Our Parish
Maidstone is the County town of Kent and has a population of over 150,000
people. Our parish, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Southwark, is not a
collection of buildings - it's a collection, an assembly of people who are part
of the world-wide communion of the Catholic Church. In this assembly there are
no divisions because of race or colour - we are all God's children and this
finds its expression especially in the celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday,
the Lord's Day. We do recognise the need to make provision for people from
other countries who have come to live here in Maidstone and there are special
celebrations of the Eucharist for people from India, Poland and the Philippines.
Our parish covers a very wide area. We border on West Malling, Medway,
Tonbridge, Bearsted and Parkwood. The principal church is, of course, the
church of Saint Francis in Week Street. The Eucharist is celebrated also at
St Luke's Chapel which is part of the Heart of Kent Hospice at Preston Hall,
and we are fortunate to be able to celebrate the Eucharist at the Anglican
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Nettlestead. There are two schools within the parish -
St Francis' Primary School in Queen's Road and St Simon Stock Secondary School
on the Oakwood Park campus.
Looking To The Future
During 2006 and 2007, our Archbishop encouraged us to look to the future of
the diocese and there was consultation in our parish about the way ahead. One
of the issues that arose was why we were not creating a vision for our parish
which would reflect the optimism and hope of the expected vision of the diocese.
Father John Clark, our parish priest has started the process of creating that
vision which will offer us in the parish a way forward, identifying priorities
and allocating resources to enable the parish to be a living witness to the
Gospel here in Maidstone.
Over the next two years there will be consultations
with the parishioners and the groups within the parish which will lead to the
construction of our vision statement and what we all need to do to build up this
living, loving and worshipping community. This website, along with the Parish
Directory is intended to help all our parishioners to know what it is to be a
member of St Francis' Parish and how we can all use our talents as followers of
Jesus today.
You Are Welcome!
Sometimes if you are new to a parish or even if you have been in the parish a long time, you may feel that there isn't a place for you - that we have plenty of readers or musicians or catechists. Please don't feel that! There is a place for you and one of the nicest things about being in St Francis' parish is that many people work together - in the parish office, on committees or in the celebration of the liturgy to make it what it is - a lively and loving community.
