PPC Meeting Thursday 26th April 2007
Ian Liddell Jill Blackburn
Fr Danny Burns Hannah Goddard
Andrew Edworthy
Apologies: Maggie Wood Jacqui Clark
Agenda – Theme "Bringing our faith to others"
- Reading –see below
- Café Meetings & Follow up
- NW Hampshire Pastoral Area
- Child protection
- Diocesan Centenary Celebration
- Social Events
- AOB & Closing prayers
- Our reading (Acts 6: 1-7) led to discussion about the early church and the separation of responsibility within the community.
- The Café Meetings in Lent were a great success and have resulted in a small group who are keen to put into action some of the ideas discussed. The PPC fully support the group which will meet on the third Wednesday of each month (16th May, 20th June, 18th July, 15th August, 19th September, 17th October, 21st November, 19th December). To start with they will decide which of the ideas to actively pursue. The PPC are particularly in favour of discussions on Parenting and Marriage Encounter activities.
ACTION: We will summarise the ideas for the newsletter and remind parishioners of the next meetings – Andrew
NW Hampshire Pastoral Area (Basingstoke, Andover, Tadley and Hook) is gradually emerging from discussions between the priests, deacons and PPC leaders. So far they have published a Catholic Directory of addresses, mass times and contact details (available in the church porch and on the web site). It will be circulated to hotels, guest houses and care homes in the area.
In the future, the Pastoral Area will be a collection of Worshipping Communities with a smaller number of priests. The Pastoral area team have produced a summary of the essential features of a Worshipping community and are considering how the Pastoral Area would work 5 years ahead when we will probably have only 3 priests and 4 deacons.
We have completed Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks for the majority of our Children’s Liturgy leaders and are continuing with Eucharistic Ministers. We will expand the coverage to the choir and all First Communion class leaders. It is now essential to complete checks for all members of the community who have a responsible role with vulnerable individuals. ACTION: Discuss ways of simplifying and normalising the procedure for obtaining CRB checks – Andrew & Maggie
The Diocese celebrates 125 years this year and there are two services to which we are invited. We have been asked to provide numbers for both events. Fr Danny will not be able to attend the Cathedral Mass in Portsmouth on Monday 21st May (6pm) but we hope to get one car full of people and link up with Holy Ghost, Basingstoke for transport.
On Friday 15th June (7pm) there will be a liturgy in Winchester Cathedral to which we hope to take a larger number of parishioners. Again we will co-ordinate transport with Holy Ghost.
ACTION: Reply to the diocesan co-ordinator with numbers for each event and liaise with Fr Vincent at Holy Ghost for transport - Andrew
Our most regular social event is coffee after Sunday Mass. We need to ensure that it is available throughout the year. We need to find a volunteer to organise a similar activity after the Saturday evening mass.
The annual Summer Picnic is scheduled for June/July. We hope everyone will participate.
We will investigate a Barn Dance for the autumn.
ACTION: Ian will discuss continuity of Sunday Coffee during the school holidays with Roisin Carruthers. ACTION: Jill will investigate the costs and availability of a Barn Dance in October.
We need a sacristan to help Fr Danny prepare the church and altar before mass, and tidy up afterwards. ACTION: Put a request into the bulletin and approach suitable candidates - Andrew
We finished with prayer: Growing Together Prayer
Father, pour out your Spirit upon our Parish
and grant us a new vision of your glory,
a new experience of your power,
a new faithfulness to your Word,
and a new consecration to your service,
so that your love may grow among us,
and your kingdom come:
through Christ our Lord. Amen.