Mission Statement

To support and mobilise all in the diocese to become true missionary disciples.

Vision Statement

We are called to be a Catholic diocese which is:
faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ
full of missionary disciples who work together co-responsibly
in vibrant communities of faith,
joyful in their service of God and neighbour

Parish Vision

At the heart of the Diocesan Plan envisaged by the Archbishop, is Catechesis. This is essential today for the education of the faithful, so that we can go out to proclaim the good news. We can only do so if we are equipped with the right tools. And so, we need to look again at tradition, that is how we hand on the faith to future generations, beginning with Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, and linking this with children's catechesis. Catholic schools too need to share in the churches mission of evangelisation and catechesis. Indeed, the parish school is at the heart of Evangelisation in the parish, for it is the school where mission is most important. Meeting with parents, children, teachers and others who have faith, but may not necessarily practice their faith on a regular basis. The harvest is rich, we need to get on with the harvesting, before the harvest withers and dies.

Fr Michael believes in having an open church, that is, keeping the church open so people can go in to visit the blessed sacrament, and pray. This doesn't mean of cause that the church isn't secure, there are ways to secure a property, but the church door must always be left open to allow people to venture in. We should never close the door on anyone, for if we do, we have lost them for good.

Another focus regarding the diocesan plan, is the emphasis on Mission as opposed to Maintenance. However, maintenance should be seen in the context of mission and should be as a result of mission. The church buildings are not the church, the people of the parish are the church, but a church that holds signs and symbols in great esteem can fail to see that the church buildings can be an Icon, a sign and symbol to the local area of the sort of church community we are. For example, if the windows are broken, the grounds are unkempt and overgrown, the church is cold and dirty, does that communicate to the people in the area that we are a caring community? would people want to go to that church? would it look welcoming? so yes, mission is at the heart of the Christian calling, but it has to have a purpose, a direction and a drive, to engage people in its mission.