PPC MINUTES 8PM 12 APRIL 2006 - HOLY SPIRIT SOCIAL CENTRE
The meeting was opened with a prayer
PRESENT
Chris Hoban (CH Chair), Fr. Gregory Tobin (GT), Maura Roche (MR Secretary), Peter Molyneux (PM), Veronica Lawrence (VL), Mary Crosby (MC), Anne Turton (AT), Peter Fooks (PF), Maria Dabroswska (MD), Jim Harrington (JimH), Vicky Acklam (VA), Liz Bonner (LB), Mary Elliott Smith (MES), John Edwards (JE)
APOLOGIES
Fr. Peter Vellacott, Peter Walsh, Maria Simister, Ian Murray, Anne Murray, Bernadette Turner, Jon Higham, Cathy Clark, Paul Lyons
SMALL GROUPS FORMATION
MES joined in a discussion about the establishment of small groups within the parish. The vision for the groups is that they will have both a spiritual and social function and will be geographically based.
AT described the structure of meetings for the "Easter People" – a group set up in the parish in the 1970s but still active. MES will attend one of their meetings.
MES agreed to meet with a few interested parishioners to establish a structure for the new small groups. It is hoped that from this start the parishioners will go on to establish small groups in their own areas.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF MARCH 2006 MEETING
GT suggested that the PPP is finalised and presented in its "reader friendly" version to the parish by Pentecost. He then hopes to draw on the vast wealth of talent in the parish and have 6 section leaders, each to head up a team and implement one of the 6 major headings of the PPP. He hopes to see all parish groups involved.
VL would welcome further responses to Helen Andrew’s draft of the PPP. She will organise & circulate details of a meeting with Helen Andrews to finalise the PPP and she invites PPC members to attend the meeting.
VL will also circulate draft ideas for the mission statement that MD has been working on. Action VL
CH distributed a Health & Safety report for both buildings and a discussion followed.
PPC members were again urged to be proactive in mass when the church gets very crowded, eg move people to keep exits and aisles free.
CH agreed to check on the fire regulations as they apply to churches. Action CH
CH & MD will meet with mass "attendants" to prepare an action plan for the evacuation of the church in an emergency. Action CH, MD & PM
CH informed the meeting that the Social Club Committee are looking into procedures regarding fire safety & evacuation in the Social Centre.
VL pointed out that some churches only wanted to deliver within their own parish boundaries and it was noted that some churches added inserts in the cards detailing their own services.
VL, LB and BT have met with the ultimate aim of appointing a youth worker for the parish. They are pursuing aspects of personnel, legislation & funding. Action VL, LB & BT
MD has received two names of people interested in forming a group and asks PPC members to bring the establishment of a J & P group to the attention of their groups. It will be discussed at the May PPC meeting.
Plans are underway to purchase two sound systems. The first will be a permanent PA system and the second a sound system for live music. Profits from the open mike nights and St Patrick’s night will be put towards the cost.
It was suggested that we give consideration to the purchase of a spot light and new staging.
LB reported two items of feedback :
After a discussion it was suggested that the funds for the chapel should come from parents’ fundraising, supplemented by contributions from the six parishes linked to the school. GT agreed that the Holy Spirit parish should make a contribution and it was hoped that the other five parishes would also contribute.
CORRESPONDENCE
VA relayed comments received from a parishioner who objected to a parent giving a packet of crisps to a child during mass. This and other aspects of distracting or inappropriate behaviour were discussed.
The importance of making young families feel welcome was stressed but it was decided that a note to highlight good practice regarding food and mobile phones should be included in the PPC column of the newsletter. Action LB
TRAVEL PLAN
JimH will put an item into the parish newsletter to canvas parishioners’ ideas about how to improve traffic flow and the parking situation near church. He will also follow up with JonH the possibility of getting a grant for installing bike racks. Action JimH
SOCIAL CLUB INTERFACE WITH PARISH EVENTS
CH urged PPC members to remind their groups that the parish Social Club is very happy to provide drink and run the bar for parish events. Profits pay for the running of the Social Centre and are fed back to the parish.
UCM 60TH ANNIVERSARY
AT reported that all groups and all PPC members have been invited to join the celebratory mass at 11am on Saturday 6 May 2006. Bishop Malcolm will attend the mass and there will be a buffet lunch provided afterwards in the Social Centre. AT urged members and their groups to reply to June Steer for catering purposes.
DIARY SLOT
VA distributed the latest update of the parish diary.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
GT distributed leaflets against this bill from the Bishops conference. He asked the parish "SPUC" and "Life" groups to advise him regarding the best way to distribute the leaflet and to suggest any follow up work.
MD suggested we have a full discussion about this at the May PPC and urges PPC members to give thought to how we can facilitate the introduction of new volunteers for reading and greeting at mass.
The meeting was closed with a prayer.
NEXT MEEETING
8pm Wednesday 10 May in the Social Centre (Apologies MC)