Minutes of the Twenty Fifth Parish Pastoral Council
Held on Wednesday16th March at 7.30pm
Present: David Walsh, Michael Brennan, Jan Madden, Chris Sibthorp, Sue Clarke, Patrizia Wakefield, Carlos De Souza, David Thorn
Apologies: Father William Davern, Richard Davieson, Michael Tripp, John Sharpe, John Turner, Theresa Kenefick
1. Opening Prayer Jan Madden
2. David welcomed David Thorn as the new member of the PPC
3. Matters Arising from Last Meeting
Church Furninshings – Sue Clark to discuss with Fr. Bill separately
Security – Carlos de Souza to take forward issue of fire safety re doors by Father Chatterton Room.
SA Project – Note has gone out in the newsletter but as yet no response. David Walsh to take forward
Landings – Six people in the group, will be held again.
Risk Assessment – To be picked up by Premises
4. Action plan for medium and long term objectives
The following ideas were put forward:
- Encourage reflection based on our Lord’s Words
- Going out to help those in need
- Go back to mission statement
Specific tasks
- Formalise links between PPC and Parish Groups – report from a Parish Group at each PPC Meeting ???
- To create a two way link between our Parish and Fr. Yarek’s Parish in South Africa
- A&B News good place to spread ideas and practice - regular contributions from St Joseph’s
- Approve continued progress of Finance Committee – Reduce the dept appeal
- Introduce a rolling programme of Social / Parish activities for the forthcoming year e.g. Parish Family Day, Gold Day, Coach Trip to Canterbury. Patrizia and Liam to take forward and approach relevant organizers.
- There is a need to be more greatly represented
- Invite major Catholic and Christian speakers to talk to Parish – look at having, say, 6 speakers a year. Group to put forward any names of speakers
- Winning Post or similar to highlight areas of Parish life
- Take forward social events, look at what works well –
- Welcome Meeting
David Walsh ran through the Ministry of Hospitality, looking at examples of things that are done well in the Parish and things that could be developed. A meeting will be held after Easter to look at who would like to take part in taking this forward. A letter will also be sent to all those who attended the Welcome meeting.
6. Forthcoming Concerts
There is a real opportunity to raise the profile of the Parish in the run up to the concerts. PPC broadly in agreement with some reservation. David to discuss with John and report back to group.
- Parish Groups
- Justice & Peace
– Jan to approach group to see when they would like to attend a future meeting.
- Premises
– Currently looking at all booking procedures and processes. Increase in rents from previous year. A number of groups within the Parish are now using the premises.
- Sacramental Presentation
- Confirmation retreat has taken place at Ascot
- Parents of the First Communion children had their final meeting and all has gone very well
- In Touch Youth Group had a very successful session at the Church