PLT Parish Update January – March 2026

 

From late January, the Parish Leadership Team resumed weekly meetings with a focus on missionary renewal for 2026. Across February and March, the team reviewed a wide range of parish initiatives, including:

• New and upcoming devotions such as the Holy Face Devotion, Divine Mercy Novena, the Solemnity of St Joseph, Marian and Eucharistic processions, and the Heart of St Carlo Acutis relic visit, most of which are still in planning.
• Sacramental preparation support, including an Afternoon Tea Information Session for parents of the three parish primary schools.
• New ministries, including VIA (post‑Alpha discipleship pathway) and Ablaze Women, plus continued support for the Ablaze Youth Group.
• 2025 Carols reflection with Carols Committee.
• 2026 Alpha program planning and Leadership Summits.
• Parish Feast Day.
• Meeting with our international coach for missionary renewal & leadership – Ron Huntley.
• Engagement with diocesan events, including St Patrick’s Oration, the 2028 Eucharistic Congress, and the Growing Vital Parishes Conference.

 

On Saturday 28 February, the PLT gathered for its annual Planning Day to reflect on our parish journey throughout 2025 and to discern our priorities for 2026 in the spirit of missionary renewal. We undertook a detailed SWOT analysis across the five Systems of Missionary Renewal — Worship, Evangelisation, Discipleship, Fellowship, and Service — identifying strengths to build on and areas calling for renewed focus. This was followed by a dedicated session on current and emerging leadership within the parish, helping us consider how best to support, empower, and grow leaders for the mission ahead.  Key take outs of the day are as follows:

 

WORSHIP – while many aspects of our worship life are flourishing, particularly the growing attendance and active participation at Mass, two areas require focused attention: maintaining reverence within the sacred space and addressing ongoing seating constraints. We also reflected on the central role of music in lifting the hearts of the faithful and enriching the liturgy. This naturally led to a broader conversation about the meaning of the Mass and how we can ensure it is a profound encounter with Christ for all who gather, deeply rooted in our Catholic identity.

 

EVANGELISATION – remains centred on Alpha, which continues to be our primary tool for proclaiming the Gospel and inviting people into a living relationship with Christ. Two key areas emerged in our discussion.

• Broadening the experience of Alpha within the parish — Many parishioners have not yet participated in Alpha and encountered its clear proclamation of the Good News or the transformative impact it has had on so many. Increasing awareness and encouraging wider participation remain essential.
• Providing an intentional pathway beyond Alpha — Until the launch of VIA, there was no structured next step for those who had completed Alpha and desired to continue growing in faith, discipleship, and relationship with Christ. VIA now fills this gap, offering meaningful progression for ongoing formation, community, and spiritual growth.

Together, these priorities highlight both the strength of Alpha as an evangelising tool and the importance of building a sustained pathway of discipleship within the parish.

 

DISCIPLESHIP – understood as following Christ, learning from Him, and growing as missionary disciples, was explored through several key areas of parish life. The conversation focused on how we form people not only to know the faith, but to live it, share it, and become missionary disciples who accompany others.  Our Ablaze Groups, VIA, leadership formation & Bible studies were discussed & will be a key focus in 2026.

 

FELLOWSHIP/COMMUNITY – remains a vibrant part of parish life, with many opportunities for people to connect, build relationships, and experience the warmth of community. The parish offers a wide range of gatherings — welcoming, hospitality, BBQs, annual celebrations such as the feast day and Christmas Carols, Connect Groups, and social activities like bingo. These events contribute significantly to creating a sense of belonging and shared identity.  At the same time, two challenges were acknowledged:

• A small group carrying most of the load — The same dedicated volunteers tend to organise the majority of events, and attendance often comes from the same familiar faces. This limits both the diversity of involvement and the potential for new people to feel invited into community life.
• Limited facilities affecting logistics — Ongoing constraints around available spaces make it difficult to schedule events, host larger gatherings, and plan confidently. These limitations impact both the frequency and the scale of community activities.

Together, these insights highlight the strength of our existing community spirit while also pointing to the need for broader engagement and improved infrastructure to support a growing and more dynamic parish life.

 

SERVICE/MINISTRY – Service and ministry have grown significantly since the parish began its missionary renewal journey. More people are now serving in roles that align with their strengths, and this momentum is expected to continue throughout 2026. This growth reflects a genuine desire among parishioners to contribute to the life and mission of the Church.  At the same time, the discussion highlighted an important tension at the heart of ministry:

• The need for missionary discipleship — Serving in ministry is not simply about filling roles or maintaining operations. It flows from being a missionary disciple: someone who knows Christ, follows Him, and seeks to share His love with others. Ministry is an expression of discipleship, not a separate activity.
• The persistence of a maintenance mindset — While good operational maintenance is essential for a healthy parish, it cannot be the primary lens through which ministry is understood. Many still approach ministry as a task to be completed rather than a mission to be lived. This mindset limits the transformative potential of ministry and can hinder the parish’s missionary identity.
• Leadership shaped by mission — Leading or serving in ministry requires more than competence; it requires a missionary heart. Formation, support, and ongoing conversion are needed to help ministers grow into leaders who inspire, accompany, and evangelise through their service.

Together, these insights point to a parish that is growing in service but still being invited into deeper missionary purpose. Strengthening the link between ministry and discipleship will be key to sustaining renewal.

 

Overall Summary

The points outlined above represent a summary of the key themes discussed across our five Systems of Missionary Renewal. Each system reflects both the growth we are experiencing as a parish and the areas where continued focus, formation, and intentionality are needed. The Parish Leadership Team remains fully available to explore any aspect of this update in greater depth and to support further discernment, planning, or clarification as required.

 

St Catherine of Siena, pray for us

Ann O’Brien (on behalf of the PLT)