PPC Meeting Thursday 26^th April 2007 – Sacred Heart Hall 20:00

Ian Liddell Jacqui Clark

Fr Danny Burns Maggie Wood

Hannah Goddard Andrew Edworthy

Jill Blackburn

1. Reading –see below (Andrew)
2. Café Meetings & Follow up (Fr Danny / Andrew)
3. NW Hampshire Pastoral Area (Andrew)
4. AOB & Closing prayers (Fr Danny)

    In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

    This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

    So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

See next page

Catholic Directory – copies to be circulated

1. Familiar group of people united by prayer, shared beliefs and behaviours
2. Pastor to act as point of contact for the community
3. Place for meeting, worship, rites of passage and sanctuary
4. Support for the community through communication, catechetical formation, social activity and visiting sick & housebound.
5. Joint witness to the wider world through participation in Ecumenical, Missionary, Justice & Peace and Social Action organisations.

1. St Bede’s with Sacred Heart, Hook,
2. St Joseph’s with St Michael’s, Tadley,
3. St John the Baptist, Andover with St John Fisher, Whitchurch and Ss Peter & Paul, Kingsclere

Notes from a meeting held on Thursday 28^th March 2007.

Introduction: Over seven weeks in Lent we met as a group to discuss the CaFE video tapes entitled Catholics making a difference. Typically we had between 10 and 12 people at each evening, around 20 people in total attending at least one session. As the final night of discussion we prepared a list of the activities we could participate in and encourage within our worshiping community. This document captures the ideas generated and the actions agreed.

Participants: Brendan & Val Hickey, Maggie Wood, Jackie & Tony Hopgood, Sylvia Hooker, Larry Moore, Jacqui Clark, Andrew Edworthy

Apologies: Fr Danny Burns, Helen Weston

Deepening our Faith: we could join the Bible Study group from St John’s (meeting on Thursday evenings) – contact Sylvia.

We could repeat the Knowing God Better café talks within the Parish – details from Andrew

We could study together a suitable text such as Reflections on the Mass by Archbishop Vincent Nichols – details from Andrew

House Groups: We could set up a house group to discuss relevant topics and if successful spin-off a network of small groups.

Public Witness: There are Walks of Witness planned for Basingstoke and Odiham on Good Friday – details from Brendan and Jacqui. If one is taking place in Hook we should encourage parishioners to support it, or attend our nearest one. Sylvia will investigate.

We could organise a March for Jesus, or other public event.

CaFE offer a course called "Pass it on". We could use it as training for witness and evangelisation.

Evangelisation: We could run an Alpha course for parishioners who want to refresh their basic faith and for non-Catholics interested in finding out more about the faith.

We could improve the communication of our Worshiping Community activities by publishing our own magazine, inserting articles in the village parish magazines (Hook Focus, Odiham & North Warnborough and Rotherwick.

We could re-cycle our weekly bulletins by putting them through the door of known Catholics who do not attend our church (or random households!)

Practical help: We are now part of North West Hampshire Larger Parish Area (Basingstoke, Andover, Tadley and Hook) and we need more lay-involvement if we are going to maintain our current activities.

In small ways we need to support our Parish Priest and the nuns, for example in preparation for Easter the brass will be cleaned next week – Val volunteered to liaise with the sisters and any other volunteers to help complete the task together.

After Mass on Saturday evening, Fr Danny needs help counting the collection, moving the lectern to the Sunday position on the altar and generally tidying the church – we should ensure these are completed by the altar server or other lay member of the parish.

Transport: There are many people who could offer lifts to and from parish activities but those who need the lifts don’t know who to ask, or are unwilling to impose. Sylvia will act as coordinator to connect the relevant parishioners.

Helping the Poor: The parish of St John the Baptist, Andover run a Food Bank to help families who are not entitled to benefits. We could help them collect food for distribution or help set up a similar operation in the Basingstoke area.

Many parishioners support charities through regular donations (e.g. Compassion, World Vision, Leukaemia Research), we could co-ordinate advice on the most beneficial ones.

We should encourage support for the parish projects in Burundi and Melfort Farm Project in Zimbabwe.

Men’s group: Knights of St Columba are asking for new members in the Basingstoke area – Brendan has the contact details.

Women’s group: The team who organise the coffee after Sunday mass will re-establish links with the Union of Catholic Mothers or Catholic Women’s League – Helen and Hannah Goddard are the contacts

The Mothers & Toddlers group who meet during the week could be more widely communicated.

CaFE offer a course called "Parents: You, your Children and their Catholic Faith. We could use that to involve more parents.

Prayer circle: All members of the parish can help by offering prayers for shared causes. Prayer intentions could be communicated to a central point and these intentions would then be included in the prayer life for a week at a time. Larry offered to act as coordinator.

Retreat / Day of Prayer: To strengthen our personal and community spirit, we could organise a day of recollection / prayer at one of the religious centres in the area. Brendan volunteered to investigate Douai Abbey.

Sylvia will investigate the Walk of Witness in Hook

Andrew will insert an appeal for help in the bulletin for Brass Cleaning help next week.

Val will liaise with the nuns in the convent to arrange a suitable day for cleaning the brass.

Sylvia will set up a list of people requiring lifts and those who could provide transport, with their contact details.

Helen & Hannah will contact Mary Bone to resuscitate contact with the Catholic Women’s organisations.

Larry will keep a list of Prayer intentions

Brendan will investigate a Day of Prayer at Douai Abbey

The group agreed to meet every third Wedesday of the month, starting on 18^th April at 8:00pm in the Parish Room. All are welcome.

Focus of next meeting will be to prioritise the list of options above in a prayerful style.

Parish Office – Trish Davies, 01256 769983 (Fax)

PPC Aims:

• Be a living example of Christ’s Love
• Cater for the different needs of our community
• Bring our faith to others
• Practice our faith in Jesus by:
• prayer and worship
• song
• learning & teaching
• communication
• witness

Centred on JESUS,

Surrounded by PRAYER, EUCHARIST and EXAMPLE,

By being Welcoming to all, Social Contact, Inclusive and Community.