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Landings
Landings was devised in the US during the 1980s by Boston-based Paulist Father Jac Campbell and it has proved popular and successful in North America. It was introduced to the UK via Ealing Abbey in 2001, and by the end of 2005, parishes in the dioceses of Westminster, Portsmouth, Salford, Southwark, Lancaster, Liverpool, Chester, Plymouth, Birmingham and Northampton were running groups. Over 550 people have attended Landings training sessions, with others having been trained subsequent to the workshops, within participating parishes. There are now around 65 UK parishes trained and licensed to run Landings groups.
Most Catholics know someone who has been away from the Church and might, under the right circumstances, consider coming back. Whilst some are comfortable returning to the Church by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation and then attending Mass once again, others may need more support as well as a period in which to explore their faith. Landings caters specifically for such people.
A typical parish Landings group meets for one and a half hours per week over an eight to ten week period, and consist of parishioners who have been trained in this ministry (some of whom have themselves been away and have ‘returned’) and inactive Catholics who are exploring the possibility of returning.
Landings does not claim to provide answers to everyone’s questions or solutions to all problems but through it returning Catholics can, when necessary, be referred to specialist help. It offers returning Catholics a safe environment and supportive community within which they can ask questions, discuss issues, deal with difficulties, as well as an opportunity to get to know a group of ordinary Catholics who are striving to live their faith in the 21st century.
For the ‘active’ Catholics who take part as welcomers in Landings, it provides an opportunity to share their faith, to participate in the Church’s mission to welcome those who have been away and to grow and learn from each others’ spiritual journeys.
Contact Information
- National Co-ordinators for Britain
- Fr James Leachman OSB, Director, Landings UK and Pauline Gilbertson
- Telephone: 0771 7224071
- pauline.gilbertson@englishchamberorchestra.co.uk
- http://www.landingsuk.org.uk
http://www.hants.gov.uk/landings/landings_details.htm
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