St. Wilfrid’s Church,     

The Boulevard,     

Hull.     

January 23rd 2004     

ST. WILFRID’S - A NEW PARISH?

Dear Fellow Parishioner,

Things have changed so dramatically in the last year or so that we thought it might be a good idea to try to put a few things down on paper. Items of information which we might all find valuable regarding the past history of our parish. And also a few observations and suggestions as we look to the future. There is such a danger that we take for granted so many of the valuable things and happenings that are all around us and do not make the most of them.

St. Wilfrid’s is a parish with a long distinguished history. Because of its position in the city and its proximity to the close-knit community of Hessle Road and the old fish docks it has always been a parish with a large thriving congregation. This applied both to the old church which was bombed in 1941 and also to the present church. But things changed. Populations moved. Communities were split up. The Hessle Road area no longer was the focal point for the many streets and terraces which used to flow onto it. And with the declining numbers in the area as a whole, inevitably we felt the declining numbers in our church attendance. So much so that not so long ago our very future as a parish seemed to be threatened. Then suddenly in the last few years things have started to turn round and our congregation continues to grow. But what a different parish we are today than in the past. A different congregation.  A different community.  As many of our former parishioners have left to go to other parts of Hull and the East Riding so many of our new parishioners have come from much further away. From as far afield as the Philippines and Southern India and Iraq and Poland and Cameroon and beyond. The makeup of our new congregation has the makings of a great community. The challenge presented to us all is one which is offered to few parishes in England and fewer parishes in Hull. It is as if we are being asked to start again.

But also perhaps for some of us, from whatever background and culture, the challenge of the times does not take away the difficulty of the task.  For many of us home-grown parishioners we need to have a dual role of welcoming hosts and collaborating parishioners. For many of our new parishioners it means accepting that we are not visitors to St. Wilfrid’s but full parishioners. And the question we all need to ask is how we can enrich our parish and each other by sharing all that is so good and so valuable in our own culture with our new fellow parishioners.

Here in England we have gone on for so long thinking that things will never change. Recently we have accepted the inevitability of change. Now we are being asked to change in a way which possibly we had never thought of. But that is the strength of change. Adapting to the unexpected and growing in the process. We look back on our past with fond gratitude. We enjoy the present. We look forward to the future of our parish with enthusiasm and confidence. 

So what can we bring to each other? How can we enrich each other? How do we build together this new St. Wilfrid’s Parish Community?

First of all, I would suggest, by being aware that our simple presence to each other each Sunday is so valuable. The simple ‘Hello’. The simple ‘How are you getting along?’ are so vital to the caring growth of a very mixed community. The interest we show in each other is the foundation for such a strong community.

After that initial interest what can we offer. Well. Let us celebrate together. Let us celebrate together our differences.  Let us celebrate each others’ feast days together.

Maybe an example. At the 9.00 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve we were all very grateful to the Philippine Parishioners as you sang your Christmas Carol. For some of you it was obviously painful to realise you were so far from home at this very important time of the year. For the rest of us we were so grateful for the courage shown in this singing. Even though missing home yourselves it was nice that you shared some of that home with us here in St. Wilfrid’s.

It is your parish. It is our parish. Even if you are a single member from another country perhaps we could have a meeting in the near future when a song from your home town or home country could be played or sung at one of our Masses. Or could we have a special Mass to celebrate the patron saint of the various countries or towns or regions we come from.

We are hoping to have a Children’s Mass in the near future involving all our children. Perhaps this may be the start we need to help us look further as to how we can celebrate together our new St. Wilfrid’s Parish.

With many thanks,

Fr. Pete              Fr. Des