Report on Pastoral Area 7 Coordinating Group
Monday 2nd September, 2013
Agenda
The meeting commenced by welcoming new members
Fr Jerry Cremin, replacing FrHeindhold in Kilbrittain Parish
Phil Deasy and Dermot O’Mahony replacing Tony O’Connor and Jim Moore – Kilbrittian Parish
Fr Anthony O’Mahony replaced Fr Myles McSweeney- Bandon Parish
Fr Kingston has been appointed the Pastoral Area coordinator to replace FrMc Sweeney
Minutes of the last meeting were read to the meeting and accepted.
Pilgrimage to Gougane Barra
At the previous meeting it was decided to look at organising a trip to Gougane Barra run by the Pastoral Area. Jim Moore (Kilbrittain Parish) has provisionally booked a 52 seater bus – cost €300 for Sunday 29th September, 2013.
It was noted that the Legion of Mary have also organised a trip to Knock on this day and Bandon also runs annually a bus to Gougane Barra.
It was decided to cancel the bus organised by the Pastoral Area
Area Newsletter for Advent
Second News Letter for the Pastoral Area – need to arrange if doing for Advent, needs to be ready for the end of October.
Several questions to be considered:-
Do we want to keep it going? What is the purpose of the Newsletter? What will be in it? What is the Pastoral Area doing at the moment?
The first Newsletter just gave what ceremonies were in the Parish, a mass timetable. It was only meant to be a trial, showing the current mass timetable and letting people know we exist.
It was noted that the final mass timetable for Christmas would not be known until December.
After some discussion it was decided not to issue Pastoral Area newsletter for advent.
Sharing of weekend masses – Priest of the Pastoral Area interchanged for one weekend.
Different parishes, received different feedback, however no negative comments.
It was meant to highlight the pastoral area and the impact of the reduction in priests. It was felt that the impact of the reduction in priests is not acknowledged by the Parishioners at present and will only be realised when there is no priest to say mass or no priest residing in a parish.
Moving around to other parishes to say mass helps the priests to get to know the other churches/sacristans. Prompts parishioners to think about the absent of priests.
Continue to share the weekend masses, say once a term. Fr Kingston is to organise with the priests of the Pastoral Area.
Parish Catechist Training – Ministry with Parents of children receiving the sacraments
Information on the course was sent to the Parish Assemblies and the Clergy.
Need 20 to run the course which is been run by Maryvale Institute. The Parish assemblies need to nominate and can partially sponsor applicants. Course runs for two years.
Anyone can do the course if prepared to pay for it. Don’t have to operate as a Catechist at the end of it. It is a voluntary ministry.
On the 2/10/2013 an information day is being run to help the people decide on doing the course. Two information meetings being held, one in the morning, one in the evening.
It was noted that there are 2/3 people interested in doing the course in Bandon.
October Seminar for diocese with FrO’ConallO’Cuinn SJ
Topic : “Keeping alive the flame of faith in the Parish”
Venue :Rochestown Park Hotel
Date : 19th October, 2013
Every Parishioner invited
Any other business
How to renew the different lay ministries in the Parishes
Ministers of the Eucharist, Ministers of the Word, Choir
Should we arrange a gathering of the current ministers/potential ministers within the pastoral area with a view to discussing and praying on the various ministries?
To think on how we could renew the various ministries for the next meeting.
Next meeting of Pastoral Area Coordinating Group:Monday 18th November, 2013
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