Minutes of the PPC meeting

Held at 8pm on Wednesday 9th November

In the parish social centre

Present

Ian Murray Chairperson (IM), Fr Gregory Tobin (GT), Maria Dabrowska (MD), Bernadette Turner (BT), Anne Turton (AT), John Edwards (JE), Chris Hoban (CH), Vicky Acklam (VC) Mary Crosby (MC), Peter Fooks (PF)

Peter Walsh (PW), Paul Lyons (PL) Veronica Lawrence (VL) Liz Bonner secretary (LB).

Apologies

Maura Roach (MR), Fr Peter Vellacott (PV) Peter Molloy (PM), Maria Simister (MS).

The meeting was opened with a prayer

Minutes of last meeting

Accepted and matters arising are dealt with in the section below.

Ecumenical ‘equipping MTG’ at the Baptist church, as part of the CTWB evangelistic strategy.

VA and LB each attended one mtg and gave feedback. A discussion followed. Other PPC members will attend further events, GT will attend the Ministers MTG, then a decision will be made about Holy Spirit parish involvement in next years strategy.

Mass count

This took place over two weeks; the average was 664 parishioners.

Agenda

Leadership of the PPC

A small working party (CH+GT+IM) will meet to review the process of electing the chair and vice chair of the PPC.

They will look at;

Process of discernment

They will feed back at the next MTG (14-12-05)

Parish Pastoral Plan

VL reported that the plan is almost ready to be e-mailed to the PPC for consideration.

The plan is the framework for every group and organisation in the parish to work from for the next five years; it needs to have workable and achievable targets

Once it has been received it is very important that the PPC read the plan and any comments be sent back to VL. She will then present the final version at the next MTG. (14-12-05)

The plan will then be given to Bishop Malcolm during the advent season.

No Longer Children Course

A nine week programme that will start on Thursday 5-1-06, and will cover spirituality, scripture and the sacraments.

MD will do a targeted mail shot to 60 people who had previously expressed an interest in finding out more about our faith.

VA, LB offered to help, PL+IM will let her know if they can help.

Information will be left at the back of church.

Prison week

Deferred to next MTG as PM sent was not present to give relevant information.

Preparation for National youth Sunday

Youth group prepare the 6.30 Mass on the 19th and do the readings etc.

FG asked BT to consider employing a youth worker, and what would the job description and salary be? FG said that the diocesan youth service would offer help and advice.

BT will find out the information, liaise with the youth group volunteers and then feedback to PPC.

Procedures for dealing with disturbances at Mass

Following an incident at a Saturday morning Mass ( the Priest was heckled during Mass); GT sought the opinion of the PPC on how to handle such incidents if they happened at a busier Mass.

After discussion it was agreed that every situation should be handled in the most diplomatic way. The PPC said that they would take responsibility to handle any such situation.

Ecumenical Christmas Cards for CTWB

The chair of the CTWB was not aware of any plan to have ecumenical Christmas cards.

Decision-The Church of the Holy Spirit will organise cards again this year.

Plan-PL+VA+JE to co-ordinate

GT to order 1600 cards

JE to e-mail PPC members to arrange a night to sort the cards into bundles

IM will send PAF file to JE

The meeting closed with a prayer

Date of next MTG

8pm Wednesday 14-12-2005 in the parish social centre.

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Please bring food/nibbles/drink to the next MTG (It’s the last meeting before Christmas)