Parishes across the Diocese of Shrewsbury are being invited to send a representative to a resource day designed to support ministry and outreach to Catholics who have stopped attending Mass.
The event will take place in the Grimshaw room of St Chad’s Cathedral House, Birmingham, on 4 February 2012 from 10am to 4.30pm.
It will be addressed by Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham and Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham.
The event is part of the “Crossing the Threshold” national tour, an initiative of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
Archbishop Longley said: “Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly invited all baptised to reach out in new ways to our families and those in our local communities with the message of the Gospel.
“He has emphasised that our activities should particularly focus on inviting the baptised who no longer practice their Catholic faith to rediscover the joy of believing and belonging (Motu Proprio – Porta Fidei 7).
“With this in view I hope you will join me at ‘Crossing the Threshold’ on 4th February and that each parish might send a representative.
“Please do come and share your experiences as well as benefit from the support being made available about effective ways of respectfully and confidently reaching out to non-churchgoing Catholics.”
Every parish of diocese, which belongs to the Province of Birmingham, has also been sent a letter from Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, the chairman of the bishops’ Department of Evangelisation and Catechesis, asking for at least one representative to come along.
Parishes have also been sent posters to promote the event, entitled Resource Day: How to Reach Non-Churchgoing Catholics.
The event has been organised in response to concerns repeatedly expressed by priests and parishioners about the large number of baptised who never or rarely attend Sunday Mass. There is no charge to attend the day but pre-booking is requested (See: http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/Catholic-Church/Home-Mission/Non-Churchgoing-Catholics).
Bookings can be made by ringing 0207 901 4818; email mission.volunteer@cbcew.org.uk