Summary of discussions from the Crawley Deanery Assembly

In November 2025 members of our parish were asked to attend a Crawley Deanery Assembly, to understand what makes our parishes special, and subsequently what worries parishioners as we move towards a new ‘Crawley Parish’ as detailed in the pastoral plan.

Published below is a summary of that discussion:

The top eight positives

1. Welcoming and inclusive parish life fostering a sense of belonging.
2. Strong sense of identity and a tradition rooted in faith.
3. Diversity enriches worship and social activities.
4. Active liturgical life with Mass, adoration and the sacraments.
5. Committed clergy and approachable leadership.
6. Generous volunteers and a strong tradition of service.
7. Vibrant social activities and cultural celebrations.
8. Youth involvement through altar serving, choir and school programmes.

The top eight challenges

1. Declining attendance despite population / housing growth.
2. Heavy reliance on older volunteers; a risk of burnout.
3. Safeguarding processes perceived as barriers to volunteering.
4. Integration of diverse nationalities remains challenging.
5. Clarity needed on financial sustainability and governance mechanisms.
6. Shortage of priests and leadership resources.
7. Communication gaps across the proposed geographically spread parish.
8. Fear of losing identity during structural changes: from a local community to a ‘mega’
   parish

Eight key mentions for the next stages

1. Increase adult faith formation and catechesis programmes.
2. Strengthen youth engagement with spiritual and social activities.
3. Improve communication and branding; enhance social media presence.
4. Develop initiatives to re-engage lapsed Catholics.
5. Expand volunteer base and simplify safeguarding processes.
6. Harness technology for worship and evangelisation.
7. Ensure financial sustainability through shared resources.
8. Promote sacramental life and make confession widely accessible.