Present:

Anne Turton, Cathy Clark, Vicky Acklam (Secretary), Bernadette Turner, Jim Harrington, Peter Molloy, Maria Dabrowska (Chair)

Apologies: Fr Matthew

Jim agreed to be Co-Chair with Maria.

Peter is to collate a calendar of events (following on from letter to groups from Mission Group). This will enable us to be one step ahead of forthcoming events and thus to plan our support for any activities. For example, when to start planning Operation Christmas Card, Education Sunday, Christ the King, etc., and to support the Advent Lunch, SVP party etc.

Maria is coordinating the Party for the Parish to be held on 24^th February 2004. This includes the burning of last year’s palms. Jim to coordinate liturgy with Fr Matthew.

Maria to talk to those interested including the RCIA to gain ideas for possible courses. It was felt that beyond Confirmation, for anyone in the parish, there is currently a ‘gap’ in learning opportunities about the faith. The "No Longer Children" course, to take place in Carlton starting 22 April, will be assessed for ideas, potential etc. We hope that some members of the group will be able to attend the course meetings.

In addition, Vicky is to begin work on developing a Parish Library, to give resources for all. Will talk with the Children’s Liturgy group about their resource needs.

It was emphasised that it is not the remit of the Group to take over existing programmes, for example, Confirmation, First Communion, but to offer our help and support where needed and give suggestions where appropriate in a careful, sensitive way. This may be practical help, for example, washing up after social events, or simply offering our prayers. Cathy has spoken with the Confirmation Programme organiser as to where we can help and it seems that all is in hand for this year. We are prepared to help out with the social event after the April 30 Mass – this to be checked out with the organiser. For future years, it was suggested that a special Mass for all candidates be held before the Confirmation Programme so that all candidates could formally show their commitment. Bernadette to talk to the First Communion Catechists as to whether we can offer any help and support for this year’s Programme. Whether the parish could run future programmes is a matter for discussion with

Fr Greg.

We discussed other sacramental preparation, for example, Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick (this took place alongside the SVP Party) and this will be looked at later.

Bernadette felt that the church’s youth club was an area that needed some thought and a more long-term view, especially since the youth club has only recently been set up.

Peter and Vicky to discuss the Ministry of Reading courses with John Parker with a view to holding an event for all readers in the parish.

We are to think about how to support the UCM in the parish so that not only their membership increases but also that they become involved in new and different ways.

Jim told the group about the planned Liturgical events coming up over Lent and for Easter. The main differences from last year are: An Ecumenical Stations of the Cross on the Tuesday evening of Holy Week; Good Friday evening Stations will be a performance of Born for This; Veneration of the Cross in the Side Chapel all afternoon. Easter Sunday will include Baptism and the Receiving into the Church of adults.

Anyone who was not at the last PPC meeting please feel free to join the Spirituality Group at the next meeting. Apologies to anyone who would have liked to have attended the above meeting but did not know about it.