About Our Parish
Mission & Beliefs
What we believe, why we believe it, and how it shapes the way we live together.
Our Foundation
Rooted in something ancient and alive.
The Catholic faith is not a human invention. It is a gift — revealed by God, entrusted to the Church, and handed on faithfully across two thousand years. At Madonna Ministry, we receive this gift with gratitude and seek to live it with conviction.
Our mission rests on three pillars: Faith, Sacraments, and Service. Together these form the architecture of parish life — the rhythm of prayer, the grace of the sacraments, and the call to love our neighbours as Christ loves us.
Our Three Pillars
Faith, Sacraments & Service
Pillar One
Faith: Scripture & Tradition
At the heart of the Catholic faith is a trust in God who reveals himself — in the words of Sacred Scripture, through the living Tradition of the Church, and most perfectly in the person of Jesus Christ. We do not invent our own religion; we receive it, we treasure it, and we seek to hand it on.
The Bible is not a set of rules or a historical curiosity. It is the living Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and addressed to each of us personally. At every Mass, we listen to Scripture proclaimed and the priest breaks open its meaning in the homily. The Church encourages every Catholic to read the Scriptures daily.
Alongside Scripture stands the Sacred Tradition of the Church — the unbroken chain of faith passed from the Apostles through the centuries to us today. The Magisterium — the teaching authority of the Church — safeguards this inheritance and interprets it faithfully for each new generation.
Pillar Two
Sacraments: The Holy Eucharist at the Centre
Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is truly present — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — in the Eucharist. This is not a symbol or a memorial; it is a real encounter with the living Lord. The Mass is the highest form of worship, the source and summit of the Christian life.
The seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage — are not merely rituals. They are encounters with Christ himself, moments where God reaches into our lives with his grace. Each sacrament marks a threshold in the journey of faith.
We celebrate the sacraments with reverence and joy, understanding that in these holy moments, heaven and earth touch. If you would like to receive any sacrament, or to learn more about what the Church teaches, please speak to a member of our clergy.
Pillar Three
Service: The Love of Neighbour
Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment. He gave two: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself. For Catholics, these are inseparable. Authentic faith always moves outward — into compassion, generosity, and solidarity with those who suffer.
At Madonna Ministry, service is not an optional extra. Our outreach projects, foodbank partnerships, and pastoral visiting teams are expressions of the same love we encounter in the Eucharist. We believe that in serving the poor and the vulnerable, we meet Christ himself.
You are invited to bring your gifts — whether practical, professional, or prayerful — to the service of this community. There is a place and a role for everyone who wants to help. Get in touch with our Parish Administrator to find out more.
What We Profess
The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the great profession of faith, prayed by Catholics at every Sunday Mass since the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. It is a summary of the central mysteries of our faith.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Roman Missal, Third Edition — the text as prayed at Mass in England and Wales.
In Plain Language
What Catholics Believe
A brief, jargon-free summary for those who are new to the faith.
Who is God?
Catholics believe in one God who exists as three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — the Trinity. God is not an idea or a force, but a Person who loves us and calls us into relationship with himself.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Trinity — fully God and fully human. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived among us, suffered and died on the Cross, and rose from the dead on the third day. He is Lord and Saviour.
What is the Church?
The Catholic Church is the community founded by Christ upon the Apostles. She is the Body of Christ on earth — imperfect in her human members, but sustained by the Holy Spirit and guided by her teaching authority.
What happens after death?
Catholics believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. We hope to spend eternity with God in heaven — a hope grounded not in wishful thinking but in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What is grace?
Grace is God's own life, freely given to us. It is not something we earn by being good enough. It is a pure gift, poured into our hearts especially through prayer and the sacraments.
What is sin?
Sin is a turning away from God and from what is good. Catholics believe that God's mercy is greater than any sin, and that true contrition and the Sacrament of Reconciliation restore our relationship with him.
Want to Learn More?
We would love to walk with you as you explore the Catholic faith. Our parish runs a warm and jargon-free programme for enquirers — no commitment required.