ST BENEDICT’S CHURCH PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 6th June 2017
Present: Karen Derbyshire Joanne O’Hara Nick Linley Catherine Moxon
Fr Gerard Jim Guthrie Rena Paul
1.0 Welcome
Chaired by Catherine Moxon
2.0 Opening Prayer
Led by Fr Gerard
3.0 Apologies for absence
Monica, Susan, Trish, Rhona
4.0 Approve the minutes of the last meeting
Minutes were approved.
5.0 Matters arising from the minutes – Notification of any other business
See below.
6.0 Change of Parish Priest
GK expressed his grateful thanks for the support from the PPC over the last 9 years.
He explained that he will be taking an extended break over the summer, from 2/7 to 10/8, returning for a few weeks to pack and say goodbye.
He is moving to the parish of Jeanne Jugan in the Headingley area of Leeds, which has two churches.
Our Lady of Lourdes is a huge church and presbytery with a church hall in need of repair and St Urbans which has a presbytery nearby which is where GK will live. This is a 4 bedroom semi and is currently occupied by tenants, who will leaving by the end of July. It is assumed that it will need decoration throughout.
The parish of Jeanne Jugan has not had a priest in residence for the last year so needs stability.
It has two schools, St Urban’s and Sacred Heart, and a hospice nearby.
GK said that he knows the area well.
Fr Phillip Hall, GK’s replacement, will be visiting this Friday to look round.
GK said that he didn’t know much about him or whether he had visited St Benedict’s before.
GK said that the PPC would need to organise an induction ceremony for Fr Hall. This usually involves Mass and a bun fight. It was suggested that early October would be an appropriate time.
Supply priests have been arranged to cover masses over the summer and GK will be back for the last 2/3 weeks of August.
GK said that it was sad to leave and change can be difficult but that he was ready for the exciting and new experiences to come.
7.0 Parish Safeguarding Officer
Brenda Thompson has recently resigned from the position of Safeguarding Officer after returning to work full-time.
Since then Jenny Cohen also requested to leave the role after 14 years of service.
GK said that anyone interested would need to complete a form and have a short interview.
Training would be given at Hinsley Hall every two years.
The main role is to complete DBS forms for people in the parish.
GK asked for any ideas on those who may be interested. KD and RP both said that they would be happy to be put forward for the role.
8.0 Liturgy and Formation group – 20th anniversary of church opening - update
Plans are being made for a retreat in daily life. A meeting to introduce this, to the parish, will be held on Friday 29th September 2017.
Future plans for this celebration will have to include the thoughts and ideas of our new Parish Priest.
9.0 Steering group for Parish Centre - update
GK explained that we have appointed a new cleaner in the Parish Centre. She is working her third week of a trial month, to make sure that both parties are happy. So far she has been hard working and attentive to detail. Industrial cleaners have been in to deep clean the centre, especially the toilets and it looks a lot better.
Decorators have been booked for August.
Both the Church and Parish Centre will then have been painted and will not need doing for another two years.
Those who expressed an interest in setting up a parish centre steering group will need to meet with GK in the next couple of weeks if possible. GK to suggest a date.
10.0 Youth provision in the parish – to action
GK thought that a good time to invite the youth worker to come and speak would be when we have a visiting priest. It was felt that she could speak during/after mass then speak to the young in the Narthex afterwards. Suggested age range high school to 20 years old.
AOB
Health Safety
GK and RP explained that they had attended a mandatory training session last night at Hinsley Hall.
Rena Paul has been appointed as our Health and Safety representative and is our contact with the Diocese.
Thanks to the work done prior to the Jubilee celebration last summer we are up-to-date with our risk assessments and safety checks. Our way forward now is a renewal program.
The Diocese have issued standard First Aid kits, H&S posters, accident books and safety files.
We need to create a list of trained first aiders and fire marshals. Will appeal for names via the bulletin. It is insurance driven to avoid claims.
It was asked if we could help other parishes as we are well established, but it was noted that there was not the opportunity to do so at the meeting.
E-zine
Following a great response to our parish survey, we now have 70 email address of parishioners who would like to receive regular communication from the parish.
NL agreed to contact Kieron Flood, headteacher, to look at how they produce and distribute the Friday Post. It was thought that he uses Publisher.
We will look to increase the amount of contacts by changing the baptism and marriage application forms to include an email address. Next year we can target parents of First Holy Communion candidates and Confirmation candidates.
NL agreed to produce a document detailing how the e-zine can work and be sustainable. JOH to then circulate to the PPC.
We can look at the content used by school. Include items such as the document produced by M. Siberry detailing the history of the church, J&P information, church group write ups, diary dates.
It was felt that two people would be needed to edit, with final approval from the parish priest.
GK suggested mid-October as a realistic deadline. It would also be good opportunity to introduce the new parish priest.
New PPC members
JOH to email parishioners who the PPC thought would be suitable to join.
Father Gerard leaving
Discussions were held in GK’s absence to organise his leaving collection and celebration.
11.0 Next steps and action plan
To action induction for Fr Hall in September - All
Arrange details for appointing new safeguarding officers – GK, KD, RP
Parish Centre steering group - arrange to meet before 3rd July 2017 – GK, SB, RT
Youth worker – contact to set a date in the diary - GK
Health & Safety – instate a renewal program – JOH/RP
E-zine – contact school and plan how to move forward - NL
12.0 Date of next meeting, Chairperson, Prayers
Next meeting: Tuesday 18th July 2017 at 7.30pm
Rena Paul to chair and volunteer needed to bring a prayer.