Minutes of the Parish Pastoral Council Meeting
Wednesday 19th June 2019
Barrow (Bishop Beveridge Club)
Present: Terry Breed, Veronica Brown, Bron Coleman, Rebecca Jinks, Kathryn Timmons, Peter Fryer.
5. Confirmation planning: there are eight candidates. These will be presented to the parish at Mass on a Sunday at the beginning of September. It was agreed that there should be a small presentation to the candidates in the same way as there was when the First Holy Communion candidates were introduced at a Sunday Mass. Rebecca will give some thought to a suitable item. The Friends of St Gregory’s might be prepared to make a contribution to the cost, though this is something the parish should be prepared to do if necessary. The Bishop will be coming to St Gregory’s on Friday 20th September. The service will start at 7.00pm. There will be a shared table in the Social Centre afterwards. Rebecca is to circulate the parents of the candidates to set in motion the organisation of the event. All parishioners will be invited to attend and make a food offering.
6. First Holy Communion: the families have expressed their gratitude to the parish for their help and support throughout the preparation programme (pizza evening in November; gift of Mass books; warmth of their support on First Communion Day). Three of the group have now become altar servers. The group had developed a real friendship that we must seek to nourish and this led into the next item on the agenda. The members of the PPC wished to record at this meeting their gratitude to the catechists who work so inspirationally in the preparation of our young people for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation.
7. Family events: Rebecca offered to consult with the parish “Holy Mums” (!) group to elicit ideas of what we might do to organise family events. It was thought that holiday periods would be the best time. The young people themselves should be encouraged to make suggestions. It was thought that there might be a “light” religious element in the day. These events would not be restricted to families with young children, but would be aimed at the wider parish to emphasise our sense of community.
8. Social Centre report: Bron reported that bookings were increasing. There was concern once again about car parking. Recently the activities of a hall hirer (Homefield College) were restricted by cars illegally parked at the back of church in the social centre car park. They hinted that they might have to look elsewhere if this situation continued. We cannot afford to lose such a valuable customer. It was agreed that Bron would leaflet any cars found using the “back” car park. In addition, Sheila Breed would be asked if she would approach the Doctor’s Surgery to remind them that only the four spaces nearest the entrance should be used. This was the original arrangement. In the event of charges being introduced in the Tesco Car Park (as is rumoured), there is a danger that our car park would be seen as free all-day parking. Serious thought would need to be given in this case to the installation of a lifting bollard to restrict random use of the car park.
9. Finance Committee report: Paul Carroll submitted a report of the current finances of the parish. The accounts for 2018-2019 have been completed and are ready to be submitted to the auditor. They will then be presented to the parish. The recommended aim is to have a reserve of 50% of average annual expenditure. We are about £6,000 short of this target. The PPC would like to express the gratitude of the parish to the Finance Committee for their meticulous management of this important aspect of parish life.
10. AOB
12. Closing prayer.
The meeting closed at 8.50pm.
Circulation: Fr John, Terry Breed, Veronica Brown, Pam Looi, Bron Coleman, Marlene Bartlett, Stephen Giacchino, Cath Jackson, Rebecca Jinks, Kathryn Timmons, Peter Fryer.
Wednesday 19th June 2019
Barrow (Bishop Beveridge Club)
Present: Terry Breed, Veronica Brown, Bron Coleman, Rebecca Jinks, Kathryn Timmons, Peter Fryer.
- Opening prayer: we used the new parish prayer card.
- Apologies: Marlene Bartlett, Pam Looi, Cath Jackson. Fr John was absent due to his mother’s recent death.
- Matter Arising from last meeting:
- Memorial Plaque: this has been transferred to the council offices in Barrow prior to its transfer to Barrow cemetery.
- Safe: the Finance Committee has suggested that a hasp could be welded to the safe to make it secure.
- Altar Servers’ Cassocks: this matter is still ongoing. Measurements have been taken, but it was pointed out that, if there was much more delay, sizes might need to be readjusted.
5. Confirmation planning: there are eight candidates. These will be presented to the parish at Mass on a Sunday at the beginning of September. It was agreed that there should be a small presentation to the candidates in the same way as there was when the First Holy Communion candidates were introduced at a Sunday Mass. Rebecca will give some thought to a suitable item. The Friends of St Gregory’s might be prepared to make a contribution to the cost, though this is something the parish should be prepared to do if necessary. The Bishop will be coming to St Gregory’s on Friday 20th September. The service will start at 7.00pm. There will be a shared table in the Social Centre afterwards. Rebecca is to circulate the parents of the candidates to set in motion the organisation of the event. All parishioners will be invited to attend and make a food offering.
6. First Holy Communion: the families have expressed their gratitude to the parish for their help and support throughout the preparation programme (pizza evening in November; gift of Mass books; warmth of their support on First Communion Day). Three of the group have now become altar servers. The group had developed a real friendship that we must seek to nourish and this led into the next item on the agenda. The members of the PPC wished to record at this meeting their gratitude to the catechists who work so inspirationally in the preparation of our young people for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation.
7. Family events: Rebecca offered to consult with the parish “Holy Mums” (!) group to elicit ideas of what we might do to organise family events. It was thought that holiday periods would be the best time. The young people themselves should be encouraged to make suggestions. It was thought that there might be a “light” religious element in the day. These events would not be restricted to families with young children, but would be aimed at the wider parish to emphasise our sense of community.
8. Social Centre report: Bron reported that bookings were increasing. There was concern once again about car parking. Recently the activities of a hall hirer (Homefield College) were restricted by cars illegally parked at the back of church in the social centre car park. They hinted that they might have to look elsewhere if this situation continued. We cannot afford to lose such a valuable customer. It was agreed that Bron would leaflet any cars found using the “back” car park. In addition, Sheila Breed would be asked if she would approach the Doctor’s Surgery to remind them that only the four spaces nearest the entrance should be used. This was the original arrangement. In the event of charges being introduced in the Tesco Car Park (as is rumoured), there is a danger that our car park would be seen as free all-day parking. Serious thought would need to be given in this case to the installation of a lifting bollard to restrict random use of the car park.
9. Finance Committee report: Paul Carroll submitted a report of the current finances of the parish. The accounts for 2018-2019 have been completed and are ready to be submitted to the auditor. They will then be presented to the parish. The recommended aim is to have a reserve of 50% of average annual expenditure. We are about £6,000 short of this target. The PPC would like to express the gratitude of the parish to the Finance Committee for their meticulous management of this important aspect of parish life.
10. AOB
- St. Mary’s Grub Club: this is a voluntary group which aims to alleviate the poverty experienced by some families living in the area by providing a nutritious mid-day meal to specific children and their parents/carers during the school holidays. Kathryn offered to join the group. We will publicise this in future newsletters.
- Mass Books: the panic over the unexpected changeover of Sunday Mass books was successfully dealt with.
- Kathryn reported that she had been asked to submit an article to the diocesan newspaper, “Catholic News”, on the subject of ecumenism in our parish, notably the part we play in the “Churches Together in Barrow” group. If the article is accepted, publication is expected in the July edition.
- Bidding Prayer: Peter to ask Fr John if it would be possible to include list of Sick & Housebound, Children at Risk and “Any other intentions” in his printed copy to avoid readers having to handle multiple sheets.
12. Closing prayer.
The meeting closed at 8.50pm.
Circulation: Fr John, Terry Breed, Veronica Brown, Pam Looi, Bron Coleman, Marlene Bartlett, Stephen Giacchino, Cath Jackson, Rebecca Jinks, Kathryn Timmons, Peter Fryer.
