The Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay

Parish life

Three choirs and a team of six musicians lead music at all Masses in the parish. The musicians and singers participate in Carol Singing at Christmas and services with Churches Together in Billericay.

The parish regularly runs Alpha Courses in the Pastoral Centre. During Lent and Advent there is an early morning weekday Mass followed by a simple breakfast in the Pastoral Centre.

The parish has been twinned with the parish of Blauuwbosch in South Africa's Natal province since 1985. The parish has joined with the Basildon and Wickford parishes to form a Parish Partnership.

Faith in Action is a fundraising group of young parishioners aged 8 and older. The parish has 1 Rainbow unit, 2 Brownie units and a Guide unit, all run by voluntary guiders.

The Parish Pastoral Council meets four times a year and sets the parish strategy derived from the three goals of the parish vision. The Parish Help Scheme offers daytime support to those in need, including transport to appointments and collecting shopping or prescriptions. The Welcome Group greets people and hands out Mass and hymn books before Mass, with approximately thirty-five members on the rota.

The parish has an annual Time and Talents weekend when parishioners complete a form to join groups and organisations. A training evening for those involved in toddler's and children's liturgy took place at the Most Holy Redeemer, open to parishioners from all three parishes. A visiting group of established parishioners visits new parishioners in their homes and gives them information about the parish.

A mothers' group meets to share prayers and reflect on the scriptures, usually in members' houses. The Billericay Catholic Pre-School runs sessions in the Pastoral Centre 5 days a week for children from 2 years 4 months to 5 years old.

The Connect Groups noticeboard is in the church porch. GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) supports families to engage with their faith. Connect Groups are small faith sharing groups which meet regularly to pray together and support each other in faith. The church has full facilities for the disabled and a loop system for hearing aid users.

Regular events

Each year, on Monday evenings from September to Easter, the parish runs a series of talks on the Catholic Faith entitled A-B-C- About Becoming Catholic.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish uses the GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) pathway for families preparing for a child's First Holy Communion. The GIFT pathway enables families to work with the GIFT team at their own pace to decide the best time for children to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

The Confirmation programme runs annually for young people in school Year 9 and above, involving learning, sharing, fellowship and serving. Marriage at the parish requires at least one baptised Catholic and a parish or family connection, with at least 6 months notice.

Alpha is used at the parish to support its vision of becoming more outward looking and missional. A Parent and Baby group offers support and friendship for parents and carers of babies up to eighteen months, meeting Thursday mornings at the Pastoral Centre.

The parish has a Parish Leadership Team which meets with the Parish Priest once a month. A small group of volunteers reaches out to welcome new parishioners to the church. Mass bags for children are available at all weekend parish Masses for children aged 1-3 and older.