ST GREGORY’S SILEBY PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 8TH 2016 AT 7.30 PM
IN THE PARISH SOCIAL CENTRE
PRESENT: Fr Clement Orango, Peter Fryer, Terry Breed, Emma Bowley, Veronica Brown, Cath Jackson, Amy Jarkulisz, Rebecca Jinks, Pam Looi, Kathryn Timmons
1. THE OPENING PRAYER was led by Terry Breed
2. APOLOGIES: Bron Coleman, Marlene Corrall.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MEETING
It was suggested and agreed that the many people who contribute to the smooth running of the parish should be thanked. Fr Clement suggested that this should be done in a Mass of Thanksgiving. The list is long: cleaners of the church and the Social Centre, flower arrangers, readers, special ministers, Friends, altar servers and Wilf, money counters and bankers, musicians, Children’s liturgy, Youth group, RCIA, J & P group, Finance Committee, Pastoral Council, Christmas fair organisers, various collection boxes ( Faith in families, Mission boxes, Smarties,) Offertory procession, Readers, Walsingham pilgrimage, preparation for the sacraments, refreshments after Mass and, of course, the Parish Priest. All are a great strength in the parish.
5. CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
Fr Clement would like to make some changes to the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve. However the Children’s liturgy group has already started the preparation for this year’s Mass as the only time they have is during Sunday Mass. It was agreed that there would be a conversation about this in good time before next year’s Mass.
6. WELCOME, SICK LIST, PRAYER BEFORE MASS
The new format had been tried several times and had been welcomed by the congregation. It was finally agreed that the welcome, with a prayer would continue and that on the first Sunday of the month the anniversaries and names of the sick would be read as part of the Bidding prayers. On the other Sundays Fr Clement will take responsibility for praying for the sick.
7. SPECIAL MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST
Emma has been commissioned and is able to help on Sundays. Should she not serve on the altar on the days when she as acts as a Special Minister? We are sometimes quite short of Special Ministers since Jim has died, Terry is not well, Robert has left the church and Molly, Liam and Harris are away. Fr Clement will pray for guidance. We agreed that there would be an annual meeting for Special Ministers.
8. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Fr Clement circulated a copy of the accounts. There is someone who is learning to help with the accounts. When they have learned the process and are happy with the task, their identity will be announced.
Could we defray the cost of the new Mass books by sponsoring them in memory of parishioners who have died?
There is a need for new volunteers to count and bank the collection. The Finance Committee needs to discuss best practice in the light of Diocesan requirements and make a decision on how we are to proceed.
9. SOCIAL CENTRE REPORT
Bron had sent a written report.
The newly published Diocesan Year Book has the same errors in the parish entry as last year. Peter had contacted the editor to correct these and he will try again. The parish statistics are completely wrong.
11. AOB
There was eloquent praise of the wonderful job that Wilf does to train the altar servers; the fantastic feedback we have had from visitors, parishioners, schools and other parishes was equally noted.
12. DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
March 30th, July 6th, October 12th, December 7th. These dates to be confirmed by Fr Clement after consulting his diary.
The meeting closed with prayer at 9.30
MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 8TH 2016 AT 7.30 PM
IN THE PARISH SOCIAL CENTRE
PRESENT: Fr Clement Orango, Peter Fryer, Terry Breed, Emma Bowley, Veronica Brown, Cath Jackson, Amy Jarkulisz, Rebecca Jinks, Pam Looi, Kathryn Timmons
1. THE OPENING PRAYER was led by Terry Breed
2. APOLOGIES: Bron Coleman, Marlene Corrall.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MEETING
- Website. There was some discussion about the inclusion of the names of children who have been baptised in the parish on the website. Are there safeguarding issues? This will be checked (by Rebecca) with John Ollivere who is responsible for the Diocesan website. Also, do we need permission from couples who marry and the families of those who die to include their names on the website?
- Notice Board: this has been cleared and the Orders of Service for those who have died will be stored in a suitable album which will be bought by the Friends. There was discussion about a possible memorial book, as exists in Syston, to permanently record the names of the dead.
- The loudspeaker system has been up graded and is working successfully. However, the cables need to be protected.
- The sanctuary lights have been repaired.
It was suggested and agreed that the many people who contribute to the smooth running of the parish should be thanked. Fr Clement suggested that this should be done in a Mass of Thanksgiving. The list is long: cleaners of the church and the Social Centre, flower arrangers, readers, special ministers, Friends, altar servers and Wilf, money counters and bankers, musicians, Children’s liturgy, Youth group, RCIA, J & P group, Finance Committee, Pastoral Council, Christmas fair organisers, various collection boxes ( Faith in families, Mission boxes, Smarties,) Offertory procession, Readers, Walsingham pilgrimage, preparation for the sacraments, refreshments after Mass and, of course, the Parish Priest. All are a great strength in the parish.
5. CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
Fr Clement would like to make some changes to the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve. However the Children’s liturgy group has already started the preparation for this year’s Mass as the only time they have is during Sunday Mass. It was agreed that there would be a conversation about this in good time before next year’s Mass.
6. WELCOME, SICK LIST, PRAYER BEFORE MASS
The new format had been tried several times and had been welcomed by the congregation. It was finally agreed that the welcome, with a prayer would continue and that on the first Sunday of the month the anniversaries and names of the sick would be read as part of the Bidding prayers. On the other Sundays Fr Clement will take responsibility for praying for the sick.
7. SPECIAL MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST
Emma has been commissioned and is able to help on Sundays. Should she not serve on the altar on the days when she as acts as a Special Minister? We are sometimes quite short of Special Ministers since Jim has died, Terry is not well, Robert has left the church and Molly, Liam and Harris are away. Fr Clement will pray for guidance. We agreed that there would be an annual meeting for Special Ministers.
8. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Fr Clement circulated a copy of the accounts. There is someone who is learning to help with the accounts. When they have learned the process and are happy with the task, their identity will be announced.
Could we defray the cost of the new Mass books by sponsoring them in memory of parishioners who have died?
There is a need for new volunteers to count and bank the collection. The Finance Committee needs to discuss best practice in the light of Diocesan requirements and make a decision on how we are to proceed.
9. SOCIAL CENTRE REPORT
Bron had sent a written report.
- All electrical equipment had been PAT tested.
- Quotes are to be sought for redecoration and new fascia boards.
- Central heating problems have been resolved.
- The income since the last meeting was: October £974; November £683
- Parking remains a problem. It was suggested that it should be made clear on the booking form that there is limited parking available.
The newly published Diocesan Year Book has the same errors in the parish entry as last year. Peter had contacted the editor to correct these and he will try again. The parish statistics are completely wrong.
11. AOB
There was eloquent praise of the wonderful job that Wilf does to train the altar servers; the fantastic feedback we have had from visitors, parishioners, schools and other parishes was equally noted.
12. DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
March 30th, July 6th, October 12th, December 7th. These dates to be confirmed by Fr Clement after consulting his diary.
The meeting closed with prayer at 9.30
