The Catholic parish of Sacred Heart, Bilton is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. Many parishioners are involved in various charities and campaigns within both Bilton and the wider community.

These include:

Support for the elderly

The Monday Club - This is a friendly group open to all denominations, who meet each other on Monday afternoons to socialise. We have a few games of bingo, a quiz (where the answers are given, but you must guess the correct one), a raffle, refreshments and a chat to end the delightful gathering.  At Christmas we celebrate with a dinner at The Three Horseshoes Hotel; this also happens in the spring if funds allow.  Membership is free; everyone is welcome and there are no commitments.

Support for the homeless

The parish regularly contributes food and other items to the hostel for the homeless in Rugby. Parishioners also regularly help out at the soup kitchen in the centre of Rugby.

Support for mothers with young children

The Mother and Toddler group meets on a regular basis in Sacred Heart Hall (except school holidays). New members are always welcome. See This Week's Events for times and contact details.

Support for the housebound

The Caring Group - This group has been in existence for about thirty years.  Its role has changed over the years and now due to small numbers not all the original activities take place.  However, we still visit the sick, whether in home or hospital and keep in touch with the housebound.  Help with shopping and transport is also undertaken.  Each year, in December, we hold the annual party for our senior citizens, an opportunity for friends to meet and exchange news.  Each guest receives a small Christmas gift on behalf of the parish.

Support for those in prison

Parishioners are regularly encouraged by Amnesty International to sign cards for prisoners of conscience.

Support for the poor

A Justice and Peace group was formed in 1985, following a series of CAFOD talks and discussions on Third World issues.  The group has endeavoured to make the parishioners aware of the work of CAFOD in fundraising and campaigning. Parish groups have been involved in demonstrations in Birmingham (on debt) and Westminster (on trade) and there have been a series of meetings with our MP. Parishioners have been generous in their support. We have also campaigned on behalf of Amnesty International, The Fairtrade Foundation, WDM and Tools for Self Reliance. Since 1987 £68,000 has been raised for CAFOD.

Read about the Make Poverty History campaign

Support for the unborn child

Collections are regularly taken to support Catholic charities campaigning to protect the unborn child.

Support for the sick

The Caring Group - This group has been in existence for about thirty years.  Its role has changed over the years and now due to small numbers not all the original activities take place.  However, we still visit the sick, whether in home or hospital and keep in touch with the housebound.  Help with shopping and transport is also undertaken.  Each year, in December, we hold the annual party for our senior citizens, an opportunity for friends to meet and exchange news.  Each guest receives a small Christmas gift on behalf of the parish.

Working with other Christians and people from other faiths

Bilton Churches Together (BCT) - This local council of churches brings together representatives from St Mark's (C of E), Bilton Methodists, Bilton Evangelical Church and Sacred Heart to explore how we can work together more effectively. Recent areas of co-operation have been:

• Joint worship for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity;
• Shared quiet hours: prayer, particularly on the theme of peace;
• A Passion Play on Good Friday starting at Sacred Heart, along the High Street and ending at St Mark's, involving some 200 of the local people;
• A Lenten Study programme using the CTBI material centred on five groups;
• Joint Visiting on Cawston Grange:

The large development of houses at Cawston Grange inspired the local churches to organise a welcome for all the newcomers. Shortly after people move into the houses a `welcome` pack is delivered personally, often with a small garden plant, and always a friendly greeting. As well as local information the pack provides details of what each church has to offer. The volunteers come from a variety of Christian churches working in mixed pairs (i.e. not both from the same church).  Whatever the beliefs (or non beliefs) of the people we visited, with very few exceptions, we met friendliness and appreciation of our efforts and even the occasional cup of tea!

• Responding to the needs of the homeless in Rugby as a joint churches project.

Rugby Interfaith Network - This is a network of some 50 members from the main faith communities in Rugby - Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh. Up to 20 people meet about once a month to share their faith on such topics as festivals, prayer, scriptures, stories and holy men (or women). The network is open to anyone who shares the aim of growing in understanding and respect for the faith of all God's children. In the autumn of each year with our Mayor and MP and the leaders of the faith communities in Rugby and 80 to 100 people we take part in a Peace Walk visiting a Church, the Hindu Temple, the Sikh Gudwara and the Mosque. We set out from the Peace Tree we planted beside the Library for the millennium, beside which is a plaque bearing the millennium resolution.

Useful Links

Cafod
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
Impressive site campaigning for the poor.

Pax Christi International
The International Catholic peace movement.

Overcoming Violence
Churches dedicated to reconciliation and peace.

Corrymeela Community
Working for peace in Northern Ireland.

Christian Ecology Link
Ecumenical group working for the environment.

Catholic Social Teaching
A digest of the church's social teaching.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide
International movement and news service.

Emmaus
Campaigning site for the homeless.

The Hunger Site
Campaigning site tackling poverty issues.

Make Poverty History
International campaign against poverty.

Housing Justice
Campaigning for the homeless.

Orthodox Peace Fellowship
Excellent site campaigning for the poor and for peace issues.

Christians for justice and peace in America
Campaigning site from US.

Catholic Children's Society
Catholic Children's Society.

Pax Christi
International campaign for justice and peace.

Street Child Africa
Campaign supporting children living on the streets.

Disasters Emergency Committee
Co-ordinated response to disasters.

Aid to the Church in Need
Site profiling work of this charity.

Society of Vincent de Paul
Charity offering practical help to the poor.

Catenian Association
Official site for the Catenians.

Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
Campaigning society on life issues.
 

Women's Organisations

National Board of Catholic Women
Campaigning organisation for women.

Catholic Women's League
Organisation for Catholic women.

Resources for Young People

Youth St Vincent de Paul Society
Young people committed to helping the poor and sick.

Birmingham Diocese Youth Service
Resources for young people in the church.

Xt3 for young people
Resources for teenage Christians.

Taize Community
Ecumenical community in France devoted to prayer and worship.

CJM Music
Birmingham-based music ministry for young people.