Minutes of the Twenty Second Parish Pastoral Council

held on Thursday 18 November 2004 at 7.30 p.m.

Present: David Walsh – Chairman	Alice Williams
Michael Brennan	Tony Prince
Father William Davern	Margaret Rates
Carlos De Souza	John Sharpe
Richard Davieson	Chris Sibthorp
Jan Madden	Michael Trip
Theresa Kenefick	John Turner

1. Opening Prayer - Michael Tripp

2. Barbara Wallace (A&B) Presentation on ‘Welcome’ – Barbara gave an interesting account on how it was possible to welcome people on arrival at the church. Barbara also gave the Council an overview of the short course entitled ‘More than handing out hymn books.....’. After Barbara Wallace had left it was agreed that a course should be held. Also it was agreed that in advance of holding the course information should be made available to be the Parish. The time agreed would be post the half term which is at the beginning of Lent. David Walsh would contact Barbara Wallace to ask if there would be a slot in her schedule in mid-February. Jan Madden agreed to look into having “Welcoming” notices at the entrances to the Church in different languages, possibly as a follow up to the Justice and Peace Groups “Map Day”

3. Any Other Business – Michael Brennan raised the question why there was so little emphasis on Remembrance Sunday during Mass on Sunday 14 November. Father Bill pointed out that the 11.30 am Mass was devoted to Remembrance Sunday.

4. Matters Arising from the last Meeting

• Bidding Prayers - John Turner drafted a proposed letter to be sent to all the Groups who will take it in turns to produce bidding prayers month by month. This was agreed.
• Parish Day – A discussion will take place with Theresa Kenefick regarding the use of the school prior to a decision on a date to hold another Parish Day.
• Elections in January – Nomination forms have been issued. David Morrell will act as returning officer. He will meet with Christine Turner on Friday 26 November. Ballot papers will be available weekends of 4^th and 11^th December.

5. Elections January 2005 – Amendments to the original Guidelines of the Parish Pastoral Council were agreed as follows:

• Operation – In the first paragraph the word ‘October’ would be changed to ‘January’. In paragraph three the word ‘September’ will be changed to ‘December’. In the same paragraph the sentence ‘Those issued will be recorded against the Parish register, one form per person over 16 years of age’ will be cahnged to “all members of the Parish may vote once”.
• Officers – must be elected in January for the Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary.
• Meetings – in second paragraph the sentence will read ‘The Parish Pastoral Council will have one Open Meeting with the Parish in July. ‘SIGs’ will be changed to Parish Groups. It was agreed that it was not practical to have a presentation from each parish group throughout the year, so “at least once per year” changes to “on a regular basis”.

6. Presentations from Parish Groups – Sister Margarite was the only person who had given a presentation. The Landings Group had been successful. Kevin McDonnell would be invited to meet the Council. This suggestion was put by Father Bill. It was agreed that David Walsh would invite Kevin McDonald to the Council to explain exactly what the ‘Landings’ scheme aims to achieve.

7. Any Other Business – David Walsh asked for any expenses incurred on the organisation of the Parish Day to be notified to him as it was essential to have a record. Christine Sibthorp raised the point that on Youth Sunday the second collection would be taken for the youth.

The meeting closed at 9.30 pm.