Parish Covenant with the Poor
St. John the Evangelist, Horsham
In preparation for the Jubilee Year of celebration of the second Millennium of the Incarnation of the Son of God, we, the Bishop, clergy, religious and people of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton enter into a new Covenant with the poor as we hear, through the Church, the call to "proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."
We commit to the following:
On behalf of the poor of the world to deepen by reflection and study our awareness and concern for those who lack a just share in the world's resources.
Our church has a special space for prayer and reflection on the needs of the poor, our Chapel of the Covenant with the Poor, and we provide opportunities for parishioners to increase their understanding of the Church’s social teaching through study and reflection.
To give more generously and substantially from our abundance of material goods to help the needy.
Our parish gives 10% of its parish income to help the poor, half to UK-based organisations and half to the poor overseas.
To be a voice for, and to develop partnerships with, the under-privileged at home and abroad.
A number of groups in the parish assist the needy in our town. We promote the sale of fairtrade goods within the parish and we work with and help a number of communities in poor countries. During the twenty four years of the Covenant we have developed relationships with communities in Pakistan, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Rwanda, Malawi and the Philippines.
To bring to the Lord in prayer and worship the brokenness of so many that He may show us His ways to be His instruments of justice, mercy and compassion and thus be a source of hope for all.
We include the poor and oppressed in our bidding prayers and we hold special liturgies dedicated to the poor throughout the year.
So may our light shine before all, that seeing our good works, they may give praise to the Father in heaven and believe in his Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World.
Signed October 3rd 1998