A Minutes of Parish Community Council Meeting – 10th January 2013
St. Bede’s Presbytery
1) Present:
Father Michael O’Neill, Duncan McGrath, Terry King, Adrian Dugdale, Brenda Hardacre, Pat Berry, Aidan Ormisher, John McKenna
2) Apologies
– were received from Mary Richardson.
John McKenna was welcomed to his first meeting having joined the PCC at the AGM in November.
.3) Minutes
from the meeting of 11/10/12 were agreed as a true record of that meeting.
Matters arising – the meeting with the Parish Auditor to finalise the accounts for 2011 was still pending.
4) Appointment of Officers etc
The following appointments were made for the coming year:-
- Chairman/Treasurer – Duncan McGrath
- Vice-Chairman/Chair of Property sub-committee – Terry King
- Secretary – Adrian Dugdale
- Chair of Pastoral/Liturgical sub-committee – Brenda Hardacre
- Communications – Pat Berry (assisted by John McKenna)
- Social – Mary Richardson
- Cemetery and Grounds – Aidan Ormisher
There were two vacancies on the PCC following the AGM. A discussion took place to identify suitable candidates who might be approached to join under the “ad hoc” appointment rule.
5) Reports of sub-committees
Finance
The PCC continues to monitor the usage and profitability of the Parish Club.
Property/Cemetery & Grounds
The cemetery remains very wet after the heavy rains.
The Archdiocese (A/D) is addressing A/D wide concerns about Health and Safety of users of Church premises. A newsletter has been received. Chris Cullen (A/D Surveyor’s Dept.) has been allocated to oversee St. Bede’s and has already visited the Parish. St. Bede’s is generally in a good position following works undertaken in recent years.
A report on Church heating has been received. The existing boiler is nearing the end of its useful life. It was decided to seek A/D agreement to install a replacement and to undertake associated works.
There was a general discussion about other Church Buildings and the ongoing maintenance programme.
Pastoral/Liturgical
The Parish Sacramental programme for Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion is going well. First Reconciliation (confession) took place in December. Confirmation/First Communion is planned for May/June with regular family involvement/guidance in the meantime. There will be a parish/school celebration on 29th June.
The travelling crib made its way around the parish in the run-up to Christmas.
The second Baptismal course takes place for three families on the three Sundays beginning 13th Jan. This follows the successful course in Autumn and will be followed by a third in April.
St. Bede’s primary school has just had a very successful OFSTED inspection and is shortly to have an RE inspection with which the Pastoral Group will assist.
There has been consultation with the school about setting up a “mother and toddler” group but there is not the space to do this.
Archbishop Kelly has just announced his retirement on health grounds.
An A/D assembly took place on 24/11/12, the theme being, “The Lord’s Day”. There were a number of workshops considering how to make Sunday more special. A summary is to be prepared for the website.
As a follow-up locally, St. Mary’s (Leyland) are hosting a workshop on 2/2/13 entitled, “Crossing the Threshold”. Attendees will be considering how to reach out to Catholics who have stopped attending mass and encourage them back. It is free – spaces are available for those interested.
Communications
The Parish website has been re-vamped. It is hoped that Parish Groups will be able to access it to update their own sections from now on to keep the content up-to-date.
There are a number of links to interesting sites (e.g Vatican, A/D, Catholic resources (some in America). it is hoped to link the site directly to the school’s (and vice-versa).
Useful content is always welcomed!
A projector and upgraded sound-system have been installed in Church. It will improve the way in which the congregation see/hear things such as DVD programmes. Hymns and texts can be displayed on the facing wall. It will widen the scope of what is possible in Church and lend itself to activities following on immediately after masses.
Social
No report.
6) AOB
None
7) Next meeting
Agreed as Thursday, 11th April, 2013.
The meeting closed with a prayer at 8.50pm.