Welcome to the Watermead Apostolate
A sharing in love and faith through our God-given talents
We frame and share what we have been given
We are a Christian apostolate that shares faith through people’s gifts, talents and time, recording and publishing our own music, cards, stationery, resources and books. We began in 1992, and over the years the apostolate has grown into one that now has had several aspects to its sharing ~ music, books, resources, greeting cards and stationery, retreats, pilgrimages.
Everything we share is a gift from someone on their personal journey through faith and life
The Music
We began by sharing the original music being composed in the then parish community. The first hymn 'Our Song Gives Praise'
was accepted for publication, encouraging more compositions and, as hymns and mass settings came, it was decided to explore publishing sheet music. A recording was made, intended only to demonstrate the flexibility of the music, but, as copies were requested, it became our first commercial recording.
The Words
Music was first, inspiring prayer and words of prayer. We published our first book, 'Words of Prayer and Encouragement', a collection of people's favourite prayers, and our small parish venture began to grow: recording music, publishing books and cards, sharing any profit with charity. People gifted us and we not only shared their gifts with others, we were able to help and support charities and other good works ~ a double giving.
The Pictures
The first picture was a watercolour painting of the church building of our birth parish, the image placed as if in the middle of the neighbouring Watermead country park. This picture was used for the folder and cassette covers of our first recording, 'Our Songs Give Praise', and has since been used on many of our publications and cards. Over the years we have been given many original pictures and photographs and these have been used in various ways.
Watermead
When we began we mused over many names for our apostolate, personal and saintly, but decided that what we were beginning was for all who wanted to be involved in the sharing God's love through their many gifts, talents and time ~ our title should not imply denominational or parochial ownership. 'Watermead'
was chosen after the parkland area behind the church and in 1997 'Watermead Publishing'
became our official trading name.
Retreats
From the beginning offering retreats was a regular part of our apostolate, either in the parish where we were based or anywhere by invitation. These were led by our founder Fr John until his death in 2024. The patterns we used are available to share through our website and there are suggested timetables for evening or day retreats. Our sessions usually ended with a 'Music as Prayer' meditation and recordings of some of these are also available.
Pilgrimages
Over the years we have arranged for groups to visit various pilgrimage sites - in Italy (Rome, Assisi, Padua, Venice, Florence, Stresa), in France (Lourdes and Lisieux) and in Malta - returning to some each year and some every few years. Our pilgrimages are open to anyone of faith who would like to join us, and are rather like a very large family journeying together, with each member taking responsibility for their travel insurances, etc.
The People
As you journey through our website pages you will meet many of the people involved. You can listen to our music and singers, share the stories that have inspired our items, meet the characters used on some of our cards and stationery, and read many of the words of inspiration offered us through people's prayers, poetry and experiences. Click on one of the following windows for more information and, if you would like further details, please contact us.
Watermead Voices
Over the years we have shared the voices of people through their various creative gifts of music, art, poetry, prayers.
Watermead Voices
is a blog that shares the writings of Fr John and others involved with our apostolate - some of which have been already been shared through our publications. But mainly we shall share new articles and reflections from the contributions that have been sent to us and the blog will be added to regularly. So do keep returning to this page to read the latest topical sharing, along with the many writings we may choose to share from our archives - and if you have any reflections, poetry, etc. that you would like to share through us then please do contact us.
Fr John explores Mary Magdalene's title "Apostle to the apostles" in the context of the scriptures
What we call 'original sin' is not of Adam and Eve - it is sin of man and woman, a universal story of every age . . .
Fr John explores the life of the Holy Trinity and how the human trinity reflects that life.
Watermead Windows
The following windows take you to various aspects of our apostolate's sharing on this website and on our online shops.
