Social Action

Caring for those who have lost a loved one is an act of kindness, but it is also a living example of God’s compassionate mercy delivered through the power of human contact. If you have been bereaved and are in need of any kind of practical or pastoral support, or to speak with someone with whom confidentiality is assured, please contact St Alban’s Parish Clergy.

Bereavement Support Group
To further support our clergy and those who have suffered a loss, a group of St Alban’s parishioners meet regularly to ensure that all who have been bereaved are contacted and offered practical and pastoral help where needed and given the assurance of the prayers and support of the whole parish. The group also arranges the special Mass at 12noon on the last Saturday of each month for all those mourning the death of a loved one as well as an annual Mass in November for all who have died during the year.

Are you, a family member or friend going into hospital, a nursing home or rest home?  Fr Peter Cryan is the hospital chaplain and can visit, offer the Sacrament of the Sick and Holy Communion. Eucharistic ministers may also be available. 

We try to understand the meaning of justice in the light of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching and to raise awareness – our own and others’- of the instances of injustice and need in the world and of ways of meeting them.

We seek to discover and promote ways in which we can respond in the hope of building a better world.

Everyone is welcome to any of the activities throughout the year. For further information, please contact: Bernadette Bailey  Email: dwbailey@btopenworld.com

JUSTICE & PEACE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Click here to see the Justice & Peace annual programme and activities for 2025.

Click here to see more about the Justice & Peace Group. What are our aims, what we do and how we work.

Click here to link through to the “Live Simply” Lent Calendar 2025

This is a world-wide Catholic movement of couples, priests and religious who organise weekends to enrich married life and religious vocations through deeper and more open communication, and with a richer awareness of God’s presence in relationships.

We are a lay organisation working closely with and within the church. Our core work is to visit and befriend the elderly, the housebound, the sick, the lonely, the carers and families in need by providing practical and moral support through one to one contact.

Click here for the St Alban’s SVP pages.

Click here for the St Alban’s SVP FAQs.

Please see here for CAFOD and SVP Training Sessions details… https://stalbanmacc.org.uk/social-action/cafod-and-svp-training-sessions/

Formerly known as the Catholic Children’s Society (Shrewsbury Diocese)

Caritas is part of a worldwide network.  It is a social action and social justice agency of which the Diocese of Shrewsbury is one of the participants seeking to develop the Church’s social mission.   Under its umbrella Caritas supports many services and projects which aim to empower children and families experience fullness of life with anything from complex needs to friendship and companionship.    Within the Diocese of Shrewsbury, St. Alban’s supports Caritas fundraising in many ways, one of which is having a home collection box which is emptied locally twice yearly.  

Click here for the Caritas Shrewsbury / Catholic Children’s Society (Shrewsbury Diocese) website.

Missio ignites God’s love by helping local missionaries to work alongside global communities that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief.

Sometimes this need might be very specific: a motorbike for a Priest to celebrate Mass in remote villages; a simple community hall so people can gather together; vaccinations to protect vulnerable children. Whatever our missionaries need to help them share the joy of the Gospel, Missio strives to provide it.

By supporting Missio, you play a vital part in creating a vibrant Catholic Church for the future.

Many St Alban’s parishioners support Missio by having one of their red collecting boxes at home and collecting small change throughout the year. These boxes are usually emptied annually in October each year, but like many charities, small change programmes have been hit hard by the move to online payments during the pandemic, so if you would like to support missions around the world, please visit this supporting Missio, link .

Click here to visit the Missio website to see the great work they are doing to ignite God’s love in others through supporting those most in need.

Here in St Alban’s parish, we support CAFOD through:

• Lent Family Fast Day fundraising
• Harvest Fast Day fundraising
• Soup Lunches during Lent and on Harvest Fast Day
• Bollington Fun Run annually, 27 December
• Campaigning for social justice
• Responding in support of disasters and emergencies

CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International. It is an international development charity who reach out to people living in poverty with practical help, whatever their religion or culture.

Global reach, local presence

The value of partnership, present throughout Catholic Social Teaching, is central to CAFOD’s work. We rely on and respect the expertise and knowledge of local experts. Because they are part of their communities, they are best placed to listen to and work with them.

We help people thrive

No one wants to live on handouts. That’s why our experts provide long-term aid to equip people with the skills, tools and opportunities to live with dignity, support their families and give back to their communities.

We face tough challenges

Poverty. Conflict. Climate Change. Inequality. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. Together with your support, and the expertise of our local aid workers, we reach out to those that are excluded and give them the help they need.

We speak out for justice

When international bodies and governments make decisions that damage poor communities, we speak out.

Learn more at: CAFOD.ORG.UK