Groups
Catholic Women's League
St. Vincent de Paul (SVP)
Knights of St. Columba
Catechists
The Parish Council
Brownies
Beavers / Scouts
Catholic Women's League
The Catholic Women's League is a group of ladies who belong to a
World Wide non-political Organisation. Margaret Fletcher, a convert
and a woman of vision, founded the CWL in 1906 to unite Catholic
Women in a bond of friendship and to encourage them to use their
talents and skills in the service of the Church and the Community
at local, national and international level. The CWL motto is
Charity, Work and Loyalty. 
The St Kentigern's section of the CWL meet fortnightly on Monday evenings in St Kentigern's Social Centre. The meetings are for mutual support and to discuss and organise the various works of Charity in which they are involved such as Coffee Mornings, Jumble Sales, Social Events and Annual Retreats.
All the money raised goes to Charity and the Church. On the last Sunday of each month the CWL attend the 11am Mass together. New members are always welcome.
On Thursday 24th February 1999 a member of St Kentigern's CWL was presented with the Papal award "Bene Merenti" which was presented to her by Fr John Foulkes at the CWL Annual Mass. Mrs Maura Thomas is pictured here with Fr John Foulkes & Fr Luiz Ruscillo.
St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (England & Wales) is an International Organisation of lay people founded in Paris in 1833. Placed under the patronage of St Vincent de Paul, it is inspired by his thinking and his works. It seeks in a spirit of justice & charity to help those who are suffering. It does this by person to person involvement of its members. The group meets every Tuesday evening.
The meetings are held in a spirit of fraternity, simplicity and Christian joy. The SVP visit the sick, the lonely and the poor either in hospital or at home. They shop for those unable to do so for themselves and try to obtain furnishings whenever they are needed. In some cases they even help to pay household bills. They provide taxis for the elderly to attend church services and if they are not in a position to help directly, they will always contact another agency who ca assist.
A few members are Eucharistic minister and take Holy Communion to sick and housebound parishioners.
New members are always welcome and further details can be obtained via the Parish priest.
St Kentigern's SVP is "twinned" with St Francis of Assisi conference in Thaickal, Southern India. We regularly pray for and communicate with each other and assist wherever possible.
Knights of St. Columba
The Knights of St Columba were founded in 1919 as a part of the Lay Apostolate and have been active in the life of the Catholic Church ever since. They are a body of men who are bonded in FRATERNITY& CHARITY and their aims are to support the mission of the Catholic Church and at the same time to work for the spiritual, intellectual and material welfare of its members and their families. They are organised in a number of Provinces throughout England, Scotland and Wales and are affiliated to the International Alliance of Catholic Knights. Each Province is organised into a number of Charter Councils covering a group of Parishes usually equivalent to a Deanery with 15 to 50 members in each.Each Charter Council meets monthly, their meetings start and finish with prayers, they spend a time in studying scripture or the Papal Encyclicals, with, wherever possible, their Chaplain to lead them. Business concerned with the welfare of the members, action for the Church and for the Order and activities for the benefit of Youth is discussed and matters directed by province and by National Headquarters. Social events are planned and members and their families enjoy many of these. It has always been their practice to give support and help to the parish Priests and they do this to the best of their ability.
At the present time we have a number of members who have given loyal cc to the order, but have now reached retirement age and also a number who are frail and unable to play an active part in much of our work. The active members do all that they can to support these older members and also the widows and families of deceased members.
The work that its done for the parish priest could be greatly increased if we had more members and that is why we ask Catholic men to join us, especially younger men, that is to say anyone between the ages of 16 and 96!
Through our Fraternity, Charity and Unity we have a good time and so do our families and welcome any new members to come and share in it.
If you are interested and would like to know more about the order, please see the notice on the Church Notice Board.
Council 91 meets on the last Tuesday of the month in St Kentigern's Social Club.
Catechists
Parish Catechists support the Parish priest with the instruction of the Catholic Faith. The word catechist derives from a Greek word "katechethes" which means, "to instruct". Catechists are involved in Sacramental Communion and Confirmation Programmes as well as the Children's Sunday Liturgy. The role of the catechist is to prepare the child and his / her family to receive the Sacraments. Adult Catechists are involved in the Rites of Christian Initiation in Adults Course (RCIA) which runs from September up to Pentecost.
The Parish Council
The Parish Council comprises of 18 parish members elected by parishioners and up to 6 other members co-opted by the council.
Any parishioner who is at least 16 years of age is eligible to serve on the Council. The role of the Council is to assist the Parish Priest in the performance of his duty involving the Parish.Officers on the Council are elected from its number following the Annual General Meeting. The President of the Council is the parish Priest and officers consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Parish Financial Administrator. All the posts are honorary. The Council meets once a month in the Parish Room and deals with affairs of the Parish with the Annual General Meeting being held each November.
Brownies
The 31st Blackpool (St. Kentigern's) Brownies meet once a week during term time and once a month they attend Mass for their Church Parade. For further information please contact Francesca O'Neill (Brown Owl) on (01253) 353180.
Beavers / Scouts
Meetings are on Wednesdays in the Parish Hall.