Girls and boys who wish to be altar servers must have made their first communion. Training is given and after a suitable time the server may be enrolled to the Guild of St. Stephen.
Contact: Fr. Brian 020 8504 1686
Badminton
Thursday 7.00pm – 10.00pm in Trinity Upper School, Mornington Road, Woodford Green during term time only. Members are of mixed ages & standards.
For details ring Eileen Lyle on 020 8524 3966 or Della Kerr on 020 8529 6020
Baptisms
See Sacramental Preparation.
Christmas Fayre
Held every year in the run up to Christmas.
Contact Dolly Anderson 07940 429 815
Beavers
Boys aged 5 3/4 – 8 years who meet every Monday 6.15pm – 7.15pm in the Scout Hut, term time only.
Contact Pauline Elkin 020 8505 2109 or Christine Mooney 020 8504 5600.
Becket Centre
It is adjacent to the Church and used for various social, liturgical and educational purposes in the parish. Booking forms are available from the Parish Office (Mon. – Friday 9.30am – 1.30pm).
Contact Eileen Beerlie in the Parish Office on Thursdays only.
Becket Centre Planning and Social Group
The Parish Pastoral Plan is forming a new group to take responsibility of the running of the Becket Centre and to organise and promote Parish Social events.
Bereavement Group
For those who experience bereavement and desire to talk to someone with experience and sympathy. This is a free service and all calls are entirely confidential.
Contact Angela Meyler 020 8504 2138.
Brownies
For girls 7 – 10 years. Tuesdays from 6.30pm – 8.00pm in the Becket Centre. Term time only.
Contact Linda Simpole, Brown Owl, 020 8504 8484 or Sue Musui 020 8559 0268.
Catholic Fellowship
The Catholic Fellowship is a registered charity and was founded as a support group for families of children with special needs. It is a voluntary organization and was set up in the Diocese of Brentwood over forty years ago. Shortly afterwards local groups were formed, Wanstead and Woodford being one of them.
If you would like further information on becoming a member or volunteer please contact Kath Harman on 020 8504 2905 or Joanna Jarvis on 020 8508 6598.
Catechists
To provide catechetical instruction for children and in particular for the sacramental programmes and the children’s liturgy. Much emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents.
Contact Parish Office 020 8504 1686.
Catenian Association
A lay association of Catholic business and professional men who meet on the first Tuesday of every month.
Contact Val Browne 020 8505 4974
Catholic Handicapped Fellowship
A society for the welfare of mentally and physically handicapped people and their families. They offer information, advice and support.
Contact Jeane Lil 020 8559 1886
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council
(See Marriage under ‘Sacramental Preparation’)
Catholic Clothing Guild
A national organisation to provide clothing for the needy.
Contact Rita Watkins 020 8504 0662
Catholic Truth Society
To promote the sale of Catholic pamphlets and books. There is a stall at the back of the church.
Contact Doreen Ritchie 020 8504 4121
Catholic Women’s League
The CWL aims to promote and support charitable works. Meetings are held at the Becket Centre on the first Wednesday of every month.
Contact Lesley Beerli 020 8504 2407
Christian Unity (see Woodford Fellowship of Christian Churches)
The parish as a whole is committed to the Diocesan Covenant to Christian Unity.
Contact Sheelagh Hunter 020 8505 8508
Church Choirs
Woodford (11.30am Mass). For adults – always glad to see new members
Contact Hilary Dobson 020 8504 3368
Music Group Woodford (10.00am Mass)
A small group of musicians who perform Christian songs and hymns in a contemporary way. (www.musicgrp.freeserve.co.uk)
Kay Fisher on 020 8504 7881 or k.fisher@tesco.net.
Chigwell ChoirThe choir sings every Sunday at the 10.00am Mass. New members are always welcome.Contact Sr. Mary Cecilia 020 8506-0329Child ProtectionContact Angela Meyler 020 8504 2138Church CleaningVolunteers who work as a group to clean the church on a rota basis. Volunteers, who can spare one hour or more, every seven weeks, are always welcome.Contact Pat Bell 020 8504 4577Church LaundryA team of willing volunteers who take responsibility for the washing of the church linen.Contact Rita Watkins 020 8504 0662
Confirmation Project Italy, 2006
This year the some of the students taking their confirmation embark on a journey of self-discovery, follow them part of the way through these pages.
Exhibition Area
This is at the rear of the church to promote parish projects.
Contact Parish Office 0208 504 1686
Fete
Held in the Friary gardens during the summer. Helpers for the annual event are always needed.
Contact Parish Office 0208 504 1686
Finance Committee (Parish)
To advise on financial and administrative issues
Contact Stuart Ritchie (Secretary) 020 8504 4121
Flower Arrangements (Church)
For weddings and funerals
Contact Barbara (Parish Office) 020 8504 1686
Football: St. Thomas of Canterbury F.C.
All the games are played locally and are within the framework of an organised league. New players are always welcome as are people willing to assist in ay way for 18 years upwards.
Contact Chris Brown 020 8281 0302
Email: thegaffer@mightysaints.co.uk
Web Site: www.mightysaints.co.uk
Franciscan Missionary Union (FMU)
As Franciscans staff the parish we have committed ourselves to support our Friars who are working in the missions abroad. Missionary collection boxes are available.
Contact Frank & Rosa Fitzpatrick 020 8504 1466
Friary Tennis Club
The club has two courts at the rear of the Friary, which are in ideal surroundings for the family. We encourage all our parishioners who are interested in playing tennis to join this family orientated club.
Contact Bernard Hunter 020 8505 8508
Funerals
Where possible we encourage members of our parish community to be present at a Requiem Mass. For this reason the usual time for a Requiem Mass is 10.00am. One of the priests will endeavour to visit the house after bereavement.
Contact the parish office 020 8504 1686
Gift Aid
This is for parishioners who pay tax and donate regularly to the church. Gift Aid is a major source of income for the parish. It allows the parish to reclaim tax back on your contributions at no cost to yourself.
Contact Leon Menzies 020 8504 8351
Guides
Meet every Friday 6.30pm – 8.00pm in the Henrietta Suite
Contact Janet Morris 020 8504 1369 or Rosemary Smith 020 8220 5105
Golf days
The Parish Office organises a number of popular golf days throughout the year. They are advertised in the weekly newsletter and on the website. To avoid disappointment be sure to book early, as number are often limited.
Contact: Parish Office
HhSTAMPS (Helping hands St Thomas’ & St Antony’s Making People Smile)
Is a fundraising group formed to raise money for charity. They are currently supporting Cancer & Leukaemia in children (C.L.I.C.)
Contact Angela Meyler 020 8504 2138
Holy Water
Available at the back of the church by St. Antony’s statue.
House Blessings
Available on request
Contact Parish Office 020 8504 1686
In Touch
Is the parish quarterly magazine run by a small team. Letters, articles and jokes are always welcome.
Journey of Faith (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
For those who may be interested in becoming Catholics.
Contact Leon Menzies 020 8559 1617
Justice & Peace Group
To be re-established
Contact Michael Butterworth 020 8505 5012
Keep Fit
Meets every Monday 8pm in the Becket Centre. Reserved for women (See also Yoga)
Contact Kitty Blogg 020 8504 5442, Lesley Beerli 020 8504 2407
Knights of St. Columba
It aims to promote the apostolate of the laity.
Contact Ray Finney 020 8505 1460
Laity of the Holy Family
A group of lay people – men and women, married and single – who are members of the same world-wide Family as the Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux.
Contact Betty Norton 020 8505 1536
Liturgy for Children
Takes place in all Mass Centres in the parish. It is designed for children aged four and up to 1st Communion. We are always grateful for parent co-operation and more catechists.
St. Thomas’ 10.00am
Contact Ann Farmer 020 8491 0186, Julie Prior 020 8504 8091, Maggie Lanchester 020 8926 9376
Buckhurst Hill 9.00am
Contact Caroline Shirra 020 8502 5296
Chigwell
Contact Sr. Mary Cecilia (Liaison person) 020 8506 0329
Lourdes Pilgrimages
There is an annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Contact parish office 020 8504 1686
Marriage
See ‘Sacramental Preparation’.
Mother & Baby Group (0 – 2 years)
Meets every Wednesday in the Becket Centre 9,30a.m -11.00am. Term time only.
Contact Rachel Woolf 020 8559 2287
Mother & Toddler Group (0 - 5 years)
Meets every Tuesday 9.30am – 11.00am in the Becket Centre. Term time only.
Contact Sheila Browne 020 8504 7485
Night Shelter
A project of the Churches in Redbridge in support of the homeless. Volunteers are always welcome.
Contact Andrea de Berker 020 8599 5725
New Parishioners
In order to register, New Parishioner Forms are available from the parish office. We would be grateful if parishioners who move within the parish would notify the parish office as this enables our records to be kept up to date.
Organist
Weekends. In order to encourage young people to play the organ we are willing to allow them to practise on the church organ.
Contact P. Fitzpatrick 020 8505 1578
Parenting Groups
The aim is to help parents with the rearing of their children. The course has been very successful. There are separate courses for primary and secondary school students.
Contact Bernadette Harris 020 8504 7976
Parish Newsletter
Our parish newsletter is published throughout the year, except during the school summer holidays. Items for the newsletter should be handed into the parish office by Thursday 10.30am at the latest for inclusion the following Sunday. News published in the newsletter also appears on the website each weekend.
Items may be faxed 020 85041844 or e-mailed parishoffice@friar.org
Parish Pastoral Council
Meet in the Becket Centre, the purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council is to take on the responsibility of evangelisation and mission as contained in the Parish Mission Statement. It is an elected body. There are three Mass centres in the parish with their own elected representatives on the Parish Pastoral Council. Members are listed on the notice board at the back of church.
Prayer Groups
Auxiliaries meet one Thursday each month 7.30pm – 8.30pm.
Contact Chigwell Convent 020 8506 0329 or Anthony O’Boyle 020 8504 7242. Sister Josephine’s prayer group meet on alternate Fridays, 10.30 - 12.00 noon in the Becket Centre. Contact 020 8505 2265
Prayers for the faithful
Are prepared on a rota basis by Parishioners weekly. Volunteers are most welcome.
Contact The parish office on 8504 1686
Mother of God Prayer Group
This is a charismatic group which meets every Sunday in the Becket Centre from 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Visitors are always welcome.
Contact Tony Regan 020 8300 6656
Printing Staff
We have at present a rota of parishioners who print our weekly newsletters in house. Please contact the co-ordinator if you would be interested in learning more. Full training given.
Contact co-ordinator Mario Cheong 020 8504 9368
Rainbows (Girls 5 – 7 years)
Tuesdays between 5.15-6.15pm in the Becket Centre.
Contact Carolyn Larkin 020 8505 9645
Readers
Each Mass Centre has its own readers’ rota. Rotas are issued every three months. If you are interested in becoming a reader we have a course to train new volunteers. The Bishop has recommended that all readers should take part in a workshop at least once a year in order to maintain a high standard of reading.
Contact Parish Office on 020 8504 1686
Repository
Situated in the church porch. The repository is open after the 6pm Mass Saturday, all the Sunday Masses and the 10.00am Mass on Monday – Friday
Contact Pat O’Connell 020 8504 0698
Sacrament of the Sick
The Eucharist is taken to our sick and those who are house bound. A service of healing is held in the church when the Sacrament of the sick is conferred on all the parish sick and elderly.
Details are issued in the weekly newsletter.
Sacramental Preparation
There are parish-based courses for all the aspects of sacramental preparation. All responsibility for these courses rests with parishioners. We are now reluctant to make exceptions for people to be excused from the courses unless exceptional reasons are given.
Contact Parish Office 020 8504 1686.
bhSacristan
This group prepares the altar and sacristy for the various weekend Masses Contact parish office 020 8504 1686
Saturday School
A Catholic religious education course for children aged from 5 – 11 who attend non-Catholic schools. Classes are held on Saturday morning in the Becket Centre from 10.30am – 12pm.
Contact Rita Potter 020 8505 1941
Scouts
Meet in the scout hut by the Becket Centre every Friday 8pm – 9.30pm. Boys aged 10 – 16 years. (term time only). New members are always welcome.
Contact Pete Brown 020 8501 0332
Senior Citizens Bingo - Chigwell Convent
An opportunity for local senior citizens to get together for a chat, tea and cake and of course, bingo. Every other Thursday 2.00 – 4.00pm.
Contact Sister Ester.
Sick & Housebound Parishioners
If not already known to us, we would be most grateful if the parish office could be notified of any sick and housebound parishioners.
Single Parents’ Group
If you are new to the parish or would be interested in meeting socially,
Contact Letitia Featherstone 020 8559 0618
Social Events
We need you to organise social events for the parish in the Becket Centre.
Contact The parish office for an information package 020 8505 1420
Soup Run
A team of parishioners who take food and drink to the London homeless. Sandwiches and clothing are donated by parishioners every other Wednesday and brought to the parish office.
Contact Ray Carrig 020 8504 8621
St. Vincent de Paul
The SVP is for men and women willing to undertake active charitable works in the parish. They meet every Thursday upstairs in the Becket Centre at 8.00pm.
Contact Victor Mould 020 8504 9429, John Mulligan 020 85094 6649
Tennis Club
See Friary Tennis Club
Tuesday Club (Over 55’s)
Meets at the Becket Centre on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 2pm – 4pm. The meetings are primarily social occasions with the opportunity to chat but in addition there may be a talk on a subject of local and general interest, musical entertainment or a quiz.
Contact: Alma and Christie Quinn on 8505 3183
Ushers (10.00am Mass)
A group of men and women who welcome people to church and help take up the collection. Volunteers always welcome.
Contact David Underwood 020 8504 1575
Volunteers to the Third World
The parish sponsors parishioners to work in the Third World. Applications for any sponsorship must be made in writing at least one year in advance. Selection is made in consultation with the VSO whose decision is final.
Contact parish office 020 8504 1686
Weddings
See Sacramental Preparation
Woodford Fellowship of Christian Churches
A group of local Christian Churches in the Woodford Green and South Woodford areas sharing and giving joint public witness to our common faith.
Contact Sheelagh Hunter 020 8505 8508
Yoga
Mondays 12noon – 1.30pm upstairs in the Becket Centre.
Over 50's
Wednesday mornings, upstairs in the Becket Centre 9.30am – 11am. Contact Jackie Bonham 020 8504 9035
YouFra – A Franciscan Journey
A new Franciscan experience! YouFra (Franciscan Youth) has existed for more than 40 years in other countries (Italy, Spain, Latin America) and now, for the first time, in collaboration with Trinity Catholic High School, we welcome YouFra to our Parish community. Helpers and organisers are needed to re-establish this ministry for our young people.
Contact Parish Office 020 8504 1686
Youth Cafe
Another new adventure in St Thomas of Canterbury, Youth Café is a recent project aimed at developing social activities for our young people. The great thing about Youth Café is ‘you’ get to decide how it’s run and what we do!
Find out more contact the Parish Office 020 8504 1686
Youth Counselling
People with the necessary skills are needed.
Contact Parish Office 020 8504 1686