Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George, Enfield

Introduction

Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George in Enfield, within the Archdiocese of Westminster, is distinguished by a parish history written by Herbert Vaughan and published in 1992.

History

In 1946, Father Gerard Barry was assistant priest. In 1862, the Catholic faith returned to Enfield in a small chapel that also served as a schoolroom. By 1901 the first parish church was built, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The first parish church was destroyed by a falling land mine during the Second World War.

Parish life

The parish has a number of groups leading the music at its Masses. The Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick and Housebound takes Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass. The parish is a Fairtrade parish. The parish's own Third World charity, TWIN, has provided over £150,000 to some 30 countries in Africa, Asia and South America.

An RCIA group helps those who want to learn more about Catholic faith and become Catholics. Children's Week is an annual event held for one week in the summer at Our Lady of Walsingham for the children of the parish. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist the clergy with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass. A group of Readers proclaims the Word of God at Mass.

A group of Gardeners maintains the gardens and grounds at both churches. A Cleaning team of volunteers does the sweeping, dusting, window cleaning, hoovering and brass rubbing. Altar Servers serve at the altar. Catechists deliver youth based sacramental programmes.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The RCIA group meets regularly to grow in understanding of Catholic faith and in personal relationship with Christ and his Church. The Bishop usually comes to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in May or June. The adult Confirmation group is advertised in the parish from Easter, but people can leave their details at reception at any time.

The Catholic Church requires a minimum of six months' notice to arrange and prepare a couple for marriage. In an emergency, when death is imminent, people can phone the Presbytery at any time. Parishioners going into hospital, or knowing of a Catholic in hospital, are asked to inform one of the priests.

The parish's volunteer Baptism Coordinator can usually be contacted at the presbytery on Wednesday afternoons. The RCIA group includes people from a wide range of different backgrounds and with different experiences in life. The priests from the parish are always available to meet privately with people to discuss faith and their relationship with Christ.

Visiting

The Repository, a bookshop run by a team of volunteers, offers religious books, cards and other goods. The parish centre is available for hire by parishioners for family occasions such as baptisms, birthdays and anniversary celebrations. The 29th Enfield Scout group attached to the parish has three sections for boys and girls. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul offers practical help to those in the community in need.

The APF (Association for the Propagation of the Faith) group supports all 1,069 overseas mission dioceses. Love in Action explores the six guiding principles of Catholic social action. The Our Lady of Walsingham Committee assists the Parish Priest in the running of the Chapel of Ease, Our Lady of Walsingham and the English Martyrs.

People aged 17 and over can enquire about adult confirmation by contacting reception for the dates of the latest RCIA programme. The parish directory lists the groups and organisations in the parish, with information about how to get involved or how the parish can offer support.