Minutes for Parish Pastoral Council

Meeting Wednesday 19th May ‘04                           17th Meeting

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

1. Opening Prayer and Reflection from Margaret Rates

2. Autumn Parish Day Update. Planning meeting on Tuesday 25th May.

3. Future Pastoral Planning . We have contacted Fr Graham from St Clements who is happy to have a meeting and we are waiting for him to get back to us with details.

4.Link Parish. Fr Bill has approached Fr Yarek and everyone is keen to develop a link We need now to wait a little whilst Fr Yarek settles into his work and to get some idea of how he sees the link. It was felt that as a Parish we could support Fr Yarek’s ministry in a number of ways e.g. with finance, with resources such as books, by linking with different groups such as school children or womens’ groups and through prayer. These could help bring the mission in South Africa out of the abstract and into the concrete. We will approach the parishioner who suggested the link and the Justice and Peace Group to see how they might be involved.

5. Parish Open Meeting. This will be on the Feast of St Peter and St Paul Tuesday 29th June after the 7.30pm Mass. The agenda will be similar to last years with a financial report , a report on the work of the PPC and then a summary of the Parish Groups act ivies for the past year.

6.Follow up from Sacramental Preparation Group Report. There were four areas for consideration. i)The role of the Parish as a welcoming, evangelising Community. It was felt that the ministry of welcome had died out yet had been really valuable. It is hoped to re invigorate it beginning with the PPC taking on the role at Masses where they are timetabled at least for the next month. The school children continue welcome at the school Parish Mass and we hope that First Holy Communion and Confirmation families might help at special Masses for those groups. Having family groups was very effective and is more inclusive. It was felt, however, that welcome was a much bigger issue to do with a general attitude to all those at Church.  ii) Provision for post-Primary school to pre Confirmation formation. Everyone was very keen to encourage any initiative. The PPC are very willing to help get together a team to help but felt the need for a dynamic leader. Need to liase again with Sr Margarite to see if we can develop this better. iii) A working budget for the group. The PPC very much want to support the work of the Sacramental Preparation Group but the wider issue of whether all or some Parish Groups should be self financing needs to be reviewed by the finance Group who will report back after their next meeting. iv)Awareness of the changing profile of the Parish with particular regard to the variety of national groups. We are aware that our Parish is made up of a variety of different cultural and national groups. Many of whom are well represented in Parish but we would like all groups to feel and to be included in the many ministries and activities that take place. Whilst there may be occasions where particular groups are targeted for example, the Irish Dances or Mass said in Maritian, it is hoped that generally we should look for opportunities in the more every day situations such as being a Special Minister, Reading at Mass or being on the coffee Rota. It is also hoped that we can recognise some of the diversity within our Parish at the Shared supper at the Parish Day in September.

6.Parish Groups Update. Social Group had a very successful Ramble. A family Picnic is planned for Sunday and senior Citizens’ Day out in June with a quiz night and Golf day planned for the autumn. Justice and Peace Group met last week and are looking for a project to get their teeth into. Sacramental Preparation Group. The celebrations of the parish First Holy Communions and the Deanery Confirmations were all very special and holy occasions. Congratulation to all the young people and their families. Youth Group. There is a youth Mass on 23rd May.

 

 

Next meeting Thursday 17th June 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 date of Parish meeting and Oona’s availability

 

Arrange date with Fr Graham, St Clements                                           David W

Approach the Kevin Donovan who suggested the link and

the Justice and Peace Group re Parish link.

Put notice in newsletter re Parish Meeting

Speak to Sr M re youth

 

Approach Fr Bill re contacting Fr Yarek                                               Chris S

Contact all co-ordinators re Parish Meeting.

As Fr Bill if Parish will provide wine and arrange with C Turner!!!

Design some multi-lingual welcome posters!

 

Approach someone re- co-ordinating the Faith Development Group                  Fr Bil

 

 

 

                                                                                                           

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