St Peter's Hatfield by RCWestminster

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Parish Profile

Westminster Record | September 2014

St Peter’s, Hatfield: Nurturing and Outgoing By Marie Saba atfield is an ancient community, long associated with the Church and the monarchy. At Hatfield House Elizabeth I was told of the death of her half-sister Queen Mary and her own accession to the throne in 1558. Less obvious to most visitors is the long association with the Church. The second Council of the English Church was held here in the 7th century, whilst the town was officially called Bishop’s Hatfield since it was owned by the Bishop of Ely. Nowadays St Peter’s Hatfield, one of two Catholic parishes, is situated on Bishop’s Rise in an area which, until the middle of the last century, consisted of open fields. ‘The parish itself is quite compact,’ explains Fr Mark Vickers, Parish Priest, ‘and one of the few in Hertfordshire that you can walk around. It is entirely residential, built for the workers in the aerospace industry here after the war.’ Across the road from the parish is the University of Hertfordshire. Originally the national college for the aerospace industry, it attained university status 25 years ago. Today, it boasts 23,000 students. As Fr Mark explains: ‘There is a large international component, which means we

have a large number of practising Catholic students.’ He came to Hatfield both as Parish Priest and Catholic chaplain to the university. ‘We originally set up a Sunday evening Mass because that’s the time that students are awake,’ recalls Fr Mark, with a chuckle, ‘and today they come in significant numbers.’ Peter Richards, a longstanding parishioner and member of the parish council, estimates that 100 or more attend that Mass, students as well as parishioners. ‘We don’t think of ourselves as “parishioners” and “students”. It just so happens that we are fortunate to have a lot of young people.’ Fr Mark adds: ‘Parishioners are delighted to see the young practising their faith and it contributes to the life of the parish. There is a culture of vocation as well. One of our former presidents of the Catholic Society is to be ordained deacon next year. Another one is starting seminary next month. Several others are thinking about priesthood and half a dozen students are looking at getting married soon. It’s all very encouraging.’ The make-up of the parish has also changed in the time Fr Mark has been there. ‘When I arrived a large proportion of

Fr Mark in front of the newly refurbished sanctuary

people had worked for British Aerospace and were retired. It was largely an English/Irish community. Today, it’s more like a London parish, with people from a range of ethnic backgrounds, including significant Nigerian and West African communities, a number from Zimbabwe, the Philippines, India and the subcontinent. With a strong sense of community between those who arrived together in the 1950s and 60s to work in the aerospace industry, they’ve nonetheless been very welcoming to the new communities who have integrated well.’ Fr Mark describes his parishioners as very generous. ‘People are always ready to respond, organising things on a regular basis, such as the monthly lunches for Mary’s Meals.’ The parish also has a strong spiritual life, with keen pilgrims to Walsingham each year and 43 going to Spain to the Carmelite shrines in Compostela in October. Fr Mark notes that: ‘People are very good at supporting each other, taking Communion to the sick and housebound. There is an active social life

here, with great support for parties and international evenings.’ The people also credit their Parish Priest with inspiring them. Peter says: ‘If you feel there is someone there reaching out and interested in you, then people react well to that. I think Fr Mark projects that interest and the whole parish has followed his lead, becoming outward-looking.’ Parish outreach extended to the local area last year at Christmas, with a mailing to everyone living within the parish boundaries, giving Mass times, telling people how welcome they are, what the Christmas season means for us, and inviting them to join us. A list of the roads in the area was posted and leaflets left at the back of the church. Parishioners just took what they thought they would be able to deliver and the task was easily done. Peter characterises the parish as very nurturing, with everyone getting involved. He sums up this relationship between Fr Mark and his parishioners with the story of a parishioner who was in hospital in Stevenage. ‘She was really touched that Fr Mark had taken the time to make the

hour-long round trip to see her. When we as parishioners see our priest making that effort, we are inclined to respond in kind.’

Statue of Our Lady in St Peter’s

Founded: 1959 Consecrated: 1961 Mass Times: 9.15, 11 (Children’s Liturgy), 6pm Address: Bishop’s Rise, Hatfield AL10 9HN Telephone: 01707 262121 Website: www.stpetershatfield.org

Parishioner and Parish Council member Peter Richards

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