1. Moderated Priest’s Team
- Moderator Priest (appointed by bishop)
- 5 Priests (in solidum)
2. Parish Leadership Team
- Lay faithful (appointed by Priest), Deacons & Priests (volunteering)
3. Parish Pastoral Team (One pastoral team per juridical parish)
- Lay faithful (appointed by Priest) Deacons & Priests (volunteering)
4. Parish Finance Team (One finance team per juridical parish)
- Lay faithful (appointed by Priest) Deacons & Priests (volunteering)
5. Community Pastoral Team
- Lay faithful (appointed by Priest) Deacons & Priests (volunteering)
6. Community Stewardship Team
- Lay faithful (appointed by Priest) Deacons & Priests (volunteering)
7. Parish Council
- Parish Council as an Annual Forum in a Moderated Parish.
- Organised by the representatives of all teams of the Parish structure for all Parishioners.
STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Moderated Worthing Catholic Parish
1. Moderated Priest Team (MPT)
- Role: Jointly responsible for the overall pastoral, sacramental, and spiritual leadership of the entire Parish.
- Composition: Moderator (lead priest), priests in Solidum.
- Key Relationships:
- Collaborates closely with the Parish Leadership Team (shared governance).
- Has a direct relationship with the Parish Finance Team (oversight and major decisions).
- Provides pastoral and strategic direction across all parish communities.
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2. Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
- Role: Shared governance and strategic leadership of the whole parish.
- Composition: Clergy (priests/deacon) + lay leaders (representatives of parish life and mission).
- Key Relationships:
- Works in close collaboration with the Moderated Priest Team.
- Coordinates with the Parish Pastoral Team to implement mission and vision.
- Provides guidance and alignment across parish and community levels.
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3. Parish Pastoral Team (PPT)
- Role: Implements pastoral priorities, ministries, and outreach based on PLT vision.
- Composition: Lay pastoral associates, ministry leaders, deacon(s), and possibly a representative priest.
- Key Relationships:
- Reports to / collaborates with the Parish Leadership Team.
- Works closely with the Community Pastoral Teams in each community.
- Ensures consistent mission and ministry across communities.
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4. Community Pastoral Teams (CPTs)
- Role: Pastoral and operational leadership at each local community (formerly a parish).
- Composition: Community coordinator/leader, local clergy or deacon (if applicable), ministry reps, and finance/stewardship rep.
- Key Relationships:
- Connected closely with the Parish Pastoral Team (two-way communication).
- Collaborates with the Community Steward Teams on local needs and projects.
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5. Parish Finance Team (PFT)
- Role: Oversees parish-wide finances, budget, and major capital decisions.
- Composition: Finance officers, treasurer, accountants, lay experts, and representative from the Moderated Priest Team.
- Key Relationships:
- Directly accountable to the Moderated Priest Team.
- Coordinates with Community Steward Teams on financial stewardship and local initiatives.
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6. Community Steward Teams (CSTs)
- Role: Manage finances, assets, and stewardship efforts for each community.
- Composition: Local treasurer(s), bookkeeper, and community members.
- Key Relationships:
- Collaborate with the Parish Finance Team (transparency and shared accountability).
- Coordinate with Community Pastoral Teams for funding local ministry activities.
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Notes on flow:
- The Moderator Priest Team anchors all major decisions (pastoral + financial).
- The Parish Leadership Team is a shared leadership forum integrating clergy and laity.
- The Pastoral Line runs vertically: Parish Leadership Team → Parish Pastoral Team → Community Pastoral Teams.
- The Finance Line runs in parallel: Moderated Priest Team → Parish Finance Team → Community Stewardship Teams.
MODERATED PRIEST TEAM
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PARISH LEADERSHIP TEAM | PARISH FINANCE TEAM
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PARISH PASTORAL TEAM | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP TEAMS
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COMMUNITY PASTORAL TEAMS
(per community)
1. The Pastoral Line (Vertical Line of Mission & Ministry)
This is the spiritual, pastoral, and community life side of parish leadership — it ensures that the mission of the Church is alive and consistent at every level.
Flow:
Parish Leadership Team → Parish Pastoral Team → Community Pastoral Teams
Breakdown:
- Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
- Provides the overall vision for parish life and mission.
- Works in partnership with the Moderated Priest Team, discerning the direction of evangelisation, formation, liturgy, and outreach.
- * Sets pastoral priorities for the whole parish.
- Parish Pastoral Team (PPT)
- Takes those priorities and turns them into action.
- Coordinates ministries such as catechesis, family life, youth, liturgy planning, and social justice.
- Ensures consistency and communication among all communities within the parish.
- Supports and trains the Community Pastoral Teams.
- Community Pastoral Teams (CPTs)
- Represent each local worshiping community (formerly individual parishes).
- Apply parish-wide priorities at the local level — ensuring that every community feels ownership and engagement.
- Maintain close contact with local volunteers, ministers, and deacons.
- Provide feedback and insight back up the pastoral line.
- Purpose of the Pastoral Line:
To guarantee unity of mission and pastoral care across all communities, ensuring that every level of the parish is working toward the same spiritual and pastoral goals.
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2. The Finance Line (Parallel Line of Stewardship & Administration)
This is the administrative, financial, and resource management side — ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
Flow:
Moderated Priest Team → Parish Finance Team → Community Steward Teams
Breakdown:
- Moderated Priest Team
- Has canonical and pastoral responsibility for parish finances.
- Provides oversight, ensures compliance with diocesan norms, and approves budgets.
- Works in partnership with lay experts through the Finance Team.
- Parish Finance Team (PFT)
- Oversees the whole-parish financial system.
- Consolidates budgets and reports from the communities.
- Advises the priests on large expenditures, capital projects, and investments.
- Ensures accountability and transparency across the parish.
- Community Steward Teams (CSTs)
- Handle day-to-day financial and stewardship matters in each community.
- * Keep local records, manage collections, and support local ministry budgets.
- * Report regularly to the Parish Finance Team.
- * Encourage local stewardship and generosity at the community level.
- Purpose of the Finance Line:
To ensure that all financial activities serve the mission responsibly — with collaboration between clergy and laity, and clear accountability at every level.
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How They Work Together
- The Pastoral Line and the Finance Line run in parallel but must remain in constant dialogue.
- Example: when a new ministry or outreach is planned by the Pastoral Line, the Finance Line helps ensure the necessary resources and stewardship are in place.
- The Moderated Priest Team sits at the top of both — ensuring unity of mission and accountability between spiritual and material dimensions.
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Parish Council as an Annual Forum in a Moderated Parish
1. Nature and Purpose
In a moderated parish, where several communities are united under a shared priestly and lay leadership, the Parish Council serves not just as a governing body but also as an annual synodal-style forum — a space of listening, reflection, planning, and renewal.
This annual Parish Council Forum brings together:
- The Moderated Priest Team
- The Parish Leadership Team
- The Parish Pastoral and Finance Teams
- Representatives from all Community Pastoral and Community Stewardship Teams
- Other invited lay leaders and parishioners as observers or participants
It represents the whole body of the parish, gathered to discern and plan together.
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2. Structure of the Gathering
Typically, the Annual Parish Council Forum would:
- Be moderated by the Moderated Priest Team together with the Parish Leadership Team
- Include prayer, listening sessions, reports, and planning workshops
- Provide a platform for each community. to share achievements, challenges, and pastoral priorities
- Conclude with common action points and commitments for the coming year
3. Goals of the Annual Parish Council
a. Communion and Unity
- Strengthen a sense of one parish family across multiple communities.
- Build mutual understanding and solidarity among different groups.
- Reflect the synodal vision of walking together in faith and mission.
b. Shared Discernment and Vision
- Review parish mission and pastoral priorities in light of Gospel values and diocesan goals.
- Discern together where the Holy Spirit is leading the parish.
- Identify emerging needs and opportunities for evangelisation, formation, and service.
c. Communication and Transparency
- Provide clear updates on pastoral initiatives, finances, and stewardship.
- Allow open dialogue and feedback from community representatives.
- Strengthen trust and collaboration between leadership and parishioners.
d. Planning and Accountability
- Develop annual goals for ministry, pastoral outreach, and financial stewardship.
- Evaluate progress from the previous year.
- Celebrate achievements and renew commitment to parish mission.
4. Relationship with the Moderated Priest Team
- The Moderated Priest Team plays a facilitating and guiding role, ensuring that pastoral discernment stays faithful to the Gospel and Church teaching.
- They listen, collaborate, and empower lay leadership rather than simply directing decisions.
- Together with the Council, they help shape a shared vision of pastoral care for the entire parish.
5. Overall Vision
> The Annual Parish Council Forum becomes the synodal heart of the moderated parish
> a time when the whole parish family gathers to listen, reflect, and plan together,
> ensuring that every community’s voice contributes to one shared mission in Christ.
Moderated Priest’s Team – Structure
1. Canonical Foundation
In accordance with Canon 517 §1 of the Code of Canon Law, and recognising the pastoral needs of our local Church, the Bishop has entrusted the pastoral care of the following parish(es) to a team of priests in solidum:
Parishes Included:
Littlehampton & Rustington, East Preston, Goring by the Sea, Worthing – St Michael, Worthing & Lancing, Shoreham, Steyning & Upper Beeding.
These priests share, in common, the pastoral responsibility for the faithful of these parishes. The Bishop has appointed one of them as **Moderator**, who directs their joint action and represents the parish(es) in juridical and administrative matters.
2. Composition of the Moderated Priest’s Team
Moderator: Rev. Ireneusz Stadler
Priest Team Members (in solidum):
Rev. Boniface Akpoigbe
Rev. Christopher Ingle
Rev. Liam O’Connor
Rev. Graham Ricketts
Canon Thomas Treherne
3. Responsibilities of the Moderator
The Moderator, appointed by the Bishop, shall:
1. Coordinate the joint pastoral activity of the priest team.
2. Represent the parish (all churches) in all juridical, financial, and administrative matters.
3. Oversee parish staff and ensure good governance in accordance with canon law and diocesan policy.
4. Report regularly to the Bishop regarding the life and ministry of the parish.
5. Facilitate unity of vision and collaboration among the priests and the lay faithful.
4. Responsibilities of the Priest’s Team
Each priest, in union with the Moderator, shall:
- Share equal responsibility for the spiritual and pastoral care of all parishioners.
- Exercise full priestly faculties within all entrusted parishes.
- Participate in regular team meetings (weekly or biweekly) for prayer, planning, and evaluation.
- Assume specific areas of ministry as discerned and confirmed by the team (e.g., liturgy, catechesis, youth, outreach, administration).
- Support one another in fraternity, prayer, and common mission.
- Maintain a visible pastoral presence in all churches entrusted to the team.
5. Overall Role of the Moderated Priest Team
The Moderated Priest Team stands as:
- Pastors (spiritual and sacramental leaders),
- Moderators (ensuring unity and consistency across all teams), and
- Collaborators (working with lay leaders for co-responsible governance).
They don’t dominate, but animate — leading with the heart of service and the wisdom of shared leadership.
6. Team Meetings and Communication
- The priest team shall meet at least biweekly for:
- Common prayer and fraternal support.
- Planning and review of liturgical, pastoral, and administrative matters.
- Decision-making by consensus whenever possible.
The Moderator will:
- Prepare an agenda for each meeting.
- Keep written minutes of significant decisions.
- Communicate key outcomes to parish staff and councils.
7. Common Pastoral Vision
The pastoral team commits to fostering:
- A unified vision for evangelisation, worship, catechesis, and service.
- Respect for the unique traditions and identity of each community entrusted to them..
- Ongoing consultation with parishioners and councils.
- Openness to collaboration among clergy, religious, and laity.
- Transparency in communication and decision-making.
8. Accountability and Evaluation
- The Moderator shall provide an annual report to the Bishop summarising pastoral activity, finances, and team life.
- The Bishop or his delegate may review the functioning of the in solidum arrangement periodically.
- adjustments to this structure may be made with the Bishop’s approval.
9. Term and Review
This agreement is effective from date[…………………….] and will be reviewed as circumstances require, in consultation with the Bishop and the priest team.
Signatures
Moderator Priest:___________________________ Date: ___________
Priest Team Member: ________________________ Date: ___________
Priest Team Member:________________________ Date: ___________
Priest Team Member:________________________ Date: ___________
Priest Team Member:________________________ Date: ___________
Priest Team Member:________________________ Date: ___________
Moderated Worthing Catholic Parish Divided Into Hubs
East Worthing: St Michael, Worthing – St Mary & Lancing, Shoreham with Steyning & Upper Beeding.
West Worthing: Littlehampton & Rustington, East Preston, Goring by the Sea.
A moderated Catholic parish divided into hubs usually refers to a parish that is organised into smaller, localised communities or groups rather than functioning as one large, centralised congregation. The purpose of this structure can be multifaceted. Here are the main reasons:
1. Pastoral Care & Community Building
- Large parishes can feel impersonal. By creating hubs (smaller sub-communities), parishioners can:
- Form deeper relationships.
- Receive more personalised attention from clergy and lay ministers.
- Participate more actively in parish life, ministries, and small groups.
2. Effective Administration & Leadership
- Hubs allow distributed leadership:
- Each hub might have coordinators or lay leaders assisting the priest.
- Localised decision-making can respond to the specific needs of each area.
- Reduces the administrative burden on a single parish office.
3. Accessibility & Convenience
- Hubs might correspond to geographic areas:
- People can attend smaller gatherings, Masses, or events closer to home.
- Encourages participation for families, seniors, or those with transportation challenges.
4. Enhanced Evangelisation & Outreach
- Smaller hubs can focus on mission and service in their local neighbourhoods:
- Outreach to the poor, visiting the sick, organising youth programs.
- Easier to mobilise volunteers and develop targeted ministry efforts.
5. Flexibility & Resilience
- In a hub model:
- Programs can continue even if one part of the parish faces challenges (e.g., a temporary priest shortage).
- Allows for experimentation with different types of liturgies, catechesis, or community events tailored to specific groups.
6. Faith Formation & Small Group Ministry
- Hubs support small-group catechesis, Bible studies, or sacramental preparation:
- Promotes peer learning and accountability.
- Encourages lay participation in spiritual formation.
In short: dividing a parish into hubs is about making the parish more relational, responsive, and mission-oriented, while still maintaining unity under the larger parish structure.
I.S.
Logo Description – Worthing Catholic Parish
The logo of Worthing Catholic Parish brings together the key symbols of our faith and our coastal identity. At the centre stands the cross, expressing that Christ is the heart of our parish. Beneath it, the boat and flowing waves reflect both the Church journeying together in faith and our location along the coast from Littlehampton to Shoreham.
A simple circular outline represents unity and belonging, while six small dots around the cross symbolise our six churches, each distinct yet united as one community.
Together, these elements form a clear and modern identity for a parish rooted in Christ and united in mission across our coastal towns.