Minutes of St Laurence’s Parish Forum : 15 October 2012

The meeting began at 8pm with Jim O'Sullivan in the chair and Fr Pat, Fr Bob and 20 parishioners present.

Fr. Pat Cleary opened the meeting with prayer.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Pat and Rev Geoff Cook, Stephen Warde, Teresa Campbell.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

These were posted as usual on the website and on the Narthex notice board. One amendment was made shortly after posting – see Matters Arising.

Matters Arising

Paul Edwards adjusted how he had explained Ecumenism locally. He will be talking at St Andrew’s Chesterton at the meeting of the North Cambridge Council of Churches on 7th November 2012.

Parish Year

Parish Day – 9th June 2012

The new Bishop (once appointed) will be invited and it is provisionally put in his diary.

A group to organise it needs to be put together divided into small groups to break down the tasks and with responsibility for:

Pat Cook has been asked to collect names of potential volunteers. The Facilitation Group will look to making the group headings.

It will take the format of a joint Mass for all Mass time attendees, probably at the School (it is already booked) and with food and activities afterwards. There will be no other Masses that Sunday.

It will be the Sending Forth Mass for the First Communicants.

Fr. Pat will encourage people from the altar and will give a hard push to get things going early in the New Year with lists for people to sign up for helping.

Some things will need to be done prior to New Year – parking possibly using the Community Centre – booking marquee etc.

Fr Bob thought that First Aid should be thought about.

Plans need to be fleshed out by next Forum, 28th January, 2013.

Year of Faith

Fr Bob’s talks on Thursday evenings have started this off.

Lent Groups need earlier planning and the York Tapes used last year were not popular and the Church of England in area are also not using them again. An alternative needs to be found for next Facilitation Group meeting.

Liturgy

Finance

There are still no figures for last year although the Diocese does now have them. Fr Pat assured the meeting that they will be published and next year’s will be at the normal time in mid Lent. Fr Pat felt he did not have an adequate idea of the Parish finances at present or how we are doing.

Social Life

Catechesis

Buildings and grounds

A small group, Paul Simmons, Ted Welsh, Tony Brotchie, Virginia Bird with apologies from Diana Timmins and Michael Strupczewski met to discuss things which need to be done in the Parish. Irial MacGinley does not want to be anything but consultant with regard to planning and clearly architectural items in future. It was felt the parish should make known their thanks to him for all his hard work. It is necessary to talk with Irial about what is his position and to get up to date information etc. He has used Walter Florek’s men in the past for urgent small repairs etc. It was briefly mentioned that perhaps the parish should pay for a gardener and even a part time caretaker but the parish has always preferred the use of volunteers.

Fr Pat suggested that the new group should be known as the Fabric committee. This committee would not be responsible for doing the work just identifying what needs doing and getting people to do it etc. Karen Rodgers offered to be responsible for soap in the toilets.

Fr Pat and Fr Bob will periodically mention the need for more volunteers.

In due course the roof of the church will need re roofing.

Irial is thinking about the kitchen.

School

The school is settling in to its new buildings with good classrooms and staff room and a great studio.

Diocesan Plan

Jim O’Sullivan is unable attend the next meeting of the Council of Laity. Lynda McIntyre will be asked if she would like to go.

Parish Groups

Facilitation Group update

Discussion was had re the Parish Database which is seriously out of date. It was agreed that a new census needs to be taken in the New Year with regular updating perhaps by means of using e mails.

It is suggested that the Database lives on Fr Pat’s laptop so that it is available for use. Fr Pat is clear there are many uses even though British Catholic Churches do not have the concept of registering with a Parish as in many continental countries.

Discussion centred around the need for the Parish to embrace 21st Century technology including considering Facebook with a link to the Website.

AOB

Future Forum Dates