Jane Cook writes

I am delighted to introduce Caroline Dollard as our new Diocesan ‘Celebrating Family’ Project Worker. This is an exciting new development, completely funded through the Fundraising Grants Committee of the Catholic Trust for England and Wales, to promote the Bishops’ Conference Marriage and Family Life Project ‘Celebrating Family’.

Some parishioners may already be familiar with elements of this wide-ranging and inspirational project. The first part, ‘Everybody’s Welcome’, focuses upon developing family-friendly, welcoming, inclusive parishes. The second element, ‘Home is a Holy Place’, helps families recognise and celebrate the holiness of their everyday lives at home, and the presence of God as love in all loving family relationships.

Caroline’s role will be to raise awareness and encourage active participation and commitment to ‘Celebrating Family’, and other Marriage and Family Life issues, across the entire Diocese. As a result of her work, we hope that parishes may become even more welcoming and family-sensitive, and be equipped for more effective outreach to the ‘returner’, the newcomer and the entire community. They will also be better resourced to offer practical support to enable us to grow in awareness of the holiness of our homes as places of life, love, service, teaching, fellowship, witness and prayer.

Many people will already know Caroline from her work at formation days for Ministers of the Word, and her considerable involvement in promoting RCIA within the Diocese and nationally. We are very blessed to have someone with such experience and energy taking on this role to promote ‘Celebrating Family’ and bring the treasures of its ethos and resources into our parishes and homes.

I’ve asked Caroline to write a few words to introduce herself. At the time of going to press, Caroline doesn’t have a Diocesan e-mail address, but can be contacted via the Curial Office on (01642) 850505 or on (01439) 787070. I know she’s looking forward eagerly to getting out and about around the parishes of the Diocese, and I’m certain she’ll be made as very warmly welcome as I have been by our Priests and parishioners.

Caroline writes,

‘I have been an ‘incomer’ in the Diocese for 13 years now, and I love it! For 12 of these, I was working as a member of the pastoral team at Ampleforth Abbey. Kit, my husband, and I have five children between the ages of 18 and 26.

Before moving North, bringing my mother with us, I was involved in supporting family life, through leading parenting programmes, running a local youth club, a lively prayer group and music group, as well as marriage preparation and on-going support for people in times of difficulty in relationships.

In 2002, I started a Masters Degree in Liturgy and Theology at Lampeter and I finished this in 2006. I have run retreats, Quiet Days and workshops for adults and children on a variety of themes, including supporting families in grief, celebrating the seasons of our faith, and discovering the Rule of St Benedict for every-day life – and in all of this, seeking creative ways, old and new, to open to the Word of God in scripture.

I am very excited to be getting involved in our Bishops’ national strategy to celebrate family life, as the new Diocesan Project Worker, and I look forward very much to connecting with all those who have given so much over the years, and continue to give so much of your time and energy in our Diocese in supporting family life, with all the joys and difficulties that involves. Any venture like this is always going to be a collaborative one – only together can we respond to the needs of families, and ensure that we make our parish communities as welcoming, friendly, and family-sensitive as possible. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me – I look forward to meeting you.’