PPC MINUTES
8PM 14 FEBRUARY 2007 HOLY SPIRIT SOCIAL CENTRE
The meeting was opened with a prayer.
PRESENT
Fr. Gregory Tobin (GT), Chris Hoban (CH) (Chair), Maura Roche (MR) (Secretary),
Mary Crosby (MC), Maria Dabrowska (MD), Peter Walsh (PeterW), Liz Bonner (LB),
Veronica Lawrence(VL), Maria Gascoigne (MG), Phil Withers (PhilW), Cathy Clark(CC),
Anne Turton(AT), Jim Harrington (JH), Peter Molyneux (PM),
APOLOGIES
Fr. Peter Vellacott(PV), Ian Murray(IM), Anne Murray(AM),
Peter Fooks (PF), Paul Lyons(PL), Maria Simister (MS)
MINUTES OF JANUARY 2007 MEETING
An amendment was made to Section 4 "Week of Christian Prayer" of the minutes. The last sentence of this section should now read : "CH will speak to Anne Ferguson in Cotgrave. Action CH"
1. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE JANUARY 2007 MINUTES
a) Lenten booklets
GT expressed serious reservations about the C of E booklets and will express his disappointment at the next W.B. ministers meeting. Samples of the booklets were viewed and evaluated. It was decided not to use the adult booklets but to make the children’s booklets available at the back of church. GT has ordered copies of the "Walk with me" Lenten booklets for adults and Lenten children’s calendars. These will be available at the back of church.
b) Parish library
At a recent meeting of the library group two suggestions were made for the location of the library : in the upstairs meeting room and in the recessed area of the social centre bar. The logistics of each were considered and it was decided to go for the bar recess. Shelving has been donated by a parishioner. VL offered to organise a team of people to catalogue the books and put an article in the newsletter. Acton VL
c) Car park markings
These have now been marked out. The word "Reserved" was used rather than "Restricted" because of the logistics of stencil size, number of letters and available space per parking spot. It was noted that the red paint does not show up well at night. CH pointed out that the social centre fire exit area at the right hand end of the parking spaces needs to be kept clear to allow free movement in the event of a fire. He offered to sink a post into the area adjacent to the fire exit to prevent any cars parking there. Action CH
d) Disabled toilet markings
Small temporary signs are in place – larger ones are on order.
e) Cafod update
MC reported that Mike Sharpe from Cafod will speak at all Masses on w/end of 17/18 February to introduce the "Live Simply" campaign. She thanked PV for his recent homilies about "Live Simply." The Cafod group will provide bacon butties after the Sunday Masses on the w/end of 24/25 February and will display information about Fair Trade and the Cafod Lenten Fast Day (Fri 2 March 2007.)
f) Hymn numbers
CC has carried out some initial research into new hymn number display boards and she suggests that an additional board is placed on the pillar near the sacristy. It was decided to purchase two new wall display boards and one extra box of numbers.
CC and MR will liaise to place an order. Action CC & MR
g) Plan of church & associated facilities
MG is working on this and is considering designs for the noticeboard – she hopes to have developed her ideas further for the next meeting. Action MG
Some discussion was held about how to encourage more people to come into the church – display boards on Melton Road & outside the main church doors and touch screen TV/Video display units in the entrance area were suggested as possibilities.
2. REVIEW OF PARISH PASTORAL PLAN
Various aspects of the "Spirituality" section of the PPP were discussed & reviewed :
a) "To encourage prayer at the beginning and end of all parish activities"
GT was encouraged by the extent to which this now happens eg. the children’s football training groups and the ballet group both start with a prayer. He asked that we continue to encourage prayer at the beginning and end of meetings. CH will encourage the sub committees at St Edmund Campion school to do this and CC reported that Becket staff meetings may do this. GT reported that a group has been set up to look at prayer in the Becket. MC pointed out that it was not always practical to start and end with prayer, eg. the Thursday mother and toddler group, where people arrive and depart at different times. CC suggested a newsletter item with suggested prayers to start and end meetings. Prayer cards (eg. "Come Holy Spirit") were also suggested.
b) "To encourage prayer at home"
It was hoped that the Lenten "Walk with me" booklets will encourage this. LB reported that the First Holy Communion groups are encouraged to pray at home. MC suggested setting up a section in the new library about prayer. CC reported there is a display at the Becket about prayer and MC suggested using movable display boards for similar displays in the parish. MG & PhilW stressed the importance of encouraging children to pray. GT asked the PPC to promote prayer whenever suitable situations arise.
c) "To promote the formation of parish prayer groups"
It was noted that the parish fellowship groups are now well established. There are groups meeting monthly on Monday & Wednesday evenings and during the daytime on Thursdays. It is hoped shortly to establish a monthly contemplative Taizé meeting. The Tuesday discussion group meet monthly and organise prayer sessions during Advent and Lent. It is known that some other groups exist in the parish and meet in parishioners’ houses.
3. PARISH MISSION
GT encouraged everyone to be involved and support Cotgrave church. The programme for the Mission is in the newsletter and leaflets are available at the back of the church. GT will encourage parishioners to give lifts to those without transport. CC, GT & PeterW will speak to Anne Ferguson (Chair of Cotgrave PPC) at the deanery meeting on Saturday 17 February.
4. LENT/EASTER
GT informed the group that Station Masses will be held around the deanery during Lent.
JH agreed to liaise with Tony Wheat about music for our Station Mass (Mon 12 March). Refreshments will be needed after the Mass. Action JH
VL informed the group that the C.T.W.B. ecumenical Easter card is definitely going ahead and we have been asked to pack up the cards again. It was agreed that we would do this after the next PPC meeting. The cards will be delivered to the presbytery. Action PPC
5. USE OF THE SOCIAL CENTRE
CH expressed concern about the state in which the Social Centre is sometimes left – particularly the toilets and kitchen. He urged members to encourage their groups to tidy up after using the centre – putting chairs away, wiping down kitchen surfaces etc.
6. PARISH BALL
MR reported that a planning group are organising a Parish Ball for 16 June 2007 at the East Midlands Conference Centre. It is hoped that this will be a tremendous social occasion for the parish and that it will attract parishioners from a wide age range (18 years upwards.) The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clark has agreed to give an after dinner speech and John Holmes has agreed to act as compere for the evening. Funds raised will go towards the new Becket chapel. MR urged PPC members to encourage support for the ball amongst their various groups.
7. FEEDBACK FROM NEWSLETTER PPC COLUMN
No feedback has been received this moth.
PhilW suggested we highlight the call to prayer in the column. Action LB
8. DIARY SLOT
MR circulated the latest parish diary from Vicky Acklam by e mail prior to the meeting.
The meeting was closed with a prayer.
NEXT MEETING : 8pm Wednesday 14 March 2007 in the Social Centre
(Apologies GT, MC & MR)