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St Gregory’s and Our Lady of Peace New Parish Pastoral Council 2023/4

Parish Mission Statement: Love, Care, Share. ‘We aim to show Christ by loving God, our neighbour and each other and to serve all, particularly those in need.’ This is what we’re all about.

Introduction

As a result of the parish synodal consultation the Parish Pastoral Council decided it needed more formal structures in order to improve communication and participation within the parish. Canon Law 536 makes it clear that the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is a consultative body to aid the Parish Priest (PP) in discerning and carrying out the Parish’s mission to share the good news. Bishop Bernard Longley undoubtably wants PPCs to function within the dioceses and for the laity to play their part in the Church’s mission. This is balanced by the fact that Canon Law leaves no doubt that the PP remains the final authority within the parish. This needs to be absolutely clear to everyone, so that we all understand that spirit of service in which anyone within the parish undertakes office. In order to get things moving three actions were agreed by the PPC:

Action 1: That the PP appoints a preliminary Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) to get the ball rolling.

The old PPC was undecided as to what type of PPC constitution would best suit our parish. Therefore, it was agreed that Fr Alex would appoint a council with a mandate for say 18 months to get the ball rolling. In keeping with Canon Law this body should meet at least three times in a year.

The agenda for their meeting will be published in the bulletin at least a week in advance and there should be a space for AOB.
Any parishioner will be able to attend this meeting and if they want to raise a point, they will be able to write to the chairperson in advance and have it acknowledged in the minutes.
Chairs of meetings should be trained and if they cannot address the issue at the time it is raised, then they should be skilled enough to ensure it is noted and an answer is given (publicly or privately) asap, or at least by the following meeting.
This provisional PPC should also be responsible for convening the Parish Annual General Meeting.
Towards the end of their provisional term of office they will be tasked with addressing the issue of writing a constitution based on the parish experience to date.
The PP, chairs of the three subcommittees (see Action 2 below) and the Parish Safeguarding Officer are ex-officio members of the PPC. Office holders will include a chairperson and a secretary. Membership of the PPC will always include a representative of Our Lady of Peace and the Polish community. It is suggested that the total membership of the PPC should not go beyond ten members.

Action 2: The PPC will have three subcommittees (aligned with the parish Mission Statement) who meet to ensure that the parish fulfils its mission and flourishes.

The proposed subcommittees are:

- - Liturgy and faith development
  - Faith in Action
  - Finance (which exists already as mandated in Canon Law)

Each subcommittee will meet at least three times a year independent of the PP although he remains an ex-officio member and when not in attendance must be briefed by the chairperson via mandatory minutes and as necessary in person.
Chairs of the subcommittees are ex-officio members of the PPC. Chairs (or in absentia an appointed representative of their group) should attend all meetings of the PPC and address a standing item of accountability for the work of their subcommittee.
The main sub-committee meeting agendas will be published in the newsletter, as will links to minutes of meetings. Any parishioner will be able to attend subcommittee meetings and if they want to raise a point, they will be able to write to the chairperson in advance and have it acknowledged in the minutes. Subcommittee chairs need to be trained in their craft.

Action 3: All active groups within the parish should be represented in at least one of the subcommittees.

It is important that every group is affiliated to a subcommittee. However, this is not intended to be burdensome, so it is not necessary for the nominated representative of that group to attend every meeting of the subcommittee. Groups need only attend meetings where the agenda is relevant or when the group wants to ask for the support of the parish for a project that is in keeping with the parish mission.
Some accountability is required, so a chair of a subcommittee may from time to time request an affiliated group to update the parish on their work and seek ways in which the parish can support them.

NB: A careful managing of the diary would ensure that meetings are spread out across the year and between them all occur approximately once a month.

Committee

Chairperson(s)

Membership includes

Main Parish Pastoral Council

Co-chairs:

Peter and Teresa Finkle

Secretary:

Simon Chappell

Fr Alex (PP – also current representative of Finance committee)) Mark O’Connell (Safeguarding) Con McHugh (Website Manager)

Representative of Faith in Action & Faith Development committees

Representative of St Gregory’s, Our Lady of Peace and the Polish Community (this may be covered by post holders). (10)

Liturgy and Faith Development

Chairperson:

Chris Danes

Secretary

Marina Smith

MC (Terry Evans).

All leaders of music ministry, sacramental preparation, children’s liturgy, faith development and faith outreach ministries. Representatives of each of the Parish Masses: (5.30pm/ 9.30am/ 11.15pm and the Polish Mass). This committee is intended to co-ordinate these ministries and ensure they are properly trained, resourced and supported in their role of leading the parish closer to God.

Faith in Action

Chairperson:

Maureen Thompson

Secretary:

Simon Chappell

Representatives of all the active groups within the parish (other than those linked to Liturgy and Faith Development)

This committee is intended to co-ordinate the actions and resources of the parish as necessary. It does not interfere with the normal order of business of any group (see Action 3 above).

Dates going forward.

September All meeting at 7pm in the Parish room. The agenda for these inaugural meetings will look at the plan for the parish over the coming year with groups sharing their ways of contributing to the Parish Mission	13	Initial training for Chairs of the Main PPC and subcommittees and secretaries
	20	Inaugural Faith in Action Meeting
	27	Inaugural Liturgy and Faith Development subcommittee Meeting
	tbc	Financial meeting (first under new PPC structures)
October	4	Inaugural Main PPC
Each meeting will set their own dates for future meetings going forward and publish in the newsletter. Chairpersons/secretaries need to ensure that their dates do not clash with other published meetings.