Minutes for St Joseph’s Parish Pastoral Council

Meeting Thursday 27TH February 03

 

Present: Fr William Davern, Richard Davieson, Selina Hough(Alice Williams), Paul Killoughery(Carlos De Souza), Jan Madden, Margaret Rates, John Sharpe, Chris Sibthorp, Michael Tripp, John Turner, David Walsh, Apologies from Michael Brennan, Theresa Kenefick, Tony Prince.

1.Opening Prayer and Reflection from Michael Tripp

 

2.Matters Arising. Parish Council details and minutes are now on the St Joseph’s Website. Everyone agreed that many thanks were due to Mary Ransome for the great job she is doing. We will try to be web aware!

 

3.Any other business.  Paul Killoughery has been in discussion with residents regarding parking and clamping. Particularly that the entrance to St Margaret’s Drive has been obstructed in the past. The school is allowing the use of the playground for special events but the surface and structure was not designed for regular use by cars. Once the council adopt the road it should ease the problem. The Premises SIG will check how best to support the residents application to the Council and then we can send a supporting letter from the PPC.

Change of dates for April meeting. From  Monday 28th  to Wednesday 30th April.

 

4.Youth Ministry at St Joseph’s. David, Jan and John had looked at some ideas for how the PPC can help develop the youth life of the Parish. This included a visit to St Paul’s Christian Evangelical Group in Cheam, researching Internet Sites and talking with Ray Mooney the Diocesan Youth Officer. They then suggested various possible ways forward. There were lots of positive ideas, spiritual, social, justice and peace and a possible youth section to the website, etc.

As a result it was decided to begin by focusing on involving the 14-18 age group in the liturgy and as a first step to invite young people of this age group to take responsibility for running a monthly 6pm Mass followed by an hour with coffee/tea in the Hall, where possible for PPC members to be present to encourage, beginning on 23rd March.  

 

5.Parish Administration and Deanery Links. Fr Bill brought us up to speed on the current situation in the Parish. The Parish is only just solvent. Our Debt is decreasing slowly but we need urgently to address it’s repayment over  the next seven years. Fr Bill is part of a deanery committee to consider how the current nine parishes with nine priests can become nine parishes with only six priests as is expected in ten years time. A recommendation is to be prepared for the summer.

 

6. Representation at Mass.  Richard provided a good outline of possible ways towards achieving a regular attendance by the PPC. It was agreed that our main purpose would be to support the priest in answering questions and queries. E.g. where to collect Baptismal forms, greet new people or direct people to Sr Margarite! We shall try to be a presence initially at the 9.30am and 6pm Masses on a rota basis and see how it goes.

 

7. Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) Michael and David had contacted all SIG’s and collated the replies. Many thanks to the Co-ordinators for providing their information. A number of issues came up which will carry forward so that the PPC can provide real help. E.g checking that the Talent list has been followed up. The title SIG’s was felt to be a bit off-putting and so they will just be known as groups from now on.

It was felt that the Parish was not really aware of these parish groups and what they do and therefore, might not offer to join or help. To try to address this threefold problem, all co-ordinators will be invited to the first hour of the next PPC meeting to discuss a possible action plan, and particularly how the PPC can support future developments. Prior to this a sub group of the PPC will meet to identify clearly possible ways forward and to formulate an outline action plan action plan.

 

Next meeting: Thursday 20th March 2003 at 7.30p.m. in the Fr Chatterton Room

Closing Prayer and Blessing.