Pastoral Area: the Isle of Wight

Clergy: Revv. John Catlin, Claro Conde, Brian Coogan, Gerard Flynn, Michael Purbrick
Deacons David Croucher and Vincent Jones
Pastoral Assistants: Ray Villa, Pete Walkden

Report to the meeting of Co-ordinating Pastors, 28th November 2007

The Isle of Wight presents an opportunity for two particular strands of thought from the Pastoral Plan to be tested and proven: the centrality of the Sunday mass and the preservation of the identity of local worshipping communities. The closure of St Joseph's Church, Niton, earlier this year, raises the needs for sensitive pastoral care for smaller communities losing a church building and wishing to retain their identity, and for larger communities called upon to assume new and greater responsibilities. Complex issues of communication and organisation arise. On the Island these are being facilitated now by the work of the clergy and laity in the communities and by the work of the Pastoral Area Pastoral Council.

This Council meets regularly and is still in the process of formation. It is currently devising its constitution so as to oversee and support work in three main areas: pastoral, liturgical and catechetical. It has dispensed with the 'ministerial group', which had previously overseen its work. This was felt to have presented too hierarchical a model and to have pre-empted many of the decisions which the wider group felt it was being asked to 'rubber stamp'.

A regular meeting is also held by the Treasurers of the worshipping communities. They focus on practical and financial matters but also provide a forum for discussion and support in wider areas of Church life. The group is currently devising a constitution.

The imminent (September 2008) joining of two middle schools, Archbishop King (Catholic) and Trinity (Church of England) into one school presents a great opportunity for faith development and ecumenism on the Island. It also presents a reminder that it is through the Catholic schools here that much of the Church's evangelical work is done. They are often the only places where children encounter the Church in a serious way and this applies to both the Catholics and the many pupils of other denominations.

The presence of one main hospital, a hospice and three prisons on the Island also provides for very particular evangelical and pastoral work. Rev John Stokes, a Westminster priest, serves as prison chaplain and also contributes to the pastoral and liturgical life of the Pastoral Area more generally. Lay people are involved in the hospital chaplaincy in essential ways, ensuring that patients receive communion regularly as well as prayerful support.

The pastoral work in all of these institutions depends to a great extent on the involvement of the religious communities on the Island. Religious sisters assume very significant roles in the schools, hospital and prisons. Catechesis in the Pastoral Area is also supported by these religious communities, who provide personnel and resources to help with the work of the worshipping communities. Venues such as the McAuley Centre in Newport and the Verbum Dei Centre at Carisbrooke provide both space and catechetical resources which are invaluable. The prayer of the communities at St Cecilia's Abbey and Quarr Abbey provides a solid foundation for the work of the Church on the Island.
GDF 14th November 2007