About Us!

We would like to introduce everyone personally, but that would be impossible. Anyone who is, or has been, involved with us is always part of our apostolate, and, if you were to walk around our Watermead Centre and shop, scroll the pages of our internet shop, visit the various gifts pages on this website - then you would be sharing in the faith journeys of many, many people. Pictured here are just some of those who have been involved over the years and the music below is one of our hymns presented by some of our singers and musicians.
READ OUR STORY
These people are represented by the music, words and pictures used on our items, and through the time and resources gifted for the development of each project. We actually stopped counting in 2000, realising that the people involved with us exceeded well over two hundred - and today new people still keep joining our sharing.

Singers & Musicians

Music was the first gift shared and over the years many people have been involved in the various presentations of our music. People have sung and provided instrumental backing for recordings, events and workshops. Others have also shared their original hymns and music through us.

Poets & Authors

Our first book was a book of parishioners' favourite prayers, soon followed by their own original poetry and prayers. These and the numerous reflections and writings gifted to us have often shaped the way our publications have evolved, as words have inspired books, laminates, greeting cards and stationery.

Artists & Photographers

The first picture was a painting of the birth parish church of our apostolate used for the cassette cover and folder of our first music recording.  Many original paintings and photographs have been gifted us to use and these appear on our cards, publications and recordings artwork. 

Our Centre and Shop

We are based in Leicester, at the top of St Joseph's Church car park. We were offered the derelict "Old Stables" building in 2001, which had been the original church on the site converted from stables, hence its name.  Following refurbishment we commenced operating from here in 2005.
OPENING HOURS AND DIRECTIONS

Some of our Watermead People

Watermead Publishing Limited

When we began we were simply a small parish venture that produced and sold our own music, books and cards, giving the monies we made to charity - people gifted us and we in turn gave to charity, a double giving. But, as projects and outlets grew, we were advised that we needed to form a trading company, so as not to compromise our parish charity status.

So, in 1997, Watermead Publishing Limited was formed - through which took responsibility for producing and trading the products created from the donated gifts, whilst our Watermead Apostolate's various other activities continued the support of the charitable missions and good works that we have become involved with over the years.

As well as being responsible for the necessary administration and accounting for our publishing projects and its retail outlets, Watermead Publishing Ltd takes on publishing commissions alongside Watermead projects, to help support and fund this responsibility.

Our first Managing Director

When Watermead Publishing Limited was formed in 1997, it needed someone to take on legal responsibility for the running of the company as Managing Director.

Len  was a long-standing and respected parishioner in the parish and had been supportive and helpful in the setting up of the Apostolate from 1992. His experience in business and accountancy made him the obvious person for the role and we were delighted he took on the position. Richard then offered to look after the accounts and other parishioners also became involved. A team of fourteen honorary directors was put together, representing the various aspects of the Apostolate from the creative to technical, and from parish to diocese - as well as the Rosminian Order to whom Father John belongs. Our set-up could have been termed a model of Social Enterprise - an evangelising workers co-operative.
Len, pictured here with his wife, Celia, retired as managing director in 2002 
In 2001, when we moved to St Joseph's, the necessary geographical changes made it difficult for people to continue their day-to-day involvement and, for some, their commitment as honorary directors. It was decided together that honorary directors were no longer needed and those who had been so willing to help us by agreeing to hold the position in our initial years were relieved to resign, knowing that they would still continue to be very much part of our Watermead family from a distance - but without the responsibility of being directors of the limited company. To date the management of the limited company is looked after by David.

Here at St Joseph's the Watermead family and projects has continued to grow with many more people becoming involved with the apostolate in various creative and practical ways.
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