Church Groups
There are a number of varied Groups both in Holy Family and in the Parish as a whole. You are always welcome to come along and be part of what these groups do to help build our community, and to reach out beyond to those in need.
HCPT Group 151 takes a group of children with special needs to Lourdes every Easter as part of the HCPT pilgrimage from across the UK. Some of the children are very physically disabled and in wheelchairs while others have behavioural or emotional needs. Group 151 is based in the Reigate area so a number of the children in the group and their carers have links with the parish. The cost of the trip for the children is funded by voluntary contributions and the local parishes are very supportive with this. If you know someone who might like to join the group, please contact the Parish Office.
Bereavement Team
This group was set up at Holy Family in 2007. We are now part of a team serving all three churches of the Parish of the Nativity of the Lord.
Our role is to support, visit, listen to, and talk with anyone who is bereaved in any way at all – in complete confidence. We are responsible to our Priests, the bereaved of the community, and each other.
Most people are fortunate in having friends or relatives who are on hand to comfort; but sometimes it is easier to share grief with someone who is detached from the family or situation, and trained appropriately.
For parishioners who put their name on the parish register as being interested in helping in this important role, and who wish to equip themselves to help, support will be provided.
Contact: Margaret Murray (tel: 01737 240081).
Co-workers of Mother Teresa meet in
Reigate on the second Monday of each month between 10.30
and 12 noon usually at someone’s home. This is a time
for sharing ideas and experiences and a short time is
spent in prayer for those in need. Knitted blankets and
children’s clothing are made and collected then shipped
to the poorest countries. Food and other items are
collected at different times to take to the Missionaries
of Charity for distribution to destitute people in
London. Other charitable projects are also supported.
Co-workers try to recognise God in the poor and to love
God through prayer and works of charity.
Local contact via Parish Office at Holy Family Church.
Full information about the Missionaries of Charity and Co-workers of Mother Teresa is available from:
The Regional Superior M.C.
Missionaries of Charity
177 Bravington Road
London W9 3AR
Our Traidcraft stall, selling a wide variety of Fairtrade produce, runs over one weekend a month at the back of the church after both the Saturday and Sunday masses.
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. On top of supporting these goals, when our parishoners buy their Fairtrade produce through our Holy Family stall, 5% of all purchases are donated to CAFOD.
Every month we sell a wide range of teas, coffees, dried fruit, sugar, preserves, rice, pasta, cereal, chocolate, biscuits, sweets, snacks and other food items. In addition there are always seasonal items, with Christmas bringing a great range of advent calendars, cards and gifts. We are also very happy to order bespoke items from the Fairtrade catalogue which is always available on our stall.
If you would like more information or would like to help out please contact either Katie Ridgers or Anna Hobden via the Holy Family office.
The Catenian Association provides practising
Catholic laymen and their families with friendship,
social activities and support.
It is an international brotherhood of over 10,000 practising Catholic laymen who meet socially once a month in local branches known as Circles, the Reigate Circle being our local one. In addition to monthly meetings, sometimes followed by a dinner, each Circle has a range of social activities, usually involving other family members.
The Association is not a fund raising agent for the Catholic Church, nor is it a Catholic action group. However, it is a group of active Catholics. On an individual basis, Catenians take part in the life of their parishes and many play a leading role in their dioceses and Catholic lay organisations locally and nationally.
Local contacts:
Holy Family: Tom Cahalane Tel 01737 771164
St Joseph’s: Bob Barnes Tel 01293 863510
St Teresa’s: Philip Schwenk Tel 01737 789697
See the Association web site at www.thecatenians.com