Culture and Diversity

Culture and Diversity


 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither Slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus Galatians 3:28


Extract from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

814 From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them. Within the unity of the People of God, a multiplicity of peoples and cultures is gathered together. Among the Church's members, there are different gifts, offices, conditions, and ways of life. "Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church, there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions."

263 The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity. Yet sin and the burden of its consequences constantly threaten the gift of unity. And so the Apostle has to exhort Christians to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


Welcome to a Church among Churches

At St Bridget's we are proud to shout about our diverse and multicultural community. This has made the church a dynamic one and become one of its main assets. Even before you take a pew, you would have spotted someone from your origins or another nation. This initial meeting, gives you a welcoming glow within and a blessed assurance which makes you feel at ease. Our International and social evenings give  parishioners the opportunity to display and enjoy talent from around the world such as music, dancing and varied food banquets provided by each nationality at functions such the International Mass, church socials and parish fayres. It sometimes feels like a food tasting bonanza! You are never alone. The Comboni missionaries have provided the music and singing at our International Masses in the past.

Check our A to Z of nationalities. Search for the country of origin of someone you know in the Parish on siteatlas.




Countries of Origin of Parishioners
Belgium
Belgium Congo
Brazil
Burma
China
Colombia
Croatia
Eire
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Guyana
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Kenya
Lebanon
Lithuania
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
New Zealand
Nigeria
Northern Ireland
Pakistan
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Scotland
Seychelles
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Lucia
Sudan
Switzerland
Tanzania
Trinidad
Uganda
Wales
Zimbabwe

 

Diversity in our Local Parish

The diversity in our congregation reflects the local ethnicity of Isleworth. Our parish congregation has people from many continents and countries. “You are created in the image and likeness of God.” (Genesis) reminds us that we are all part of God’s family and that we have a common ancestry in Him. This diversity of nationalities adds richness and other dimensions to the variety and gifts available in our parish. Our parish is God’s house and we warmly welcome all our brothers and sisters to worship in our church.

Through our common Christian heritage and lineage since time immemorial, we are bound together by God's unconditional love where we come to worship as one community and receive the sacraments.

Our yearly International Mass brings together the wide variety of different nationalities and cultures within the parish to celebrate our uniqueness in the eyes of God. Afterwards we share in an international meal of contributed food from around the world.

Friendship and fellowship is central to our parish's Christian mission. We strive to build community with one another to love and to be loved as we all are in the eyes of God.

Welcome to new Parishioners

We welcome all new parishioners to St Bridget's especially  those of ethnic Christian communities to attend Mass, visit the church or attend the social events. If you plan to stay in the parish for some time, please see the section for new parishioners.

St Bridget's Exchange

The purpose of the Exchange is to encourage parishioners to meet and get in touch with other parishioners from the same country of origin, same profession or skill e.g au pairs, carers, nurses, people working small businesses or with the same leisure interests or hobby such as local history, discussing books or film reviews, cookery, gardening and who all come to St Bridgets.

Its objective is to bring like-minded people with like-minded professions or skills to share positive experiences and may be the not so positive in either a social or informal atmosphere. It is not designed to exclude individuals or groups of parishioners but provide another channel of communication in addition to the other initiatives in the parish.

Please see the parish directory to send your request.


Extract from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

835 (edited) " In the mind of the Lord the Church is universal by vocation and mission, but when she put down her roots in a variety of cultural, social, and human terrains, she takes on different external expressions and appearances in each part of the world."

318 The rich variety of ecclesiastical disciplines, liturgical rites, and theological and spiritual heritages proper to the local churches "unified in a common effort, shows all the more resplendently the catholicity of the undivided Church."


Masses in Foreign Languages in the Diocese

 

Polish
Our Lady Mother of the Church
2 Windsor Road, Ealing W5 5PD
Tel: (020) 8567 1746
Contact: Fr Stanislaus Drozdowska
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.marians-uk.org
Services: Sat 7.30pm, Sun 9.00am, 10.15am, 11.30am, 1.00pm and 7.00pm
French
Notre Dame de France
5 Leicester Place
London WC2H 7BX
Tel: (020) 7437 9363
Fax: (020) 7440 2645
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.notredamechurch.co.uk

Italian
St Peter's Italian Church
136 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1R 5DL
Tel: 020 7837 1528
Fax: 020 7837 9071
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.italianchurch.org.uk
Services: Monday to Friday 12:15, Saturday 10:00 and 19:00 (pre-festive), Sunday 9:30 11:00 (Sung Mass) 12:30 19:00

Hounslow Catholic Deanery

The following Masses are celebrated regularly in the Deanery:

Syro-Malabar Rite (in Malayalam)
At 3.30pm on the first Sunday of the month at SS Michael & Martins, Hounslow. Contact Father Chacko Panathara.

Konkani
At 5.00pm on the last Sunday of the month at St Christopher’s, Cranford.

Polish
Every Sunday in the Chapel of St George at 5.30pm, Heathrow Airport (near terminal 2). Contact Father Jaroslow Kubiak SB. Tel: 07895 5322544 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also at Our Lady Queen Of Heaven, Heston at 7.00pm.

St Bridgets Parish

 

Our Lady of Sorrows and St Bridget of Sweden,
Memorial Square,
112 Twickenham Road,
Isleworth
TW7 6DL, UK

 

SOCIAL LINKS

Youtube
Facebook

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments: