PPC MINUTES

PPC MINUTES

11 FEBRUARY 2009 HOLY SPIRIT SOCIAL CENTRE

The meeting was opened with a prayer and Jane Wilford was welcomed to the PPC.

PRESENT

Fr Christopher Thomas (CT), Jim Harrington (JH) (Chair), Maura Roche (MR) (Secretary),

Mary Elliott Smith (MES), Mary Crosby (MC), Marina Johnson (MJ), Joyce Madden (JM),

Phil Withers (PW), Kathy Gelling (KG), Maria Gascoigne (MG)

APOLOGIES

Fr Gregory Tobin (GT), Krys Pietryka (KP)

MINUTES OF JANUARY 2009 MEETING

Accepted as a true record of the January meeting

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE JANUARY 2009 MINUTES

Corpus Christi Procession MJ has received paperwork from Liz Bonner and is considering what’s involved. KG offered to help with admin.

Christmas Card Deliveries JH reported back that the Royal Mail would currently charge £557 for up to 25,000 cards, each weighing <20g. JH will investigate whether a cheaper rate would operate if we could claim charity status. Action JH

A suggestion was made to deliver the cards with the local "Whats Wot" magazine – but there were mixed feelings about this. Decisions about Christmas card deliveries are to be made later in the year.

c) Passion Play MJ reported that the players could come to perform at The Holy Spirit on the

evening of Saturday 28 March 2009, after 6.30pm Mass - but there is a school disco booked into

the Soc. Cen. and it may be too noisy to stage the performance. MJ will check if other dates are

available or if there are any other options. Action MJ

d) Youth Worker MG reported that some application forms have been sent out.

PARISH PASTORAL PLAN

PW reminded us that the dates on the front of the Parish Pastoral Plan run from 2006-2009.

The group reviewed the following part of the Parish Pastoral Plan :

"As a parish we are continually developing. It is a joy to be part of a thriving parish. We all have our part to play, however great or small, to ensure our parish develops to meet our aspirations as a spiritual community.

To this end we have a pastoral plan that has been created with a great deal of thought and reflection by members of the parish. All churches within the diocese are contributing to the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, at a local level, with their own plans.

The plan is a dynamic document that should reflect the whole parish and needs to be constantly updated with ideas and contributions from all members of our community.

If you wish to add your views and become involved in any aspect of the parish there are contact details on the back cover"

Discussions focused mainly on the question "Is ours a thriving parish?" Comments included :

We are thriving
There is lots going on and lots of people are involved in various groups & activities
What do we mean by "thriving?"
We’re seen as a thriving parish
We’re thriving but there are holes
The parish has thrived in the last few years
Are we too comfortable ?
Are we too complacent ?
It’s sometimes the same people involved in many different parish groups
We need to be welcoming to people – especially newcomers & those who come to Mass on their own
We need to notice people & look for openings & ice breakers to communicate with them & involve them
We need to remember & respect the fact that some people are very private & wish to remain anonymous
We must not become complacent
Should PPC members wear badges again at weekend Masses so they are more available ?
Can we improve the signage around the church and the noticeboards ?
The encouragement & maintenance of good family life is a priority – families build up the body of the church
Are we satisfied with what we’re doing & are we thinking spiritually ?
We need to feed back to our groups & invite comment

A.O.B.

JM reported that Carol Hodgkinson is retiring as Chair of C.T W.B. She is looking for nominations to replace her. JM also passed on thanks to GT and Ross Bullock for hosting part of the Prayer Walk.

The meeting was closed with a prayer.

NEXT MEETING 8pm Wednesday 11 March 2009 in the Social Centre.

The meeting will include discussion about the "Spirituality" section of the Parish Pastoral Plan