Chairperson: Pamela Bailey Minutes: Tricia Samorzewska
The meeting opened at 8pm with approx. 25 Parishioners present.
1. Welcome & Opening Prayer - Pamela Bailey & Fr. Michael
Pamela Bailey welcomed everyone to the Forum including visitors from St. Joseph's PPC and asked speakers
to introduce themselves before speaking.
Fr. Michael opened the meeting with Prayers.
2. Minutes from the last meeting & matters arising not on this evening's agenda
Item 3 -15v - Union of Catholic Mothers. Bunty Lavender advised that there is no further action or follow up on this.
Item 3 - 8 iii - St Mark's Church Hall break-in. Vic Mullan advised that he is currently looking for a carpenter to carry out the repair work.
He anticipated that the door would be hung in the next couple of weeks.
Item 10 - AOB - St. Mark's Church drive. Vic Mullan advised that he has had meetings with the Local Authority (LA), and the Housing Assoc (HA) for Irvine Court. Due to the access required by the Church, we may also have a responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the drive. Vic said the Finance Committee will have to address the matter re any share we may have of the costs associated with the repair. Pamela Bailey asked if the HA is now taking the lead on the problem and Vic replied "not necessarily", but the Parish had now set the "ball rolling".
He will follow-up with the HA this week.
Item 10 - AOB - St. Edward's Church Parking .
Vic Mullan advised that he has been monitoring the situation, and this in conjunction with appeals made at Church to highlight insensitive and inappropriate parking, has meant that improvements have been made. Whilst he will not be monitoring this on a regular basis,
he will keep an eye on it and is happy to be approached if there is a problem.
7. Celebrating Lent - Fr. Michael thanked the Stewardship Group for their service on "Stewardship", which was held during one Lent Holy Hour. Feedback was very good. The Holy Hours each Sunday were well attended.
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and accepted.
3. Youth Matters -Isobel Young.
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* Due to lack of support, the pre-Easter Event, when the children would have been making Easter items, had to be cancelled. However 50 children attended 'Journey with Jesus', which took place on Good Friday morning in St Mark's.
* The Youth Matters Group are planning another activity morning. (Date to be confirmed). They are planning to have an activities table at the Summer Event.
* Following the First Holy Communions, they hope there will be another Altar Servers' Refresher.
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First Holy Communion:
The final chapter of the book 'to love and serve the Lord', will be completed on Saturday June 27th. They will use this opportunity to encourage the children to come forward to do something for their Parish. In the past month four children came forward from the First Communion group to join the Young People's Choir.
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Sacramental Preparation:
On Saturday 13th June 26 children will be receiving the Sacrament of First Eucharist. The following Saturday will see the remaining 24 children receiving the Sacrament. Once again the First Communions will be followed by a Communion Breakfast in the RE. Centre. . The 16 candidates for Confirmation will be having their last session week commencing 15th June and Confirmation will be on July 3rd.
4.1 Finance - Half Yea Report- Vic Mullan on behalf of Mike Street.
* The outturn for FY 2007/2008 left the Parish with a deficit of expenditure over income of circa £9,500. This was after funding only essential maintenance work, the repayment of the fourth of 7 years of the Parish Centre development Diocesan loan (£18,570), and a small provision for the St Edward's Church 150th Anniversary.
* A cautious Budget was agreed for FY 2008/2009. It was assumed that there would be no real growth in Parish income, either through offertory donation or Parish hall/centre and car parking lettings. Further, cautionary increases were made in cost assumptions, particularly utility costs. Despite an anticipated increase in routine maintenance work, only £5,000 was assumed for urgent and regulatory repairs.
* At the half year point (end Feb 09), offertory income was more or less on budget, but hall and centre lettings were slightly behind forecast. Cost control measures have ensured that expenditure was kept to budget.
* It was agreed at the last Finance Committee meeting, in view of the current economic climate, that the annual financial presentation to the Parish would concentrate solely on a drive to increase the number of people using Gift Aid. There would be no appeal for increases in offertory donations. Tom Hinds requested a financial statement for 2007/2008 be made available. Vic Mullan advised that this had been posted on the Church Notice Boards last year. The statement for financial year 18t Sept 2008/31st Aug 2009 will be available in December 2009.
4.2 Disposal of Our Lady of Lourdes
Vic Mullan gave an update on this situation and said that whilst development of the site for housing has not been ruled out there are a number of significant issues which would need to be resolved before a sale can be negotiated. In view of this, alternative uses for the building are being considered and negotiations, which are being managed jointly with Diocesan advisers, are underway. Any money raised as a result of a disposal will be used to 'payoff' the Parish debt, address some of the more pressing maintenance issues and replenish depleted Parish cash reserves. The Church building itself is monitored regularly to ensure that it remains in a safe state of repair.
5. Great Park Pastoral Area (GPPA) update. - Fr. Michael
5.1 Magazine: There is going to be a GPPA magazine to which St. Edward's, St. Edmund Campion and St.Joseph's will contribute. It will be published 3 times a year with each of the Parishes having their own space to update and advise the other Parishes in the G-PPA about their activities (past current and future). We have already submitted articles for inclusion. The magazine is due out the end of June / beginning of July. Fr. Michael thanked all those who contributed articles for consideration for the publication.
5.2 Interworking the Parishes: A proposal was discussed at the GGPA meeting for 1 or 2 representatives from each Parish to attend the Forum or PPG meetings of the other Parishes. Pamela Bailey asked for feedback on this idea and asked if anyone was interested in attending the PPG meetings at St. Edmund Campion and St. Joseph's, saying that the task which could be shared. It was agreed that in the first instance Pamela attends the next PPC meeting at St. Joseph's and reports back at the next Parish Forum.
5.3 Interconnection between Parish Groups: At a recent GPPA meeting, it had been proposed that similar groups in each of the three Parishes may like to get together and share ideas. Hazel Cooper advised that the SVP group are meeting week commencing 15th June. The Liturgy group, Youth Matters and Stewardship groups all confirmed that they were willing to meet with their counterparts. The Stewardship group will seek to establish contact with the recently formed group at St. Joseph's. 81. Edmund Campion currently do not have a Stewardship group. With regard to Youth Matters; Dave Hill the Diocesan Youth Leader is holding a meeting on the 18th June. Sr. Teresina suggested that the Liturgy Groups may be able to get together in the autumn. The KSC are already working together as a group.
6. Liturgy - Sr. Teresina
* Last December the Liturgy Group had an Advent Reflection in preparation for Christmas, which was led by Rev June Faulkner, and was very interesting.
* On March 15th this year, they held a Liturgy for Lent at 8t Edward's, called 'Encounter with God', based on Moses and the Burning Bush, which people found a very moving and prayerful experience.
* In preparation for Pentecost, they had a liturgy of prayers, readings, reflections and music, which again was very well received by all those who were there.
* On 26th June, to mark the end of the Year of St. Paul, they are planning another liturgy of reflection, music and readings.
* Tom Hinds commented that St. Edmund Campion & St. Joseph's held a healing service on the first Friday of the month,
alternating between each of the churches.
Fr. Michael said that we already have a healing service each October and that perhaps a monthly version of this may devalue its meaning?
The Liturgy Group concluded that they will discuss it at their next meeting and comment at the next Forum.
Lima Hopkins thanked the group for the excellent Pentecost service.
7. Safeguarding -Isobel Young
A letter from the Diocesan Safeguarding Co-ordinator, is to be placed at the back of St. Edward's and St. Mark's which explains
the need for everyone working with children or vulnerable adults,
to attend the training programmes arranged by the Diocese.
Our own Training in St Edward's takes place on Wednesday 9th and 16th of September.
There had been an incident in a parish in the Diocese, where 3 photos of children in school uniform, with names displayed had been stolen.
Isobel explained that Catholic Church policy is not to display names along with photos of children and she reassured the Forum,
that photos for First Communion and Confirmation do not have any names displayed.
Additionally when names are sent out to Prayer Sponsors, it is only the Christian name given.
Isobel ran through a number of questions and answers surrounding "Safeguarding". (See attached).
Fr. Michael thanked Isobel for undertaking this activity on behalf of the Parish.
He said he recognised the significant amount of work which it entailed and felt that we were fortunate to have Isobel undertake this,
as in many Parishes, this was an additional task for the Parish Priest to administer.
8. Stewardship - Fr. Michael .
The group have decided to hold an event to coincide with the Feast of St. Edward on the 13th October.
They aim to have a Mass in the evening with the theme of "Stewardship" followed by a social event with refreshments in the RE Centre. .
9. Lent Project 2010 - Fr. Michael
Ideas are being sought with a view to holding a joint project with St. Edmund Campion and St. Joseph's next year.
Last year St. Joseph's and St. Edmund Campion raised approx £16K for local (Thames Valley Hospice) and national/international charities by holding events such as a jazz evening, quiz evening and a golf competition. A note will be put into the Parish Newsletter about this initiative.
10. Summer's Lease (12th July) -Isobel Young
Plans are well advanced for another successful Parish Day. Requests are in place for gazebos and for the donation of meats and salmon. A suggestion had been made that money donations could be made so that the chef could buy and cook the meat. This was discussed, but it agreed that the preferred option was to continue with the practice of receiving meats and salmon as donations. Fr. Michael advised that as he is away the week before the event, he is looking for volunteers to tidy up the garden in preparation. He will make an appeal at the end of Mass.
11. AOB.
i) SVP: Hazel Cooper advised that historically the SVP visited newly bereaved families/friends. They are to commence this service again.
ii)Parish Library: Tom Hinds said he would like to establish a Parish Library. He would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in this initiative.
iii) Eucharistic Ministry: Vic Mullan thanked Sr. Teresina for sending out letters to the Eucharistic Ministers reminding them of the correct procedure for cleaning the chalice during communion.
Dates of future meetings:
8pm, St Edward's Parish Centre on
Tuesday 8th Sept 2009, 8th Dec 2009, 9th March 2010, 8th June 2010, 7th Sept 2010.
The meeting closed at approx 9:30pm with a Prayer from Fr. Michael.
Questions & Answers re Safeguarding
Confused about Portability of CRB Disclosures and Vetting & Barring Registration?
What is Portability?
The ability to use a CRB Disclosure for a number of roles across more than 1 organisation (e.g. as a teacher and for parish work).
The CRB no longer support this service due to identified risks.
What are the risks?
The Disclosure is only valid on the day it is printed. Offences may have been committed between then
and when a subsequent organisation is considering using the previously obtained check.
Registered Bodies are legally responsible for processing checks in accordance with the CRB Code of Practice.
If it accepts a check from another Registered Body it accepts the risk that identity verification has not been carried out
properly for example.
Enhanced Disclosures sometimes have "additional" information released under separate cover by the Police.
This information is not transferable.
What is the benefit of having a National Database?
In the Catholic Church we record all CRB Disclosures applied for, which have been submitted via CSAS as the Registered Body,
onto our National Database. This allows us to create "internal portability".
Individuals can carry out a variety of roles across England & Wales on one CRB check,
provided that the check was at the correct level (Standard/Enhanced) and for the right group/s (children and/or vulnerable adults).
Is Vetting & Barring "portable"?
Vetting & Barring is a "once in a lifetime" registration that is fully portable for any concurrent or consecutive role
with vulnerable groups whether paid or voluntary.
It does not remove the need to have CRB checks for various roles across different agencies.
Duplicate checks are still required if a person is a teacher, Trustee, Scout Leader and children's liturgist for example.
Why will we still need CRB Disclosures?
The Vetting & Barring registration scheme identifies those who are considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups;
it does not indicate the suitability of a person to carry out a particular role.
The CRB check will continue to provide full criminal record information in order that an organisation
can fully determine if an individual is suitable for a specific post in the Church.
The Home Office announced on 19th March that the Vetting & Barring scheme will be introduced in 3 key stages.
12th October 2009, the new barred lists will replace existing lists Le. List 99, POCA and POVA.
July 2010 the registration of "new" people applying to work with vulnerable groups comes into effect.
At this time the new amalgamated CRB and vas Registration Application Form will come into operation.
Also the 5 year phasing strategy for the "existing workforce”. commences.
November 2010, legal obligations around checking the registration of "new" potential post holders becomes effective.
A letter for all volunteers working with children & vulnerable adults is being sent out for the "Safeguarding" training sessions.
If training is not done it is likely that you will lose your registration and be unable to
continue working in the group that you work within.
Pamela Bailey asked if this is a national database to which Isobel replied that it was a Diocesan run CSAS Catholic database.
The process is a 5 year rolling strategy plan and people will be contacted in the future to be rechecked.