We are blessed to have a variety of groups, ministries and courses offered at City Centre Parish, which are always open to new members.
Why not take a look and see if anything interests you?
Ministries within the Church
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A group of environmentally conscious group of individuals who meet to discuss how the parish can change to be better for the planet, promote green living suggestions to the parish and to plan relevant courses to bring more awareness to the issue of climate change.
To join please contact tquinn@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
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We are looking to restart this group if there is an appetite. Please see this form to register interest.
If you’ve never prayed the Rosary before, or if you’re an avid rosary prayer then why not join in?
"The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life. It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings. There is no more excellent way of praying."
Pope Leo XIII
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Starts after the 10am Tuesday Mass with the Rosary prayed aloud before the Blessed Sacrament.
The group then go through to St Edmund’s Hall and enjoy tea, coffee and a variety of cakes and food. All are welcome to come, and all are welcome to bring food to share if they are able.
The group raise funds for various charities such as Mary’s Meals and CAFOD.
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Young Adults meet fortnightly to discuss big faith questions in a social setting to help strengthen the connection to others in the Parish and deepen their understanding of the faith.
The group gather on Friday evenings twice a month, meeting in the porch of St Edmund’s after the 7pm Mass. All are free to join!
Groups beyond the Parish
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Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in S. Edmund's first started in 1992 when over 120 people committed to 'watching' for one hour a week.
If you would like to join please contact the Office at 023 8033 3589.
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Altar Servers assist at the altar to enable our Parish Liturgies (Mass, Benediction, Stations of the Cross, Funerals etc.) to be uplifting and dignified celebrations of faith. They assist the priest and deacon in order for the celebration to be organised, reverent and an experience of prayer and worship. Serving at the altar is not just for children: we welcome people of all ages and levels of experience once they have made their First Holy Communion. Training sessions are organised for all servers, and extra practices for the Holy Week Celebrations.
Contact the Parish Office if you or your child would be interested in this vital ministry.
For adults a DBS is necessary for the role. The Office will go through this with you.
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During Mass, it is the practice of gathering the children from the assembly during the Liturgy of the Word to celebrate a separate Liturgy of the Word that is more appropriate to their level of understanding.
It is to make the Word of God more accessible to children and to enable them to participate more fully in the Sunday liturgical assembly.
9am in St Edmund’s
DBS is necessary for the role.
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Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Body of Christ to fellow parishioners at Mass. It is required that you have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and you must receive training by a Priest or a Deacon. All ministers are scheduled for the Mass of their preference.
Please contact the Parish Office if you wish to join a rota.
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Holy Communion is taken once a week to those who are sick, homebound, and unable to attend Mass. EMCs will also arrange a Priest visit if a person needs the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick or Reconciliation. Training will be provided and a DBS check is required.
Please contact a priest or the Parish Office to join.
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Our Parish Bereavement Group, they befriend those who have recently lost a loved one.
Training provided and DBS required. Please contact bethanygroup@citycentrecatholics.org if you are interested in joining.
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Readers proclaim the Word of God from the scripture at all Masses and other liturgies. Each reader must attend training to learn more about their role and devote time to prayer and preparation. Readers are scheduled for the Mass they usually attend.
Please contact office@southamptoncitycentrecatholics.org to join the rota.
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The job of our Welcomers is to convey a welcoming and hospitable spirit at City Centre Parish. They warmly welcome parishioners and visitors as they arrive, distribute newsletters and assist those with special needs.
Chat at your next Mass to the people welcoming on the door about how to get involved.
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St. Augustine said: “to sing is to pray twice”. Music at all our Sunday Masses is highly valued. The musical facilities of the parish are supported and enhanced by many singers and instrumentalists.
New members to each of these choirs are always welcome so either contact the above directly or get in touch with the Office!
Parish Groups
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Motivated by the guiding principle of Christian charity, we seek to find those in need, to help them in a spirit of justice and to tackle poverty where we can. Reaching out to those who need a helping hand.
https://www.st-boniface.org.uk/st-vincent-de-paul-society
https://www.svp.org.uk/
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The mission that we have been entrusted, as women, is incredibly important and at times very difficult, in this world that often rejects motherhood.
Many women today despise being associated with qualities that are intrinsic to motherhood, kindness, gentleness, patience, obedience… and would rather be called strong, assertive, independent and successful! But why is it that ‘our’ nature is under such attack? It was through a Woman that the redeemer came into the world… it was through a Woman that our Lord was Incarnate! It was the Woman that crushed the serpent’s head! That’s why! We are called to look at the Virgin Mary and inspired by her femininity succeed in our motherhood. Whether you have ten children, five, one or none… we are ALL called to motherhood, to have the same loving nature as Our Lady and to learn to love Christ though her, following her to the foot of Cross.
Southampton has a local group, to find out more please see https://www.catholicmothers.co.uk/
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Catenian membership offers deep and lasting friendship and support to Catholic men at all stages of their lives, whether married or single. This friendship is based on the firm foundation of a shared faith and is enjoyed by their wives (whether Catholic or not), their children and continues after a member’s death with widows being supported and involved on a continuing basis. The monthly meeting provides a time for relaxed enjoyment among supporting and faithful friends. The varied local social programme caters for all ages and provides a light-hearted environment in which friendships flourish.
https://thecatenians.com/become-a-member/
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As a practising Catholic man, you may have an interest in helping those in need, serving your parish, developing your faith and giving something back to your community. By joining the Knights, you can do all that and more. You will work with like-minded men across your Diocese who can offer their experience and support. Working together towards a common goal, creates a strong bond of fraternity with new friends who become ‘Brothers’.
Started by a humble parish priest, the Knights of Columbus have grown into the world’s largest lay Catholic organization with over 1.8 million members.
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Contemplative prayer and Meditation (enter by the North door) – an ecumenical group led by lay people.
Just turn up to St Michael’s, next to St Joseph’s church and enter by the North Door. All are welcome, Tuesdays 6-6.45pm.
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Promoting mutual understanding and good relations among people of different faiths in the city.
Contact 07545 982 838 or southamptonfaiths@gmail.com
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We are a brightly shining group based in Southampton, taking children from up to 20-30 miles away. We are lucky to have a number of doctors and nurses in our group and have experience in taking children with medical needs that might not be easily catered for in other groups.
To enable us to coordinate bedtimes during our very busy week, and to help us to provide activities that everyone will enjoy, we only take junior school aged children (7-11).
If you would like to refer a child who would benefit from a trip with us, or if you are interested in becoming a helper, please get in touch.
Group Leader: Nick
Website: http://www.group170.org.uk
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Street Pastors are Christian men and women who engage with people on the streets offering reassurance, safety and support through listening, helping and caring. We work together with other partners in the night-time economy, schools and communities to make our city safer.
https://streetpastors.org/locations/southampton/
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To become a Prayer Pastor an applicant must have been a committed Christian for at least a year, undertake a day of training, be a member of a local church, be able to provide a positive reference from his/her minister, be at least age 18 (with no upper limit!), undergo a DBS (formerly CRB) check and be prepared to make a small contribution towards their training if at all possible (although we encourage the Prayer Pastors fellowship to be involved in this).
Other Volunteering Opportunities
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The flower arrangers are responsible for preparing all floral arrangements for the churches. They usually arrange the flowers each week and for special occasions. In keeping with the liturgical calendar, they decorate the Sanctuary for weddings, Advent, Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter.
If you are interested in joining contact the Parish Office.
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Both of our churches are currently cleaned by volunteers which saves the church a significant amount of money every year!
These teams are always looking for new members, and as with most things in the church, the more volunteers we have the less frequent the volunteering will be (i.e., 6 teams means once every 6 weeks).
If you would like to clean at St Edmund’s Church or St Joseph’s then please contact the Parish Office at 023 8033 3589.
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St Edmund’s is blessed with a small garden beside the church, and plants around the Presbytery and the priest’s carpark.
We could always do with a little helping hand in the gardening department!
If you feel able to help with this please get in touch with the Parish Office.
It would be lovely if the Parish could plant some flowers and maintain the area in front of the church. It is looking a little barren at the moment as we have had to remove some shrubs!
Helping with maintaining the area would also help the Parish to save money on the gardeners coming in at the moment. This would add up over time and make a difference to our spending.
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Every week we have at least one collection during the Mass, sometimes a second collection when there is a charity appeal. Alongside our candles, our mass intentions and our repository cash as well…
Each penny must be counted! Counting teams must be made up of 3 people (4 if one is a married couple), which means that we require an awful lot of counters in order to spread the responsibility.
Those interested in joining the team should introduce themselves to Fr Michael or speak to Finance Administrator in the Parish Office.
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The Parish Office at present employs just one person. The volume of work is great, and so having volunteers ensures that everything gets done and that things keep running!
Please contact the Parish Office at 023 8033 3589 for more details.