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MINUTES OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2005
Present
Apologies
Matters Arising from the May minutes
Creche and office space
Catechetics
Meetings of the Parish Council and Finance Council
Youth Group
A.O.B.
Present:
Fr. Vincent Gallogley, Fr. John Kealy, Barry O’Halpin, Judith Carr, Brian O’Neill, Horst Dengler, Walter Huyghe, Mark Price, Yvonne Stausbøll, Paddy McEneaney, Bernie Lindop and Suzanne Christmas.
Apologies:
Susanne Lehne, Brigid Alty, Johny Van Der Bracht and Yvonne Nielsen.
Walter said the opening prayer and the meeting began at 19.40 hrs.
Matters Arising from the May
minutes:
Brigid’s article didn’t make it into the newsletter but Barry has a copy for anyone who wishes to read it.
The Quiz Night has taken place and was a great success.
The May minutes were approved.
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Creche and office space:
At present we do not have enough room for our archives so it has been decided to transfer the crèche to the back kitchen; the advantage for the crèche is that there is an exit straight outside. The former crèche will be refurbished and turned into a filing room and an office where Fr. John can see his visitors. The office will also be redecorated and refurbished.
The class that previously used the back kitchen can use the Church.
The Finance Council has already approved funding for these changes.
Barry would now like several people to take over the running of the crèche on Sunday mornings.
Paddy suggested that we give the rooms proper names e.g. Belgian towns.
Catechetics:
The end of year meeting was held on Sunday and Brian thanked Paddy for providing the catering; about 20 people were present. The main points arising were:
The new classrooms have been well received by everyone.
The New Covenant players are expensive and don’t fit in well with the younger groups. They will come again in the autumn for the pre- Confirmation and Confirmation groups but won’t do anything during Mass.
Some of the teachers would like new material for their classes.
The new registration forms will ask if parents/children would like to join the choir.
A David Wells DVD is required for the adult group (available through the Goodnews Bookshop).
Registration Day is September 11 and the Meet ‘n’ Greet will also be held then (Fr. Vincent will be away at a wedding).
The first class will be held on September 25 and Brian will book the 2 rooms up the road.
February classes will be a bit disrupted due to the different school holiday but lessons will go ahead on 12 & 19 February.
First Communion will be on 14 & 21 May, Confirmation on 3 & 4 June and Reconciliation on 25 March.
The Catechetics party will take place this year on Sat 18 June from 13.30.
Barry had suggested that there should be a reception for the parents of the First Communion and Confirmation children, which would be hosted by the Parish Council. The aim was to make parents aware of the activities that take place between 9 – 10 am. However, it was decided that these activities should be promoted strongly at Registration/ Meet ‘n’ Greet. At the First Communion meeting in October (either 12th or 13th), it would be nice if representatives of the Ministries could come along and give a little talk about their role in the Parish and their journey of faith. Trying to get the parents involved is very important and their help is needed in a variety of areas. Drinks and nibbles will also be provided.
The Café group, run by Elaine Cozzone, will continue next year and it was suggested that one of the videos they use is running during registration.
The money raised from the sale of the First Communion and Confirmation DVD’s is to go to the Confirmation group’s charity. Thanks must go to Philip McMurray for all his hard work. This should be written by the Confirmation group and should go into Words.
A meeting with Ferran is needed because he sees the possibility of using the website for the children and the teachers. There are games that could be used, which relate to what they are doing in class and pictures could be put on for parents and grandparents to see.
Fr. Vincent suggests that a profile of the Catechetics team be put on the website to enhance the rapport between parents and teachers.
More volunteers are needed for the team.
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Meetings of the Parish Council and Finance
Council:
It is hoped that both the Councils could get together at least twice a year. Fr. Vincent suggested that there should be a Christmas party for the Councils and their families (with drinks and nibbles) after the 18.00 Mass on December 17. There should also be a business meeting, conducted by both Councils so that we can see what each other are doing. The date decided upon for this was December 13. Each Council would have a half-hour meeting and then have a small party afterwards. Barry will consult with Liam and we can produce an agenda of shared interests.
The meetings from September onwards will be: Sept 13, Oct 11, Nov 8 (AGM), Dec 13 and Jan 10.
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Youth Group:
A meeting was held last Tuesday at the instigation of Fr. Vincent and Dorothy Boyer and they came up with some broad ideas:
- 13 – 19 year olds
- led but not directed by adults i.e. a Youth Minister and run by a board of young people
- weekly meetings after the 11.30 Mass on Sunday for about an hour
- encourage them to organise their own events e.g. parties, fundraising
- there are no direct implications for the Parish with insurance etc
- opportunity to follow on after Confirmation and talk about issues which affect them in a spiritual/religious way
- launch on June 26, with short announcements to be made over the next few weeks and have flyers etc
- to be recreation based rather than intellectual.
A.O.B.:
Charity: the October slot is free so it was decide to go with Helga McCourt’s appeal. She is going, in January, to work in Uganda for 6-8 months in girls’ school; the school is a rural setting and takes pupils aged 6-9. Helga would like to create a library and really get reading off the ground. This would be a one-off appeal.
Maintenance: Johny is still awaiting permission from the Gemeente for the water pipe connection and for the invoices from Peter de Vries. There seems to be some difficulties getting quotes.
Fayre: more volunteers are still needed.
Promise Course: this went very well but now someone is now needed to take over from the Ashbournes to run the course in the future. There is an idea to hold a short course in the autumn tailored to the Parishes needs; this will be put together by Barry, Chris de Fortis and Susanne. There is the possibility of a long Alpha course in the spring.
AGM: November 8 when a new Council needs to be formed.
Suzanne said the closing prayer and the meeting ended at 21.20 hours.
The next meeting will be held on 5 July at 19.30; drinks and nibbles should be available.
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