Minutes for Parish Pastoral Council

Meeting Wednesday 24th March ‘04                                    15th Meeting

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

 

1. Opening Prayer and Reflection from David Walsh

2. Parish Finance Appeal. Michael Brennan outlined the finance Groups arrangements for approaching the Parish during next Sundays Masses hoping to increase the number of Parishioners who will gift aid their contributions and to encourage everyone to re-consider their level of giving and so continue to reduce the Parish Dept as well as helping with the day to day running of our Church. Information on the current financial situation has already appeared with the newsletter for the past fortnight.

3. Autumn Parish Day. The small group met and put together ideas along with the original suggestions so it is hoped that the Parish Day will be on 25th September. There is a rough outline in place for the day with speakers on different topics alongside activities for children over 2yrs followed by Mass at 5pm and a shared supper. It was felt that we will need to publicise it early – June – in order to get good numbers and make the event truly successful.

4. Future Pastoral Planning. We have all read and considered the deanery draft response to the issue of reduced numbers of priests in our Diocese and in particular to the possibility of only 6 priests in our Deanery by 2010. As we felt before these issues involved taking us beyond just our immediate Parish. We are hoping to meet with representatives from St Clements in Ewell and possibly St Michaels in Ashtead, where we already have strong links. We will then be in a position to open the forum out at the Parish Meeting in the Summer.

5.Link Parish. A parishioner suggested that a link might be formed with a parish abroad, possibly with Fr Yarek’s Parish. Everyone was keen to discuss this at our next meeting.

6.Parish Groups Update.

Youth Group. The youth mass was well attended by the Confirmandi. And other young people but there were only a few of them in the hall afterwards. Sacramental Preparation Group.  Two training session have been arranged for Catechists one on Baptism on 3rd April and the other on Communion and Reconciliation  on 24th April. These have been opened out to all the Parishes in the Deanery.

The Day of Reflection for eucharistic ministers, organised by Collette Totman which was very well attended. Social Group The Barn Dance was very successful and great fun as well as raising in excess of £500 with150+ taking part.

 

 

 

Next meeting:  Monday 24th February 2004 at 7.30p.m. in the Chatterton Room

 

Closing Prayer.

 

 

 

Actionable Points From Minutes:

 

Action                                                                 Responsibility

 

Opening prayer and reflection for next meeting                          CS

 

 

Check Hall availability for 25th September and to contact

Bishops Office asap.                                                                             David Walsh

 

Parish Day Meeting for Mon 8th 7.30pm                                   David, John S, Chris,

                                                                                                            Jan, Tony

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 Details re finance on the website to David Brennan                               Chris Sibthorp