PPC MINUTES

9 DECEMBER 2009

The meeting was opened with a prayer.

PRESENT

Fr Gregory Tobin (GT), Mary Crosby (MC) (Chair), Joyce Madden (JM), Marina Johnson (MJ), Mary Elliott Smith (MES), Krys Pietryka (KP), Kathy Gelling (KG), Angela Knott (AK), Patrick Haughney (PH), Sarah Juric (SJ), Maura Roche (MR) (Secretary)

APOLOGIES

Catherine Vaughan, Rachel Byrne, Jane Wilford, Jo Garside, Alan Macken

MINUTES OF OCTOBER 2009 MEETING

Accepted as a true record

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE OCTOBER MINUTES

a) UCM review of PPP - KG reported back re their informal discussions re “To help people to become more prayerful, personally and as a parish” They made various suggestions, including having occasional novenas and writing new prayers. They also requested that the Thursday Rosary after Mass be placed in the newsletter schedule. The UCM (and other parish groups) start their meetings with prayer. It was noted that people liked having prayer cards and MC will make these available when she refurbishes the church noticeboards.

b) Operation Christmas Card – MR thanked everyone for their help in packing the cards and asked for volunteers to help distribute the packets at weekend Masses

c) Christmas Masses – MR asked for volunteers to help at the Christmas Masses

PARISH PASTORAL PLAN

“To share our spirituality and prayer with those in the wider community”

• GT suggested we can be a bit inward looking - we should proclaim the good news and build our relationships with other faiths and people of no faith
• JM & GT recently represented the deanery in attending an event at The Council House as part of “National Interfaith Week.” The event was run by the Interfaith Council and included a powerpoint presentation of their year’s activities. The event was attended by various civic dignitaries who seemed to value this means of communicating with these community groups.

This is an opportunity for us to be active and get involved on various levels to share what we have with the wider community.

• GT suggested we need to reach out into prisons, hospitals and homeless centres if we are to live out the gospels – there are openings into all these fields. We have a message that gives hope to the world.
• MES reported that as a result of the Prayer Taster Session, a Lectio Divina group will be starting in the parish in the new year.
• MES put forward a suggestion from the Education Group - as part of “The Year of the Priest,” which runs until June 2010 - it would be very interesting to hear what brought each of our priests into the priesthood – perhaps they could each do a 15 minute session about their vocation, followed by the rosary and prayers for vocations?
• It was suggested we have a Retreat Day in the parish – perhaps one Saturday in Lent at The Becket chapel ? GT said the parish would back this financially if necessary.
• There was discussion about the merits of bringing in groups from outside the parish to discuss & enrich our faith.

A.O.B.

a) Children’s Liturgy Group – AK raised a H & S concern about the children moving between the church and the social centre during Mass – they could run out on to the road – should we consider installing a gate or barrier at the car park entrance ?

b) Toddler Group – urgently need volunteer support staff to help run their sessions. It was suggested they ask the local “Volunteer Register” for help and MC suggested we advertise again in the parish newsletter. GT suggested that a young parishioner looking for voluntary work may be able to help and passed on details.

The meeting closed with a prayer.

Next Meeting

8pm Wednesday 13 January 2010 in the upper room of the Social Centre.