This weekend, Bishop Patrick published the formal decree of closure of St Bernadette’s Chapel of Ease in Sneinton. This is the final part of a long process which has seen consultation in the parish, discussion at the Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee and Health and Safety Committee. The future of St Bernadette’s was also discussed by the Deanery priests, the Diocesan Council of Priests, the Trustees of the Diocese, the Bishop’s Council and finally, Bishop Patrick himself saw all the results of the consultation and discussion and has decided that the best way forward for the parish is to close St Bernadette’s and seek a new home for our early Sunday Morning Mass in Sneinton.
The full text of the decree can be read here; prot-no-2016-12-sneinton
What happens next?
- The Parish Council are already putting in place plans for what happens to the contents of St Bernadette’s; we will either keep and use, sell or donate or dispose appropriately of the fixtures and fittings.
- The Crossing the Threshold team are putting into place plans for how we make our presence felt in Sneinton when we move into St Christopher’s.
- We are beginning the process of finding a buyer to take the building on and it will be marketed in the next week or so.
- We are also well into making arrangements with St Christopher’s and between the two diocese for us to have Mass there come March.
- And we as a parish look to what is important – what is fundamental to who we are – – – and my hope is that we see this as a new chapter in the life of the parish – – – – which gives us a new opportunity to build the Kingdom of God in our area.
