.C.)

The Knights of St Columba are an Order of Catholic Laymen dedicated to the Service of the Church and fellow man. The Organisation, which is non-political and essentially democratic, exists to support the mission of the Catholic Church and at the same time to work for the spiritual and material good of its members and their families. The K.S.C. is not a secret society; there are no passwords, handshakes, etc. The Order is completely open and potential members may attend meetings. Admission ceremonies often take place in Church during Mass.

Parish Contact: Tony Mottram, Tel. 0161 980 3115.  

 

Catholic Women’s League (C.W.L.)

The Catholic Women’s League was founded in 1906 by Margaret Fletcher. The League encourages its members to work both in the parish and in the wider community. Members are also concerned with issues on a national and international level.  

The local group meets once a month in Westleigh, St Vincent’s, on Groby Road , Altrincham. Our parish contact is Madeleine Ingram, Tel. 0161 980 8972.  

 

Newman Association

The Newman Association is a national organisation whose members meet regularly in local “circles” to discuss and develop their understanding of the Christian faith. Most are Catholics, but baptised Christians of other traditions are warmly welcome as Associate Members. The Association was founded in 1942. The original aim was to answer the needs of Catholic graduates, but is now open to all Christians who seek to promote the aim of an educated laity. The Association takes its name from Cardinal John Henry Newman who wanted “an intelligent and well-instructed laity” and whose cause for canonisation is progressing well.  

The Local group is called the Manchester and North Cheshire Circle, which meets in St. Benedict's Church Hall, 10 Hall Road, Handforth, Cheshire, SK9 3AD, close to Handforth Station. It holds lectures through the winter into spring, normally on the 1st Monday of each month. The talks start at 8.15pm (preceded by Eucharist or other liturgy at 7.30pm). Visitors are most welcome. Ring Michael Crawley, Tel. 0161 973 1694, if interested, or just turn up.