St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church

Minutes of the Parish in Council Meeting

Held on Sunday 12 July 2009

 

Present:

Father Jeremy Trood                  President

Cillian de Buitilear                      Vice Chair

Andrew Polland                         Vice Chair

and 25 other parishioners.

 

1.          The meeting began with a prayer led by Father Jeremy who also asked that we remember in our prayers Peter Cassidy, Niall Roberts and Len Tanner who are in hospital and who would otherwise be at this meeting

 

2.          Apologies for absence were received from Maz & Bernard Winter

             Tony & Catherine McKendry.

           

3.          Minutes from the meeting held on 25^th January were approved and signed.

 

4.           Matters arising:

a)  Vacancies for a Chair and Secretary had not yet been filled. Sarah Watts had agreed to write a job description for both of these vacancies and these would be posted on the notice board. Nominations are invited

 

b)  Parish Website.  Andrew Polland spoke of how he would be developing the website especially the forum area. It was mentioned that there were several inaccuracies on the current web programme. There is a hard copy of this material in the Presbytery.  It was felt that material to be included should go through one source because it was the image of the Parish that was being advertised not just forum as well as a private site. Andrew would monitor all such.

 

5.          Fr Jeremy’s Report:

Since the AGM the parish had been very busy. There had been the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and  with the coming Gospels places visited would have a new meaning especially at Christmas and Easter when these places will be in the forefront of the readings.   He also thanked Anne and all the Catechists for their hard work in preparing the children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation .  Bishop Alan Hopes had remarked how impressed he was with the preparation they had received.

 

There had been a visit from Ashleigh of Jesuit Missions thanking the parish for the wonderful donation the Jesuit Mission in Zimbabwe had received from the Lenten Project .  She will be coming again to report when the building we are helping to furnish has been completed. 

 

After the summer break there will be a series of meetings to look at Liturgical Renewal in the parish in preparation for the new translation of the Roman Missal which is expected in the next year of so.  We shall start with a look at Sacrosanctum concilium, the document on the liturgy from Vatican II and look at other liturgical documents with an emphasis on the documents issued in the last ten years.

 

Pope Benedict’s new encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, which builds on the Church’s teaching on Justice and Peace would also be an important document for our study in the coming year  

           

            Fr Jeremy also congratulated Anne Reynolds and Tim Jones on there recent engagement.

 

Hans Michel suggested that the Holy Land could be the subject for our Lenten Project next year since not all parishioners were able to travel to the Middle East.  Fr Jeremy though perhaps there could be a talk on the Holy Land and Holy Places and that a sister from Sr Elizabeth Emmett’s order might talk to us about her through her experience there. Judith thought there might be an opportunity for Sr Jardine to help us in this area.  Pat Collins said he went with Living Stones where there is a priest who has a website and parishes around the world were encouraged to purchase a dove and oil lamp and he would supply the oil. They do not want to condemn the Jewish peoples but build and support and pray for all in that area.

 

6.          Finance Report

Jimmy Green reported that the a financial report for the first six months of the year would be available soon..  Our overdraft was down to £176,000; an improvement of over £100.000 compared with 2 years ago.  All our efforts of fundraising and parish giving were quite evident.  The very low interest rates had been of great help also.  The School Loan had been paid off. We must keep going with our efforts.  The Diocesan levy has come down from 33% to 29%.

 

7.          Anne Reynolds Catechetical Report

There were 17 Confirmed this year by Bishop Alan Hopes. Their preparation included: Parental occasions, Catechetical Retreat at the SPEC centre, Visits             from the Friars of the Renewal Community, A visit to the Whitechapel              Mission where 150 breakfasts were served for the homeless. On 7^th June 27 Children celebrated their First Holy Communion and on Corpus Christi a procession of the Blessed Sacrament took place.  On 27the June We had a Day of Recollection and the theme for the day included poetry, painting as well as interspersed with much Adoration.  It was led by Fr Dominic White OP. There are plans for a Retreat Day at Worth Abbey in the autumn.  There had been Cheese & Wine celebrations for Catechists and parents.  In September we will be commencing our autumn programme for RCIA, Confirmation and First Reconciliation.  Small faith sharing groups will meet this autumn.  In preparation for this a small group have been meeting with Fr Michael O’Boy.  There had been 4 session so far and there was a great deal of paper work and readings to be undertaken before it can be presented to our parish.  The autumn material is called ‘Your Kingdom Come’,  and based on the Justice and Peace, Social Teaching of the Church  Relics of St Theresa of Liseaux – at the Cathedral in October.  Young people would be encouraged to visit and venerate these.

 

8.          Justice & Peace Report

Judith Burman spoke of Practical tasks in the Garden, learning so much  about resources we have seen how things  grow in tune with other people. Expanding and amazed how excited parishioners are – help with recycling .  Rainwater is still a problem we still have not been able to find a solution to tap the rainwater but we were still pursing this matter.

 

Judith will be showing a video on The AGE OF sTUPID and would be showing it again in the autumn. She also mentioned the Alternative Hand Book containing ideas for alternative way for energy when oil had dried up.  She was thanked for her great fidelity.

 

AOB:   Fr Jeremy appealed for volunteers for the vacant posts of Chairman and Secretary.

 

The Meeting closed, with a prayer, at 12.45pm