Parish Life
Parish Teams
Joining one of our teams is a great way to serve your parish and meet other people. Many of our teams operate on a bi-monthly rota, so the commitment doesn’t become too onerous.
Parish Pastoral Advisory Group
The Parish Council was suspended in 1989. In 2011 a Parish Pastoral Advisory Group (PPAG) was initiated in its place. The PPAG met three times a year until 2019 and has since been held in abeyance. Minutes from May 2012 to November 2019 are kept in the parish office.
Finance, Building and Grounds
Financial Stewardship
Financial stewardship of the parish is overseen by the finance team which meets three times per year.
Current membership consists of the Parish priest, Chairperson, Parish administrator and three team members. They issue an annual report on finances, which can be found on the noticeboard inside the church, oversee gift aid and encourages parishioners to give their financial support.
200 Club
This is a Parish fundraising monthly draw, “To promote the educational, social and financial development of the Parish”. Cost is £1 per month/per number in draw for a £50 winner each month from these members, with £200 in December. To join, please contact us.
Fundraising
Our Quinquennial Inspection-an inspection carried out every five years on our buildings, to help keep them in a good state of repair, anticipate problems and plan our costs – was carried out in November 2023. It identified urgent and necessary works totaling £91,000, rising to £1.7,m to complete all the recommendations over the next five years. We would like to put together a fundraising team to help towards these costs. If you have any experience or free time and would like to join us, please do get in touch.
Buildings, Cemetery and Grounds Maintenance
A team of parish volunteers provide the unseen hands that make sure our church, its grounds and cemetery are looked after, clean and in good repair.
There are always jobs to be done: maintenance, gardening, grounds work, cleaning and general upkeep.
Maintaining the estate to a high standard of repair is very costly and we are very grateful to the volunteers who we rely on for their generous help. If you are able to assist please contact us using the Get in touch button below.
Award Winners
The estate has been maintained solely by generations of volunteers working in the grounds without the sophistication of modern machinery we have today.
During recent years, the parish has received a number of awards in the Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition, receiving the highest accolade in 2023.
Ministries and Music
For current rotas, please click the button below. If you would like to volunteer for any of these ministries, please contact us.
Flower, Readers, Stewards
Flower arrangers, Readers and Stewards are always needed! Please get in touch if you can help. These ministries are organised on an eight week rota. However, more help is needed at Christmas and Easter.
Little Church
For children who have not yet made their First Holy Communion, Little Church, takes place every Sunday during the Liturgy of the Word, except school holidays. If you wish to volunteer as a catechist, or for general information, please contact us.
Sacristan, Altar Servers and Special Ministers of the Eucharist
Sacristans are required for Holy Mass on both a Sunday and weekdays. If you can help with any of these, please contact us.
If you wish to become an Altar server at Holy Mass, you are very welcome. Please speak to the priest.
If you would like to discuss the ministry of taking Holy Communion to the sick and housebound with the parish priest, please get in touch. Training is available via the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Music
A congregational choir sings at Sunday Mass, Christmas and Easter Services. Choir practice is on a Thursday evening 7:00pm – 8:00 pm. If you would like to join them, please contact us using the button below, or just turn up. There are no auditions, and no previous experience is required, just enthusiasm! Music is provided by the organ or the piano on a Sunday. If you would like to play the organ or piano, either occasionally or on a rota basis, please contact us.
Young People
Young people are welcome, and encouraged to take up a ministry and there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Currently, we have young people who are readers, stewards, altar servers and assist the catechist at Little Church. In the recent past, young people have also assisted in the grounds. If your child or young person is interested in undertaking any of these ministries, please get in touch.
Award Schemes
We are able to support requests to volunteer to serve as part of the Faith in Action, Duke of Edinburgh or similar award schemes. Let us know your interest and availability and we will see if we can help.
Office
We need people who can volunteer for an hour in the week to help support the parish administrator with basic administration tasks. If you can help, please use the contact button below.
Organisations
Catenian Association
Our local group meets socially on the second Wednesday of each month for prayer, meeting, meal and a chat at:
Ormskirk Cricket Club, Brook Lane, Ormskirk L39 4RG.
If you are interested in finding out more, please use the contact buttons below to contact our local organiser or find out more about the Association.
Outreach
Aid to the Church in Need
Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic church, supporting catholics and other christians, where they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need.
As a symbol of our solidarity our church is illuminated in red each #RedWednesday.
Local representative is Rachel Buckley and can be contacted using the email button below or phoning 07496 443 736.
We have an annual special collection and invite representatives from ACN to give a presentation about the charity’s work.
Douglas Valley Outreach
DVO is a local charitable organisation borne out of the desire to offer help and support to refugees and asylum seekers.
The charity aims to welcome and support the refugees and asylum seekers in the Wigan, Standish, and Skelmersdale area by supporting access to English language education and conversation, with forms and processes, activities promoting health and wellbeing, befriending and assisting them in adapting within their new community, moving on to build a new life.
To get involved or donate please contact us via the button below.
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society
The SVP has been operating Our Lady and All Saints parish since 1979, and currently has 13 members who help needy individuals and families, visit the elderly in their own homes or care homes. Some members help asylum seekers and refugees in Skelmersdale and Wigan. The group also supports the West Lancs ARK in Skelmersdale.
There is a flourishing Mini Vinnies group in our primary school, led by one of the teachers. Amongst other activities, they regularly host social functions for older members of the parish.
Prayer
Rosary Group
The Rosary is prayed in church after Mass on a Monday evening and before Mass on a Tuesday evening. You are very welcome to join us. If you’d like a prayer intention offered, please send us details by clicking the button below.
Social and Events
Events Team
A small team co-ordinates parish social and other events. We enjoy visits to pilgrimage sites locally and oversees. Parish barbeques and picnics take place a couple of times a year.
Over the years, the church also has proved a popular concert venue, particularly for choirs.
If you would like to get involved, please contact us.
Refreshments after Mass
Tea and coffee take place in the Priory after Sunday Mass on the first Sunday of each month. Volunteers are welcome to assist with preparation and serving on a rota basis (once or twice a year).
Liverpool Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes
This is organised by Animate, the Liverpool Archdiocesan youth service, for young people aged fifteen to twenty-two. Information and the application process can be accessed via the button below.