The Most Holy Trinity, Basildon

Introduction

In 2010 a video link was established between the church and the hall because Holy Trinity was too small.

History

The church was extended and refurbished between September 2011 and May 2012. The first Masses in the town centre were held in a builders' canteen in late 1958, served by priests from St Basil's. From 1960 to 1963 parishioners used a new community hall at Kingswood for Mass. By 1963 the parish had its own hall at Roundacre, where Mass was celebrated. Roundacre was affected by subsidence, so the Basildon Development Corporation granted two and a half acres on Wickhay for a new site.

Music and liturgy

A Children's Choir formed by children from the Indian and Afro-Caribbean communities leads well-known hymns. A Filipino Music Group leads the congregation once a month, usually on the second Sunday.

Parish life

The parish is twinned with the Parish of Embalenhle in South Africa. The parish is accredited by the Fairtrade Foundation as a Fairtrade Parish. The parish has been accredited the CAFOD LiveSimply Award.

The Basildon Filipino UK Community was launched in 2004 due to the increasing number of Filipinos. The parish has about 1100 people at Masses over the weekend, including around a hundred families from India. The parish offers Adoration for Malayalam speakers and monthly Mass for the Syro-Malabar community. There is a Basildon Filipino Association that includes over a hundred Catholic families.

The parish runs a First Holy Communion programme for children in school years 3, 4, 5 or 6. The parish has a Parish Council that discusses matters raised by parishioners and feeds results back.

The parish has a Children's Programme for ages 4-14. The parish has a Children's Liturgy at St Basil's on Sundays.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish asks couples planning to marry to give at least six months notice. The parish has a Eucharistic Minister who brings Holy Communion to housebound parishioners. The parish arranges visits to patients in hospital through the parish office.

The Legion of Mary is active at St Therese and St Basil's. The Legion of Mary invites families to welcome Our Lady into their homes for a week of prayer. The parish has a Filipino church choir that sings every second Sunday.

Visiting

The SVP group at Holy Trinity meets at the church and helps families in need with furniture, emergency help, and holiday schemes. The halls at Holy Trinity are available for hire.