Diocesan Links

Stewards Of The Gospel

In his pastoral letter for the first Sunday of Lent, Bishop Alan Williams  invited lay people within the Diocese of Brentwood to put themselves forward to play an important role in shaping its future. Called ‘Stewards of the Gospel’, these volunteers will use their talents to work closely with clergy, parishes and schools as part of the diocesan planning process. Appointed in each parish, a Steward will, with local clergy and parishioners, assess the resources available in the parish and locally to maximise the opportunities for evangelisation and sacramental provision. He or she will encourage discussion and be an advocate for their fellow parishioners, communicating their ideas, thoughts and concerns to the Diocesan Strategic Planning Group.

The key tasks for the Stewards of the Gospel will be:

• To examine their own parish, to find out what is going on and to pave the way for a plan for better evangelisation in and by the parish.
• To begin to discern “which parish belongs to which” when it comes to working together in future.
• To be a source of creative inspiration, looking for new ways to evangelise.
• To be the voice of the laity when it comes to discerning the principles and priorities on which future plans will be based.
• To be the voice of the laity when it comes to implementing the agreed principles in the particular local situation of their own parishes.

The Steward of the Gospel for Our Lady & St Joseph is Joseph Foroma