Minutes of Parish Pastoral Council Meeting on 7th July 2010
Present: Fr Antony, Eleanor Gough, Jack Howard, Ann John, Reena Kelleher,
Jenny McCarthy, Killian Mandiki, Helen Wellicome, John Wellicome, Maureen Bannon.
Apologies; Venatius Tsi Fon, John-Paul Indoe.
Fr. Antony opened the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer
Minutes of last meeting: matters arising.
Fr. A to have a meeting with Mon. Vincent about the arrangements for Mass for the University students.
Hannah Foster Appeal. Presentation of cheque. Fr. A to speak to Hannah’s parents.
We need to get a welcoming group organised. After newcomers have completed a census form, this group would follow up with a welcome pack, information on planned giving and perhaps some flowers.
New Parish Councillors
Fr. A thanked Helen for the enormous amount of work she has done as chairperson. He would like the retiring members to join the new members at a social evening on 22nd September, with the first business meeting being on Wed. 6th October. Reena K offered to host the social evening at 101, Ethelburt Avenue.
Update on Living our Faith
£150,000 has been pledged with possibly more to come. The Parish is very grateful to the organising team.
Pastoral Area Update.
Next meeting is 15th July. From September, meetings are to be held on the third Thursday of each month. Helen was asked if she would consider remaining as one of our parish representatives for another year for the sake of continuity.
Buildings Update.
JW met with Paul Bird and a police representative to survey the site. He does not recommend CCTV as the quality of evidence is rarely good enough to stand up in court and possible troublemakers tend to wear clothing which obscures their features. The wall near the sacristy door could be made uncomfortable to sit on and trellis fencing used in other areas as this is much disliked by intruders. Type of gates at front of house to be investigated. Their method of closing must be guaranteed to be safe. Gates for car park to be discussed further with P Bird.
Hand rail at side of altar. This would need to be removable in order to accommodate the crib in December.
Correspondence
Rosemary has drafted a letter about the need for record for those who have not completed a new census form.
Bookshop. This is not used as much as it used to be and the suppliers are not as willing to take back unsold copies. If it closes, we could mention in the newsletter the excellent multi-faith bookshop in the Bargate centre.
AOB
Paul Bashimiki has sent progress reports on his two children, for whom members of the parish are paying school fees. Paul would like to thank them individually. It was thought best that if the donors are willing for him to have their names, he writes via the Parish Office.
Eleanor suggested a vote of thanks to Rosemary for the good job she does in putting the newsletter on line where it is easy to access and useful to a lot of people.
Helen led a closing prayer. Meeting closed at 9.05pm.
As Rosemary was away, the minutes were taken by Maureen Bannon.