St Francis of Assisi, Halstead

Introduction

A visit by a cardinal to Halstead for lectures led to monthly Mass in a room in Rosemary Lane.

History

A Mass centre was started and a site for a church was acquired in Halstead. The parish priest was incapacitated by a road accident, and Braintree again assumed responsibility for Halstead until 1942. The house next to the Halstead church was acquired by the Pallottine Fathers as the presbytery; on their departure in January 2009, the diocese purchased it. The first phase of re-ordering the church, as required by Vatican II, was undertaken.

Parish life

The parish relies on volunteers for Eucharistic Ministry, reading, cleaning and flower arranging. The parish has a link with Sible Hedingham.

The parish has a St Vincent de Paul community in Halstead. The church has full facilities for the disabled and a loop system for hearing aid users.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Those in need of the sacrament of healing are invited to contact the parish priest. The Bocking Sisters were requested by the diocesan bishop to engage in pastoral work at Halstead, and they started catechetical instruction of children. Due to advancing age and diminishing numbers, the Franciscan sisters relinquished responsibility for religious education of the children to the Parish, which became the responsibility of lay catechists. Saint Francis has an active Parish Pastoral Council, is involved at deanery level and represented on the Diocesan Pastoral council, and seeks to engage in adult catechesis through the RCIA programme.