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PARISH ASSEMBLY 2010
Notes from the meeting on 7th
July 2010
Over 50 people attended this
year’s Parish Assembly held on Wednesday 7 July 2010 in the parish hall, that
number alone is a great sign of what is possible in our Parish. Reports (click here for a copy) had been circulated from the
parish priority groups of Adult Faith Formation (AFF), Parish Friends, Parish
Outreach Encouragement Team (POET), Welcome, Worship and Children & Youth,
along with an item from the Finance Committee.
Following Fr Alan’s opening prayer, Fr Charles presented on the good works
in the Parish highlighting:
· the building
of community by Parish Friends;
· the huge area for POET that is the unchurched;
· the appointment of our Youth Ministry Co-ordinator
Joanna French who starts in September;
· the focus of Worship, not just on liturgy but
on the worship in the Parish;
· the family linking for new parishioner families;
· the breadth of AFF talks and a focus for the
forthcoming year;
· over 40 different groups working across the Parish
and looking to develop.
Fr Charles recognised so much was being done but asked for people to consider
what they might be able to do in the Parish.
Sr Mary Porter facilitated a discussion which yielded a number of comments
and ideas for the priority groups to consider:
Adult Faith Formation (AFF)
Variety of talks was very good.
Saturday morning is no good for some.
Potential formation on the Saints and on Reconciliation,
Moving to something different from last year, perhaps an Alpha course.
Parish Friends
SVP are having a recruitment
drive in September. SVP need more help with visiting elderly, providing assistance
and transport. Potential for youth section.
Great events need more publicity.
Need to analyse who they are serving from where then build area liaison
reps on the group.
Always happy to receive volunteers.
Who is lonely and need of a visit?
POET
Desire to invite from the street
to hall activities.
Need more people to help the group devlop.
Would like to reach out more.
Group sees more involvement with other churches.
Welcome
Large number of Mass welcomers
but few on the core group.
Could welcomers swap Masses?
Whole families serving as a welcoming group.
Teas and coffees in the porch, Who? What? Where? When?
Welcomers should have name badges.
Need to evaluate the energy for a group.
Worship
Kathy Chaplin from the Choir
representing 11:30 am Mass joined the group.
Recognition of the solemn masses as valued.
Still feeling their way as a group.
Recognition of the different ministries within Mass.
Seeking more worship info from the Diocese.
Need someone with authority to speak for 9:30am Mass, 7pm Mass, and Marshalswick
Mass.
Need for more training of readers and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.
Need to be clear what is wanted of the group.
Children & Youth
Recognition of Fr Alan’s contribution.
Call for all to support Joanna French.
Success story but need stronger social focus.
Weak in our support for those in non Catholic schools eg Mass participation.
Having youth return to catechist roles has been a great witness.
Numbers taking sacraments seem to reduce as young people get older.
Young people helping in earlier groups are excellent but need more engagement.
1st Holy Communion session for parents has opportunities to invite.
General
Huge commitment is clear from
small number of people.
Need more helpers generally. Need relationships to get them.
Personal invitation works. Must be better ways to recruit, perhaps more
formal?
Potential increase in pulpit messages and bulletin updates.
Diverse worship across Masses.
Range of faith formation.
Need for better co-ordination to increase excitement and enthusiasm.
Consideration of content of homily by priests.
Sound system in the hall needs urgent attention.
Bulletin to include what the PPC are considering.
More frequent updates from the groups.
Group reps to wear name badges at coffee times.
Neighbourly introduction during Mass 5 times a year?
Good events should be repeated.
Challenge to all small groups to invite new members and grow.
There is group overlap.
Need for greater facebook access. Communications forum?
Fr Charles expects the priority groups and the PPC to look at the issues
and use what they can in their forthcoming planning. It was recognised that
some people do not want to attend meetings but may still want to volunteer
to help with a small item. All are welcome and it is important to remember
that all are volunteers.
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