CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WEST BRIDGFORD

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WEST BRIDGFORD

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM WEDNESDAY 14^TH JANUARY 2004 IN THE PRESBYTERY MEETING ROOM

The meeting was opened with prayer and a reading from the gospels.

PRESENT APOLOGIES

Ian Murray Dympna Kitchin Ann Turton

Fr. Gregory Tobin Sharon Piper Bernadette Turner

Fr. Matthew Jakes John Edwards

Rev. Peter Swarbrick Ann Murray

Maura Roche Cathy Clarke

Maria Dabrowska Chris Hoban

Liz Bonner Veronica Lawrence

Peter Molloy Jim Harrington

Seamus Garvey Vicky Acklam

Jon Higham Peter Molyneux

PRESENTATION BY FATHER GREG

Father explained that he had given much reflection to the first two P.P.C. meetings and to the assembly report :

He focused on one particular assembly recommendation :

"That every parish should put in place a plan to give to the

Bishop, that demonstrates that it has a structure in place to

continue to thrive and develop as a Eucharistic community with

or without a priest"

He then gave a powerpoint presentation (paper copies of which were supplied.) It firstly summarised structures and initiatives in the parish that work well. (It was noted that RCIA and the Mother & Toddler group were missing from the list of parish groups. It was also noted that the Anointing of the Sick and Walks in Derbyshire were missing from the list of parish activities.)

Father reminded us that the three themes of the assembly recommendations were structures, mission & spirituality. He concluded that our parish already has good structures in place and he proposed :

The P.P.C. should split into two sub groups to develop the themes of mission and spirituality.
A parish development group be formed
A joint working party be formed from West Bridgford and Cotgrave & Keyworth P.P.C.s to explore administration issues
A co-ordinating group for all these initiatives be formed

DISCUSSION RE. PRESENTATION

Various points were made by P.P.C. members on aspects of the presentation. A flavour of these follows :

Do we have the correct lists ? – is anything missing ?
Anything in the wrong list ?
We need a parish directory
We need an annual parish calendar of events
Let’s get on doing something – there’s been enough talk
Would our parish be ready to carry on if we lose our priests ?
Mail needs to be redirected to nominated people who will take responsibility for certain things
Newsletter needs revamping
We must be careful to include Keyworth & Cotgrave in our decision making
This meeting would have been more productive if we’d had an agenda beforehand
We need an agenda now for the next meeting
We need to prioritise
The groups can prioritise as they go along
People could switch groups if they feel they want to
Let’s get working – we can review & amend as we go along but let’s do something

NEXT MEETING

7.30pm Wednesday 11^th February 2004

The purpose of the next meeting is to set up the two sub groups on Mission & Spirituality. P.P.C. members should opt to join one of these groups :

Mission Group – meet in Meeting Room

Spirituality Group – meet in Dining Room

Each group should :

Appoint a temporary chair & secretary
Once the groups are "static" – say after 2 meetings – elect a chair & secretary to serve for say 1 year
Decide when & where the group should meet
Should the Mission & Spirituality groups be scheduled to run at the same time as each other or separately ?
Are the correct things in each list – does anything need transferring ?
Set priorities
Look for events that will happen/action that is needed soon

The meeting closed with the prayer of Archbishop Romero.