Activities and Groups within the Parish

Ascent Movement

One of the ‘new movements’ in the Church, for people in their middle years who are called to be Active, Spiritual, Caring, Enlightened, Needy and Thankful. The group also aims to build a link between the young and the not so young in the parish. Meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of each month.

For further information, contact Veronica Sowerby or John Green. Please see the Hallam Ascent website for details about forthcoming events and meetings.

Card Making Group

This is a group of volunteers who make cards which are sold in aid of the Goodwill Children’s Villages, India. They are a friendly group who meet some Tuesday mornings and always make new members very welcome. Contact Julie Hull for the date of the next meeting. Cards are available to buy in the Narthex.

Dance Club

This is a Thursday evening female dance and movement class, from 8.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. in the Assisi Hall. Soft shoes are essential, no trainers please. Admission is £40 for a 10 week course with a fully qualified tutor in charge. The Dance Club enables the weekly class to join exercise, correct breathing and perform dance movement – all to music. Beginners are always welcome and routines are gradually established. Every year, the Dance Club put on a show at end of January with profits going to causes supported by the Parish. For further information, contact Grazyna Swales.

Lectio Divina

Filled with a desire to get to know Jesus better, this group meets in the Presbytery after the 10.00 a.m. Mass on Monday mornings to read and contemplate one of the books of the Bible – currently the Gospel of St. John. It follows a pattern of prayer to the Holy Spirit, a contemplative reading, quiet time, discussion and a search for a personal response to the Word. For further information, contact John Green.

Little Fishes

Praise and Play for 0 – 5 years, with carers, monthly on Mondays from 1.45 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. Meet in the Assisi Hall and then in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. For further information, contact Clare Byrne.

Luncheon Group

St. Francis’ Tuesday Luncheon Group welcomes you to join them if you have two hours to spare. They meet from 12.15 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. For further details, contact Veronica Sowerby.

The Rosary

Friday after morning Mass. For more information, contact Elizabeth Davison or Brian Sowerby.

St. Vincent De Paul Society

The SVP was founded over 160 years ago with volunteers dedicated to helping the poor, sick and lonely and housebound, Catholic or not. Today, the society has almost a million members working in five continents for the benefit of others. Contact Kevin McHale for further details.

Welcoming of new Parishoners

A group of existing parishioners visits those new to the Parish in their homes in order to give them a formal welcome to St. Francis Parish and to outline the various activities and facilities available within the Parish. The scheme is coordinated by David Kay.

200 Club

We run this lottery to raise money for the Parish. Membership entitles you to enter twelve draws per year. A total of £740 is paid out in prizes each year, £30 in eight months of the year and £125 each quarter. The club usually raises over £600 per year for the parish.

You can join by contacting Kevin Exell on 0114 2665375. You will need to set up a standing order of £13 a year, payable quarterly, half yearly or annually to the Club - a sum equivalent to only 25p per week! Some parishioners have two or even three tokens in each draw; there is no limit to the number of tokens you can purchase. (Registered under the Gambling Act 2005).