St. Michael s and St. Bernadette s Parish Pastoral Council Meeting Minutes Meeting: 7 Date & Time: 22 nd July (8pm) Location: Lourdes Room, St. Bernadette s Attendees: Damian Arthur (DA) Paula Browne (PB) Ian Byrne (IB) Vice Chair Catherine Davies (CMD) Clare Garvey (CG) Phil Garvey (PG) Sean Harland (SH) Dave Jones (DJ) Father Chris Lough (FrC) John Mallon (JM) Tim McGuire (TM) Chair Steve Millward (SM) Colette Pritchard (CP) Damian Reddington (DR) Secretary Jane Reynolds (JR) Secretary Matthew Sheader (MS) Daniella Stephens (DS) Alison Taylor (AT) Apologies: Christine Duffin (CD) Minutes 1. Initial Prayer The meeting was opened by TM and DJ read the opening prayer. 2. Apologies for Absence Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Christine Duffin. Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 1 of 9
3. Minutes of Meeting 6 held on 10 th June. The minutes of the Council s sixth meeting were reviewed and approved. Hard copies of these minutes will now be placed in both church porches and a soft copy will be placed on the Parish website. Action: PPC Secretaries to distribute hard and soft copies of approved minutes (JR & DR). 4. Other Matters Arising from Meeting 6 not identified elsewhere on agenda 4.1Prayer Groups; following on from a suggestion made by a parishioner via the Suggestion Box for guided prayers, DR updated the group regarding his contact with the active prayer groups at both Churches. Although other commitments mean that the St. Michael s group cannot assist at this time in taking on further prayer activities, the group from St. Bernadette s have responded with a list of potential solutions to the original Parishioner suggestion for support with guided pray. These suggestions were discussed in depth and action is to be taken to implement these ideas. The group noted th:at there exists a prayer book at St. Michael s and a similar one will be reintroduced at St. Bernadette s to capture prayer intentions. Fr.C will add a note in the newsletter to highlight this. Salford Prayer Guides will be contacted to establish dates for possible prayer sessions in the near future. Fr.C will also add a note to the newsletter to remind parishioners of the current prayer group meeting times and to welcome anyone who would like to participate. Action: FrC to reintroduce Book of Prayer Intentions to St. Bernadette s Church. Action: FrC to add notes in Newsletter regarding Book of Prayers at both Churches. Action: DS to contact Sister Catherine Derby to arrange a possible Guided Prayer Session. Action: TM to contact the prayer group to advise the action being taken and pass on thanks from the PPC for their input and considered responses. Action: PB to contact Shirley Harrington and Margaret McArtney with a view to planning a week of guided prayer. Action: FrC to add note to Newsletter to remind Parishioners of the active prayer groups in the parish, the days and times that they meet and extend a welcome to anyone who would wish to participate. Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 2 of 9
4.2Food Bank; following on from a suggestion received from a parishioner, JM updated the group on the information he had sourced regarding Food Banks. He had spoken with MP Ivan Lewis s office and received an overview of the scheme. He confirmed that there were no Food Banks operating within the Bury area. The issue of Food Banks was widely discussed with pros and cons being highlighted. The group concluded that an equitable way of supporting this worthwhile cause would be to have quarterly appeals in the two worshipping communities and support the Food Bank in Heywood (run by Father Daly) and also Cornerstone in Manchester. A point was made to ensure that the Christmas Appeal would benefit the Food Bank as Cornerstone is well supported at this time of year. Frances Purdue has a contact within the Heywood Parish (Sue Coates) who can send more information. Action: PG to contact Fr Daly to find out what needs to be done to support the Food Bank in Heywood in terms of logistics. Action: FrC to feedback to Frances Purdue on action being taken. 5. Listening to the Parish JM updated the group with progress on this activity. The Working Party is putting together words to address the Parish from the pulpit. JM invited his family group to be test subjects who were briefed on the process and this generated many questions which was a helpful exercise. A number of families have volunteered to take part. The Working Party has raised the issue of logistics and who will co-ordinate the scheduling of appointments as well as the analysing of the paperwork. During discussion it was suggested that a simpler approach could be used and that a slow 'drip-feed' build-up to the start of the Listening project would be beneficial. It was also suggested that an additional question be added to the list; How should the parish best use its resources (financial and otherwise)? Action: FrC to put a note in the Newsletter regarding the imminent start of the invitation process. Action: DA and CP to carry out the first conversations with members of the Family Group. Action: JM to add a new question regarding use of parish resources to the list. Action: TM to provide names and contact details. 6. Year of Faith Parish Celebration Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 3 of 9
Update from IB regarding the Working Party s progress. The celebration is still scheduled for mid October. After a further meeting, a decision was taken not to mix the two elements that had been previously discussed; those were the work of the active groups within the parish and the concept of the four constitutions of Vatican II, (namely, Divine Revelation, The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Sacred Liturgy and the Church in the Modern World). The broad spectrum of these two elements was felt to be too much to squeeze into one single celebration so each element would be celebrated in separate events. FrC suggested that each of the active Parish Groups could contribute to a single event after Mass on a Sunday whereby each group puts together a display of their work and activities in both parish centres. IB advised that he had met with FrC to draw out the key points of the Sacred Liturgy constitution and he suggested that each of the group leaders for the other three groups do the same. CMD reported that there was detailed feedback given by the group of parishioners working on the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church and that an update had been received from those working on the Constitution on Divine Revelation. The other groups are led by Gary Stephens (Daniella s father) for the Church in the Modern World and PB for the Divine Revelation. FrC updated the group as to his meeting with the schools representatives; Mary McKenna, Christine Duffin and Kath Flemming. The Year 6 pupils involved will prepare a presentation to represent what Vatican II means in their lives eg. Baptism preparation, Sacramental Programme, Childrens Masses etc. Action: Each of the three group leaders to meet with FrC as soon as possible to identify key themes in each constitution. 7. Suggestion Boxes 7.1 A suggestion has been received from Dr. Olive Duddy regarding the possibility of giving talks to Parishioners regarding family planning. Action: TM to feedback to Dr. Duddy that the suggestion will be discussed further. Action: DR to include this item on the agenda of a future meeting. 8. Spotlight Ministries Following on from an action at the last minute to compile a comprehensive list of active groups in the Parish, DJ has drafted a list and requested all members of the group to review the list and prioritise for the order of Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 4 of 9
inclusion in the Newsletter Spotlight pieces to be run over the coming months. DJ also asked if any groups had been missed, could he be advised. Action: All group members to review the list and feedback any amendments/ suggestions to DJ. Action: DJ to check accuracy of information held on the Parish website regarding the active groups within the Parish before publishing in the newsletter. 9. Attending Mass with Children PB advised that the packs are now being distributed at Mass and have been very well received. It was suggested that more helpers are needed at St Michael s to give out and collect the packs. Action: CG and PG to identify more helpers at St Michael s. 10.Formation in Living Communion CMD gave an overview of the subject including suggestions and reasons for Pastoral Council formation. FrC suggested that council members should bring the Foundation Document to the meeting when this topic is next discussed in order to facilitate more in-depth sharing. It was agreed that this topic requires a much deeper discussion at a future meeting. Action: DR to put item on agenda for the October meeting. 11.Christmas Leaflet PG asked the group to consider the Christmas Leaflet and get back to him with any ideas or suggestions for our Parish Christmas leaflet before the next meeting. Action: All members to feedback to PG any ideas or suggestions for a Christmas leaflets before the next meeting. 12.Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Monday 2 nd September, (from 8pm to 10pm) in the Lourdes Room, St. Bernadette s. (Subsequent meetings are 14 th October and 25 th November ). Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 5 of 9
Action: All agenda items for the next meeting should be sent to the PPC Secretary (DR) no later than Monday 19th August. 13.Closing Prayer The closing prayer was led by FrC. Summary of Actions Action Date Owner Status Hard copies of approved minutes from 22 Jul JR & DR Meeting 6 (22 June ) to be placed in both church porches and a soft copy will be posted on the Parish website. Prayer Group: Reintroduce Book of Prayer 22 Jul FrC Intentions to St. Bernadette s Church. Prayer Group: Add notes in Newsletter regarding Book of Prayers at both Churches. 22 Jul FrC Prayer Group: Contact Sister Catherine Derby 22 Jul DS to arrange a possible Guided Prayer Session. Prayer Group: Contact prayer groups to advise the action being taken and also to 22 Jul TM pass on thanks from the group for their input and considered responses. Prayer Group: Contact Shirley Harrington and 22 Jul PB Margaret McArtney to plan a week of guided prayer Prayer Group: Add note to Newsletter to22 Jul FrC remind Parishioners of the active prayer groups in the parish, the days and times that they meet and extend a welcome to another who would wish to participate. Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 6 of 9
Food Bank: Contact Fr Daly to find out what 22 Jul PG needs to be done to support the Food Bank in Heywood in terms of logistics. Food Bank: Feedback to Frances Purdue on 22 Jul FrC action being taken. Listening to the Parish: Put a note in the Newsletter regarding the imminent start of the invitation process. 22 Jul FrC Listening to the Parish: Carry out the first 22 Jul DA and CP conversations with members of the Family Group. Listening to the Parish: Add question re. use22 Jul JM of Parish resources. Listening to the Parish: Provide names and 22 Jul TM contact details. Year of Faith Parish Celebration: Each of the 22 Jul PB / CMD / three group leaders to meet with FrC as soon as possible to identify key themes in each constitution. Gary Stephens (Daniella to advise) Suggestion Box: Feedback to Dr. Duddy that the suggestion will be discussed further. 22 Jul TM Suggestion Box: Include item about potential22 Jul DR talks by Dr Duddy on a future agenda. Spotlight Ministries: Review the list and22 Jul All PPC feedback any amendments/suggestions to Members DJ. Spotlight Ministries: Check accuracy of information held on the Parish website regarding the active groups within the Parish before publication in newsletter. 22 Jul DJ Attending Mass with Children: Identify more22 Jul CG & PG helpers at St Michael s. 20913 Formation in Living Communion: Item on22 Jul DR agenda for the October meeting. Christmas Leaflet: Feedback to PG any ideas 22 Jul All PPC or suggestions for a Christmas leaflets before Members the next meeting. Christmas Leaflet: Item on agenda for next 22 Jul DR meeting. All agenda items for the next meeting should be sent to the PPC Secretary (DR) no later than Monday 19th August. Place information regarding Mini Retreats in the Newsletter inviting participants, once dates are confirmed. 22 Jul All PPC Members Listening to the Parish; Working Party to draft invite form to be signed by FrC and TM. Listening to the Parish; Working Party to agree date with FrC and words to be delivered by DS. FrC JM et al JM et al Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 7 of 9
Listening to the Parish; promote activity from the pulpit. As part of engagement activity, request 29 Apr volunteers from family groups to take part in the Offertory Procession on a rota basis. Prayers for Next Meetings; 29 Apr September meeting Alison Taylor Discuss Parish website with Jen Redmond 18 Feb (Website Administrator). Consider how space in porches could be best 18 Feb used, ideas to be feedback at next meeting Agenda item for PPC meeting in March Discuss parish prayer. Closed Actions (remain on agenda for one meeting then are archived in PPC Historical Actions Log) Listening to the Parish; trial run participants to send thoughts and ideas to DR who will then consolidate and send to Working Party. Suggestion Boxes: Active prayer group, identify relevant people at both Churches. Year of Faith: Working Party to go back to parish groups with an outline of planned activities. DS JM DJ / AT PG, SM & DJ All 14 Jan DR DR & CP, Closed AT, DS, DA & JM DR Closed IB, CMD, Closed SH, FrC, PG, MS & DJ Suggestion Boxes: Food banks, source JM/IB Closed information on our local area. Spotlight Ministries; use information from website, précis and use in Newsletter. DJ Closed Formation in Living Communion; agenda item DR Closed moved to next meeting, 22 July. All agenda items for the next meeting should All Closed be sent to the PPC Secretary (DR) no later than Monday 8 July. Year of Faith: Working Party to make contact IB, CMD, Closed with St. Michael s and St. Bernadette s SH, FrC, PG, Schools to arrange their input. MS & DJ The Faithful Revolution; confirm dates of viewing for first and second DVD and invite participants. FrC Closed Suggestion Boxes: Active prayer group, meet with relevant people at both Churches to provide background to suggestion. TM Closed Suggestion Boxes: Food banks, feedback to Parishioner. TM Closed Attending Mass with Children; look at a JM Closed possible alternative source for the wooden hand held crosses. Add a question regarding engaging young children at Mass on engagement questions. 29 Apr JM Closed Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 8 of 9
Attending Mass with Children; identify a CD/PB/CG Closed number of individuals in each Church to take responsibility for the packs distribution and safe return after Mass. DS to contact MS to find out if he sourced any29 Apr DS Closed further details regarding the Ignite Programme offered at Our Lady of Grace and, if so, make the Ignite info available for the next meeting. Source further information regarding Ignite Youth Program to support celebrations for 50 th Anniversary of Vatican II. 18 Mar DS & MS Closed Doc Ref: PPCJRMin7Draft-22July 22 July Page 9 of 9