Jeus said to his disciples, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
Luke 22:25-27
When we are baptised we share in life of Christ who was anointed priest, prophet and king. Parishioners who share with the clergy in the parish’s leadership ministries cooperate in Christ’s kingly ministry of servant leadership. As imitators of Christ, it is the responsibility of each Christian to be, in their own unique way, a good shepherd.
And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
Acts 14:23
The members of parish pastoral council are drawn from all parts of the parish and represent the various communities and ministries that make up Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Their primary function is to pray for the parish and to listen to the voice of God, discerning the way that the Holy Spirit is calling us to serve one another and our city.
The parish pastoral council works with the parish priest and clergy and represents the thoughts and needs of the parishioners. They help the clergy make decisions on the pastoral care of parishioners and the various missionary outreaches of the parish.
The members of the parish stewardship committee encourage good stewardship in the parish and encourage parishioners to see stewardship of their time, talents and treasures as an essential part of the Christian life.
The stewardship committee acts in the place of the finance committee, ensuring the parish’s income and expenditure is made in a manner befitting of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are responsible for checking the accounts and making a report to the diocese each year.
The stewardship committee looks at the provision of ministries in the parish and encourages parishioners to commit part of their time and their talents in serving God and their neighbour.
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Our parish is part of a group of 11 Catholic communities that serve the people of Sunderland. It is called the Monkwearmouth Catholic Partnership to reflect the ancient roots of Catholicism in this part of the country.
The partnership helps to coordinate Catholic life and pastoral care in the City of Sunderland. You can find out more about the work of the partnership at wearcathoilcs.org.
In October 2020, Our Lady of Mercy Parish was entrusted to the pastoral care of St Joseph's Missionary Society, better known as the Mill Hill Missionaries. They are an international community of missionaries working in Europe, North and Latin America, Africa, Asia and New Zealand.
There is a long history between the Mill Hill Missionaries and the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle: Burn Hall in County Durham was a minor seminary for the Society from the 1920s until it closed in 1971. Several Mill Hill Missionaries have come from Sunderland and the surrounding area and have worked all over the world, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In a sign of the vitality of the Chruch, priests from the countries evangelized by missionaries from the North East are now working in Sunderland. If you would like to learn more about the work of the Mill Hill Missionaries click here