Below outlines each group and what they do, but please be aware that the group you are looking for may be temporarily suspended. If you have any queries about how or if any of the particular groups are running at present, please contact the Parish Office via office@olem.org.uk.
Find out more about any of these groups in the parish by clicking on the headings.
- Altar Servers (Guild of St Stephen)
To be an altar server, you need to have made your first holy communion and be between 7 and 99 years old! Any boy or girl wishing to become and altar server would be required to serve Mass on a rota basis on Saturday evenings, Sundays and on special occasions during the week. For further details please speak to any member of the parish clergy or contact Jonathan Wright. - Bellringers
Our bells are renowned as one of the most celebrated rings of bells within the ringing fraternity. They are rung by local ringers from around the Cambridge area for mid-week services, weddings and special occasions. If you would like any further information please contact Paul Seaman tel. 01223 351659 or mobile 07802 739105 or email Paul Seaman. - Bookshop
This has been relocated to the Rectory. Access to view goods is from 09:00 until 14:00 Monday-Friday. Just ring the doorbell on the Hills Road entrance to the Rectory and Annelize will help you. - We have a good selection of books, pamphlets, rosaries, statues, greeting cards (First Holy Communion, Confirmation, birthday, anniversaries, sympathy, etc.) plus a variety of presents and souvenir articles. We are open before and after most Sunday morning Masses. Browsers are welcome.
- CAFOD
This parish supports CAFOD, raising funds each year through the Fast Day collections (Harvest and Lent), emergency appeals, Lenten lunches, and a range of other prayer, campaign and social events. See more information about CAFOD in this parish >
- Catholic Young Adults of Cambridge (CYAC)
Catholic Young Adults of Cambridge (CYAC)
We are a group of young adults (~18-35-year-olds) who meet regularly for social events and to learn more about our faith.
Our popular fortnightly Wednesday meetings in the Parish hall feature a bring and share dinner, a Bible study session or a talk, and end with sung compline in the main church. For those seeking more of the social interactions we organise a fun event on the last Saturday of each month.
Please sign up to our mailing list for regular updates: bit.ly/CYACsignup or find us on Facebook at ‘Catholic Young Adults of Cambridge (CYAC)’. For full 2023 schedule see: bit.ly/CYAC2023
If you have any questions contact us at cyac.contact@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting you soon! Foodbank
This parish is a founder member of the Cambridge City Foodbank, giving our nutritionally balanced emergency food to people who have nowhere else to turn.
See more information about Foodbank in this parish >- Flower Arrangers
From time immemorial flowers have been placed on altars in temples and churches to express thankfulness and joy in worship. Our church, too, follows this tradition, and we are fortunate in having an enthusiastic team of ladies who enhance the beauty of our church in this way. Should you be interested in this very pleasant parish activity, please contact Sheila Scott via the Rectory Office who will be pleased to give you further information. - Gospel of Life in Cambridge
In accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church, we aim to:
- Promote and encourage regular prayer for the creation of a Civilisation of Love to replace the culture of death
- Protect and defend every human life from conception to natural death;
- Work with organisations that offer moral and practical support to expectant mothers in hardship;
Share information with fellow parishioners about all relevant issues.
If you would like to join this group, please contact: mhorne1000@sky.com or clare_underwood@ntlworld.com.
- Justice & Peace
We are a friendly group who meet once every month to reflect on the spiritual basis of our commitment and on the issues of the day. We discuss plans for the activities arising from these reflections – these may be liturgical events, speaker meetings, fund-raising, campaigning, publicity events, etc. These meetings are for all the Catholic churches in Cambridge. To find out more about the group please contact Ron Haynes via St Laurence’s Presbytery - Ordo Franciscanus Sæcularis
Our local group of the OFS meets on the second Saturday every month at the Church Hall. For more information, please contact Jaci_Matos@hotmail.com - Prayer Group
The Prayer Group meets on Mondays following 12:15 Mass. Please join us in the Parish Centre Music Room. - Rosary Group
The Rosary Group meets in the Church after the 08:00 Mass Monday to Friday and on Saturdays after the 10:00 Mass. - Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
Our OLEM SVP Conference is a branch of the global, fraternal organisation of Catholic lay people who are committed to helping those in need on a person to person, non-denominational basis. Our members meet regularly for mutual support/advice and to pray that God’s wisdom and guidance will make us warmly effective in our mission. If you are interested in such work and learning more about us please don’t hesitate; contact: 07780 856212, or 353047, cfb79ten@gmail.com, and we’ll be pleased to respond as soon as we can.
- Soulfood
The Prayer and Praise prayer group meets on 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at St Laurence’s Church 91 Milton Road Cambridge at 8:00pm in the hall and 2nd and 4th week in Our Lady and English Martyrs, Lensfield Road entrance. Any 5th Tuesday is held free. For enquiries email:
- Scripture
The God Who Speaks II: Lectio for Lent. This will now be LIVE STREAMED on Wednesdays in Lent, 7.30 p.m. For further information email scripture@olem.org.uk and see the page about the Scripture group in this parish.
- Textile Group
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OWING TO COVID-19
We are a friendly group meeting up once a week for textiles work and/or a chat. For further info, please contact Urszula at u_chojnacka@yahoo.com.
- Thursday Luncheon Club
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OWING TO COVID-19
The Thursday Luncheon Club meets on the first Thursday of each month, except during the summer. It aims to provide an opportunity for members of the parish to meet socially during the day time. This is an extremely friendly and enjoyable group. For further information please contact the Rectory Office.