Minutes for Parish Pastoral Council

Meeting Wednesday 26th April ‘04                           16th Meeting

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

 

1. Opening Prayer and Reflection from Chris Sibthorp

2. Parish Finance Update. Michael Brennan reported that at the Sunday Appeal, £4000 had been given and in the region of £3000 since the appeal. This is an excellent response. There are some increased standing orders and donations and 15 new gift aid forms have been completed. It was felt that the Parish should be thanked for their generosity and hoped that the trend continues! Also the Hall Hire is providing an excellent income of £14,000 this year . Our thanks to Michael Brennan and Michael Tripp, Paul Killoughery, David Carpenter and all the Finance Group

3. Autumn Parish Day Update. The date is now set as Sat 25th September. A variety of speakers are now being booked provisionally to include sessions on Prayer and Mediation, Marriage, What it means to be a Catholic, Art and Religion and Feasts and Seasons in the home , as well as preparation for the Parish Mass at 5pm and afterwards a shared supper which we hope will involve as many different groups of people as possible. Kathy Maskens has kindly agreed to have a Trade Craft Stall and The Dovecote Bookshop have been approached to bring a display too.

4. Future Pastoral Planning . We have tried to contact representatives from St Clements in Ewell but they do not have a PPC equivalent therefore, we will continue to try to speak to the P. Priest and then possibly also liase with Fr Rick at St Michaels in Ashtead, where we already have strong links.

5.Link Parish. All t6he PPC were very keen to explore a link between St Joseph’s and Fr Yarek’s Parish abroad. This could be sharing prayer, resources ideas or friendships. Our first step must be to check with Fr Bill and then to ask him or Fr Micael  to approach Fr Jarek. It would then be possible to ask the Parish if they would support a link at the Parish Open Meeting in the Summer.

6.Parish Groups Update.

Parish Sacramental Preparation Group. Sr Margarite gave splendid overview of the work of the Sacramental Preparation Group. She explained that Marriage Preparation is running slightly separately and is well organised and using the new Diocesan Programme. She detailed when and how each of the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation is approached with the Catechists using a variety of materials, published and adapted, to help over 140young people and their families, this year, in their formation as Catholics. Included in this role is the Continuous Catechetics for those children not attending Catholic schools, which takes place on Tuesday evenings. Sr Margarite had areas where she felt there was a need for change: provision for post-Primary school to pre Confirmation formation , the role of the Parish as a welcoming, evangelising Community , a working budget for the group, awareness of the changing profile of the Parish with particular regard to the variety of national groups. These will be discussed at the next meeting.

 

 

Next meeting:  Wednesday 19th May 2004 at 7.30p.m. in the Parish Office

 

Closing Prayer.

 

 

 

Actionable Points From Minutes:

 

Action                                                                 Responsibility

 

Opening prayer and reflection for next meeting                          Michael Tripp

 

 

Check Hall date for Parish Open Meeting                                             Chris s

To be on next months agenda                                                                David

 

 

                                                                                                           

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