Good Neighbours

As part of the Parish Renewal programme, and as you know from the recent requests seeking area volunteers, we have been working on and are now ready to launch “Good Neighbours’. This initiative answers the call to become a more open and welcoming parish, as highlighted in the feedback from the parish survey, exemplified by, ‘The parish being a much stronger community, where everyone feels welcome, and not alone whatever their personal situation, and there is much more looking out for people including non–Catholics’.

As shown on the map below (also on display at the back of the church, or a zoomable version is available here), you can see the parish has been divided into several small areas, each with its own representatives, who will keep contact with the parishioners in their own area.

The aim is to develop a local community in each area by:

• dropping a newsletter through a letter box to those unable to leave home
• welcoming new catholic neighbours
• letting the parish office know of any specific needs of parishioners in that area (for example need for transport to go to Mass, request of a visit of a Eucharistic minister…)
• just saying “hello” or keeping telephone contact with parishioners who may not be well, or in need of a friendly chat.

As the map highlights, the red sections show which areas are not yet covered by volunteers, and the yellow sections show areas where there are some, but not enough volunteers for the number of parish households, so we would be grateful if anyone could step forward to help cover these areas.

If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact the parish office or email dr.harpendenolol@gmail.com with your name and postcode.

It is a very good and straightforward opportunity to become the missionary disciples we are all called to be.