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Volunteering Opportunities

Set out below is a list of volunteering opportunities within our church.

If you’d like further information, please contact either Catherine or Nicky – addlestone@abdiocese.org.uk or 01932 848616.

Altar Serving

We welcome both children and adults to become Altar Servers, provided you have made your First Holy Communion. Training is provided to all new servers.

Catechists

We are looking to build upon our current team who will support our children who are preparing for First Holy Communion and students who are preparing for Confirmation. Please e-mail the Parish office if you would like to find out more.

St Vincent de Paul Society

The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is an international Christian voluntary organisation, dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage, by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. SVP’s activities at Holy Family Parish include the following:

• Hold monthly meetings in the Parish Centre.
• Organise an SVP luncheon and an afternoon tea party annually. All welcome.
• SVP members visit St. Augustine’s nursing home in Addlestone once a week.
• Visit the elderly, sick, housebound and individuals or families in need.
• Provide food parcels to families of Holy Family School who are in need of support.
• Provide tea, coffee and cakes in the Parish Centre on Wednesdays after the 9.30am mass.
• Assist the parish with organising events, when needed.

For more information, or if you’d like to be a part of the parish’s SVP team, please email the Parish office.

Choir

We have an informal choir at our 6pm mass on Saturday evenings and our main choir at our 10am mass on Sunday (except during August). We are always looking for vocalists of all ages to join us – all you need is a love of singing. Choir practice is held on Wednesdays between 7pm and 9pm. For more information please email Phil Garty – pgarty@hotmail.com

Church & Parish Centre Cleaning

Our volunteer cleaners work as a team on a rota and clean once every 5-6 weeks. Usually the Church is cleaned anytime from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday at midday. Cleaning materials are provided. If you would like to join the team please email the Parish office.

Counters

If you’d like to be part of our counting team and you can spare 30 minutes every 5 weeks, please do get in touch with the Parish office.

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion

There are currently 14 Ministers of the Eucharist. As well as helping to distribute Holy Communion at both masses, our Eucharistic Ministers take Communion to the sick and housebound in their homes and St Augustine’s Nursing Home in Addlestone. This ministry is appreciated by all who are unable to be present at Sunday Mass, but who, through the services of our ministers, are united to the congregation in the Church.

We currently need more volunteers to assist in the precious ministry of bringing Holy Communion to the housebound, so please contact the Parish office to learn more about how you can participate.

Flowers

The Flower Ministry designs and creates floral arrangements for the altar on a bi-weekly basis and for special liturgical seasons and feast days.

Please contact the Parish office if you are interested in volunteering as a member of the team, or have a special request for wedding flowers or other Parish activity or event.

Autumn Leaf Collection Team

With so many beautiful trees surrounding our church, during the autumnal months, the leaves fall and can sometimes make it slippery in our car park and pathways. We have a dedicated rota of parishioners who collect the leaves on a weekly basis. Should you wish to join our team from October – January, please contact the Parish office.

Lawn Cutting Team

As with the leaf collection team, we have a rota of parishioners who cut the lawns approx. every six weeks. Please contact the Parish office if you would like to participate.

Readers

Readers help to deliver the good news by reading the First Reading (Old Testament), The Psalm (when not sung), the Second Reading (New Testament) and the Bidding Prayers during Mass. As a reader, you must be comfortable with public speaking and proficient with diction, enunciation, pronunciation, and projection. A rota is regularly produced for readers based on what Masses they attend and two readers are required for each Mass.

If you wish to become a reader please contact the Parish office.

Sacristans

Our Sacristans offer a wonderful service, preparing for our Sunday and weekday Masses at the altar and in the Sacristy and clearing up after Mass. If you wish to become a member of the team, please contact the Parish office.

Safeguarding

Holy Family Church is committed to the safeguarding of our parishioners and follows guidance from Arundel & Brighton Diocese on all aspects of safeguarding of vulnerable groups, including in relation to volunteer training. Please refer to the Safeguarding section of our website here for further information.