Parish Pastoral Council

Reminder of our Mission Statement
The Gospel calls Corpus Christi Parish to be a living sign of Jesus Christ
• An open and vibrant community growing in spirituality,
• An active community where all are encouraged to participate,
• To work with other Churches to spread the Good News to all and to seek a greater understanding of other Faiths.

Pastoral Council News

P.P.C. Newsletter, August 2010

Welcome to the latest issue of our PPC newsletter.

Parish Fete:
Our Fete in July was a resounding success, a true family social occasion. It was great to see so many parishioners and members of the community enjoying a great variety of entertainment organised so well by the social committee. Future events will be detailed at the end of this newsletter.

Parish Magazine:
Thank you to Richard Austin, Paul Swallow and the rest of the editorial team for organising the forthcoming edition in September. There is still time to submit articles. Just contact Richard or Paul if you have an article of interest, anecdote or would like to advertise in the magazine.

Welcome:
As part of the recommendations from the Welcome Day, the nappy changing unit has now been purchased and has just to be put up in the disabled toilet. It is hoped that this will be done very soon. A further analysis of the skills within the parish survey has been carried out and everyone who expressed a wish to help in some way in the running of the parish will be contacted. If you are still waiting to be contacted, please approach a member of the PPC who will be only too happy to help.

Papal Visit:
The people attending the Papal Mass in Birmingham have been selected. Our prayers go with them as they attend this truly memorable and unique experience. We ask that they pray for the whole community of Corpus Christi on the day.

Justice & Peace:
A newly formed committee chaired by Chris Davies have held their second meeting now as well as having a stall at the Parish Fete to promote this worthy cause. There is now much activity as a result of these meetings and Chris will be reporting the progress to the PPC at the next meeting in September. Please continue to support this worth while cause through CAFOD or by volunteering to join the group.

5 Year Plan:
This was discussed at great length at the last PPC meeting. We will be reporting the successes of this plan and replacing achieved initiatives with new ones. It was also agreed that we should reduce this to a 3 year plan to achieve more focus. Update will be displayed on the new PPC board in the porch.

Home is a Holy place:
This extremely inspirational DVD package is available to borrow in the porch. The pack includes a DVD, information leaflets and prayer cards all detailing the importance of prayer in family life and the home. Please feel free to borrow it and just indicate on the list your name and the date you borrowed and returned it.

Notice Boards:
These have now been reorganised thanks to Noelle. They are now more focused on events, Rotas etc and hopefully easier to read.

Future Events:
The social committee have been taking a break through the summer period to re-charge their batteries for the autumn and winter months.
Future Pastoral events include:
16th -19th September the Papal Visit.

Future Social events include:
30th November. St Andrews.
8th December. Advent Meal
11th December. Children’s Christmas party.
January. Epiphany gathering.

I hope you have found this newsletter informative and as always comments good or not so good would be welcomed by any member of the PPC.

P.P.C. Newsletter, June 2010

Welcome to the latest issue of our PPC Newsletter. I hope you find it informative. Any comments would be very much appreciated.

C A M E O:
Following on from our celebration of the children’s First Holy Communion in the morning, we devoted the afternoon to the Ecumenical pilgrimage to the Baptist and Methodist Churches in the town centre.
Led and inspired by Sister Jean and her team, we were all invited to visit and learn more about each others faiths with an aim to forging links going forward.
Attended by approx 80 parishioners (over half from Corpus Christi), we were given the freedom of each others Churches and given the opportunity to join in prayer. A follow up meeting was held at La Retraite to review the day, and the feedback from all Churches was that the day was an overwhelming success, and we should continue to organise Ecumenical events. Watch this space!

Parish Fete:
The social committee chaired by Dominic Hingston met recently to discuss the planning of the forthcoming Fete. The meeting was vibrant, and all the planned events will ensure that this will be a thoroughly enjoyable family day. Helpers will be required on the day, so if you can spare some time to help, please contact Dominic or any member of the PPC.

Parish Magazine:
Richard Austin and his team are looking for subject matter for the September issue. If you have any stories, anecdotes, or forthcoming events you wish to advertise, please contact Richard.
A big thank you goes to Paul Spindler, who started and has run the magazine for years.

Welcome Day:
Feedback from the Welcome Day has been analysed and where possible has been acted on. You will notice that there are now information signs outside the Church, directing people to all the main facilities. There has also been a full review of the evacuation procedure resulting in fire exit signs being put in place in the appropriate areas.
We now have an information flip stand in the porch which contains key information about local amenities and facilities as well as key information regarding our own Church.
In the near future, nappy changing facilities will be installed in the disabled toilet in the parish hall.
There is still more to do as a result of the feedback from the Welcome Day, so watch this space for updates.

Justice & Peace:
A meeting was held, chaired by Chris Davies, to look at how we focus on this massive problem of social injustice, not only overseas but in the UK. Please watch out for developments and support this cause wherever possible.

Event updates:
Following is a list of Pastoral and social events for your diary.

Pastoral Events:
11th July Glastonbury Pilgrimage
16th – 19th Sept Papal Visit,

Social Events:
17th July. Parish Fete
30th November. St Andrews
8th December. Advent Meal
4th or 11th December. Children’s Christmas party
10th January 2011. Epiphany gathering

I hope you have found this update informative and as stated at the beginning, any feedback or comments, positive or not would be most welcome.

Corpus Christi PPC.

Parish Pastoral Council – Corpus Christi, Weston-super-Mare
Minutes of meeting - Friday 11th June 2010 @ 7.30pm

Present - Monsignor Gabriel Leyden, Deacon Stephen Munday, Alan Malone, Mary Usher-Clark, Kay Matthews, Michael Feeley, Rosemary Mapson, Richard Austin, Dominic Hingston, Nathalie Samuels, Paul Swallow.
Apologies - Deacon Peter Gregory, Jenny Munday, Noelle Lomanto.
Absent - Peter Ottley.
1. Membership Notes
Sister Jean Daniel and Sister Finola Ryan have resigned their positions. Members expressed their gratitude for all their hard work and support over many years service to the PPC.Both have offered to be available in an advisory role on request. Alan has thanked them in person and in writing.
2. Monsignor Gabriel led the prayer for the Papal visit to the UK. He recapped the main guidelines for the PPC:
To work collaboratively, supporting each other as equals, in a relationship of trust and service, not one of control or power, in building a welcoming community.
The priest is central to the PPC, but not the most important member.
3. Alan welcomed members to the meeting and issued an update to the 5 year plan and a detailed analysis of the output from the successful Welcome Day. This has generated a definitive list of candidates for a rota of duties for both the 6.30 and 10.30 Masses. All aspects of the welcome ministry were covered. New signage for the church has been ordered and a quote for a new extended outdoor noticeboard is being prepared. An evacuation procedure document was issued to all members and Alan will conduct fire awareness training sessions as part of the welcomers training plan. The parish has bought 2 more extinguishers and the current ones have been replenished. Monsignor Gabriel will have easy access to a megaphone and a large torch if the power is lost.
* There is no legal requirement for a practice fire drill from the church.
* Baby changing facilities have been ordered.
4. Minutes of the last meeting were agreed by all members.
5. Individual reports from PPC members
* Monsignor Gabriel thanked all the parishioners for the celebration of our Parish Feast Day on Sunday 6th June.
* Richard will ensure that all parishioners, expressing an interest in parish activities from the recent questionnaire, have been contacted by the appropriate person.
* He has assumed the role of co-ordinator of the new editorial team and submitted an item for this weekend's newsletter, inviting articles for the September parish magazine. Thanks were once again expressed to Paul Spindler for all his work in producing the magazine over many years.
* Deacon Stephen is currently formulating a Day of Retreat, possibly at Kintbury and will issue personal invitations in due course.
* Nathalie as a parent and Noelle as Deputy Head agreed to form a committee to build up the links between the parish and the school.
* Alan is discussing an update of the parish website with Tony Cooksley. The children have now had 2 episodes of 'Anton' the church mouse. The next one will invite the children to form their own prayer. This idea may also be used in the school.
* The PPC newsletter will be emailed to Weston Churches Together.
* Michael, Alan and Richard attended the recent Deanery PPC meeting, where Anne-Marie Sparrow, the new Diocesan Co-ordinator for Marriage and Families gave an interesting presentation.
* All PPC members are invited to the annual social event on 7th July @ Nailsea, where we will bring and share our own food, and each parish will have display boards with a 300 word maximum presentation of their various activities as a community.
* The Social Committee met for the first time on 25th May. Members are Dominic Hingston, Alison Porter, Alan & Linda Malone, Nobby Clarke, Rosemary Mapson and Michael Feeley.
The Parish Fete in Ellenborough Park was fully discussed. The closure of the road and a licence for music and alcohol from 1.30 - 10.30 pm have been approved by the authorities.
Highlights include: An arena area, stage for live music, 5 donkeys available for rides, a marquee pavilion and a bottle stall, where everyone is a winner. The overall aim is to raise £2500, with our school and parish communities working together as a team.
Volunteers are required. Alan asked PPC members to send suggestions for the fete to Dominic.
* The next meeting is on Tuesday 15th June at 7.00.
* There are plans to hold regular Jumble Sales, and Friday evening car boot sales in the school playground.
6. Recent Pastoral Events
The ecumenical CAMEO event on 15th May was very successful with over 80 people attending, including 42 from Corpus Christi. Thanks to all who supported the event and assisted in any way, especially to Sister Jean Daniel and Nuala Pluck as our parish co-ordinators. David Pluck has produced a DVD of the day which is available on loan from Mary. There will be a follow-up meeting on Wednesday 16th June at La Retraite to discuss ideas for further events. All PPC members are welcome. Alan will feedback any ideas for future ecumenical activities to the next PPC meeting.
7. Recent Social Events
* Alan presented a detailed update on the successful Youth Group in Jenny's absence. She still needs more volunteers to engage with the young people in a relaxed manner, acting as role models and offering a faith challenge, whilst being directed by them. There are 20+ regular attendees from 7-9 pm on Wednesdays. There will be an ecumenical youth sports day this Summer in Ellenborough Park.
8. Future Pastoral Events
* Sunday 13th June @ 11.30 - Justice and Peace meeting in the Parish hall, chaired by Chris Davies.
* Saturday 19th June @ 10.30 - 1.00 - Recollection Day for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, led by Dr Gavin D'Costa, Professor of Catholic Theology at the University of Bristol, and an extraordinary Minister himself. Monsignor Gabriel has issued personal invitations.
* Wednesday 23rd June @ 7.30 - Communion for Mission Liturgy @ Clifton Cathedral. The final document will be distributed. Members were asked to contact Alan if they wish to attend. Shared transport will be arranged.
* Sunday 11th July @ 2.00 - 5.00 - Glastonbury Pilgrimage. Dominic will be cycling to the event and has arranged for a van to bring any cyclists back home if necessary.
* Thursday 16th September @ 7.30 - 9.00 - R.C.I.A. programme restarts. PPC members are asked to invite possible candidates.
* Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th September - Papal Visit to the UK.
* Thursday 21st October - Deanery PPC meeting @ Clevedon.

9. Future Social Events
* Saturday 17th July - Summer Fete
* Tuesday 30th November - St Andrew's Day Event
* Wednesday 8th December - Advent Meal
* Saturday 4th or 11th December - Children's Christmas Party
* Sunday 2nd January - Epiphany Gathering
10. A.O.B.
* Howard Evans has produced some new photographs of PPC members for the noticeboard. Those members who were unavailable on 23rd May will need to have their photographs taken on a future Sunday.
* Our parish has a commitment to the Ecumenical Service held in the hospital chapel on Sunday afternoons. A rota is supported by some members of Weston Churches Together. We had only 4 volunteers on 30th May. Our next turn on the rota is 11th July. As both these dates clash with regular annual parish activities, Michael was asked to discuss more suitable dates with Rev. Dawn Mather, the hospital chaplain. More volunteers are required.
* Alan has invited all the PPC members of St Joseph's and Our Lady of Lourdes to a Cheese and Wine evening. The aim will be to meet each other and discuss the feasibility of meeting quarterly as a pastoral unit. Deacon Tom has accepted on behalf of St Joseph's.
* Alan confirmed that all the Children's Liturgy leaders have been appropriately vetted under the new Safeguarding Procedures.
* Kay presented an updated pack of useful parish and community information to Alan, which will be made available in the church porch.
11. Next meeting is planned for Friday 23rd July. Future meetings will be every 6th Friday 3rd September, 15th October, 26th November, 7th January, 18th February, 1st April and 13th May.
12. Monsignor Gabriel closed the meeting with the 'Glory Be' prayer at 9.15 pm.

Parish Pastoral Council – Corpus Christi, Weston-super-Mare
Minutes of meeting - Friday 30th April 2010 @ 7.30pm

Present - Monsignor Gabriel Leyden, Deacon Stephen Munday, Sister Jean Daniel, Alan Malone, Peter Ottley, Mary Usher-Clark, Michael Feeley,
Rosemary Mapson, Richard Austin, Jenny Munday, Noelle Lomanto, Dominic Hingston, Nathalie Samuels, Paul Swallow.
Apologies - Deacon Peter Gregory, Kay Matthews.
1. Membership Notes
* Sister Finola Ryan alternates attendance at meetings with Sister Jean Daniel.
* Paul Spindler has resigned his position. The PPC expressed their gratitude for all his hard work during many years service to the parish.
* Therese Feeley has requested her removal from the list of members.
* Noelle, Nathalie & Dominic were attending their first meeting.
2. Monsignor Gabriel as acting Chair welcomed members to the meeting and read a prayer by Cardinal John Henry Newman.
3. Monsignor conducted the election of the new chair - Alan Malone was duly elected from 3 nominations and took over as chair for the rest of the meeting.
4. Minutes of the last meeting were agreed by all members.
5. Richard handed out a detailed analysis document of the completed parish questionnaire.
* e.g. 9 respondees have expressed an interest in the welcoming ministry. One aim discussed was to provide good cover for Ray Langston who does an excellent job but would like to hand over occasionally and just attend Mass. Some training, e.g. first aid, would be required. Suggestions were made to have welcomers of other cultures and to ensure that estranged parishioners were looked after.
Richard has started identifying all contacts with Chris Davies.
* e.g. George Hancock as Parish Treasurer will be contacting respondees who have expressed an interest in assisting with parish finances.
6. Recent social events were enjoyable and very successful. Members expressed their thanks to all the organising teams for the following:
* St. Patrick's Day Social on 17th March - Michael & Therese Feeley & Rosemary Mapson.
* Passover Meal on 31st March - Alan Malone & family & team.
* St. George's Day Meal on 23rd April - Dominic Hingston & team.
7. Dominic proposed a social committee with some possible future events such as a Parish fete and an ecumenical meal with 1 course per venue.
* Alan will arrange a meeting date with Dominic to develop plans for a steering committee.
* Alan would like other steering committees to be established e.g. ecumenical. Members were asked to report back to the next meeting with their ideas.
* Jenny presented a detailed update on the successful Youth Group. She is still assisted by Dominic & Izzy, but Brendan has stood down since Christmas, so more volunteers are needed to engage with the young people in a relaxed manner, acting as role models and offering a faith challenge, whilst being directed by them. There are 20+ regular attendees from 7-9 pm on Wednesdays, which may be extended to 10pm for the Summer. The Group has sufficient funds to buy further games, though they are keen to raise more funds, perhaps with a sponsored car wash event.
8. Future events
* Day of Welcome on Saturday 8th May - 30+ invitation slips had been returned. Jean Davies will be circulating an agenda for the day.
* First Holy Communion breakfast on Saturday 15th May - As the PFA are unable to support this, some volunteers are required to lay tables from 10.00 and serve refreshments from 12.00. Noelle offered to help. Alan will discuss this further with Paul Spindler. A future solution could be for this year's parents to help out next year and so on.
* CAMEO event on Saturday 15th May - Sister Jean presented the schedule of events. The main theme is to offer an ecumenical welcome to all, meeting and talking to our fellow church members. Clarence Park Baptist Church will have young people playing music and a banner procession to Corpus Christi, where we will offer a tour of the church and a QUEST for the children. Mary will be showing photographs of our varied activities via a computer. A minibus will be available, if required, to take people to Victoria Methodist Church where Rev. Carol will be staging a bookmark chain/quiz and after a short act of worship there will be a tea provided. Invitations have been sent out to all of our cluster churches.
* Diocesan Celebration of Pentecost event on Saturday 22nd May at the Cathedral - Noelle & Salv will be leading the worship and may organise a minibus if sufficient interest.
* All PPC members will be commissioned during Mass on Sunday 23rd May, followed by an informal parish open meeting with refreshments after Mass. The aim is to enable parishioners to meet their PPC and to share ideas and comments on parish life.The final 'People of Hope' Document is due to be published the same day.
* Ecumenical prayer group on Thursday 3rd June, with a full evening meal, at the Heritage Cafe in Wadham Street. Noelle & Salv will be hosting - 45 places available at £8.50 each.
* Recollection Day for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion on Saturday 19th June led by Dr Gavin D'Costa, Professor of Catholic Theology at the University of Bristol, and an extraordinary Minister himself.

9. A.O.B.
* Peter will ask Howard Evans to produce some new photographs of all members for the noticeboard. Each PPC member was asked to provide a short (2 sentences) biography, to be displayed with their photograph. Noelle offered to assume responsibility from Mary for the ongoing maintenance of the noticeboard.
. * St Peter Apostle Society, part of Missio, which trains missionary priests, will receive a donation of £250 p.a. for the next 4 years.
* New editors of the parish magazine are now required, to succeed Paul Spindler.
* A possible follow-up to the 'Life to the Full' sessions was suggested. (Basic/Alpha style/Scripture-based/Evangelical to challenge faith?)
* Ecumenical and non-ecumenical committees were suggested.
* Suggestions were made to have on-going formation for the whole parish and to set up a referenced resource treasury.
* Refreshments after Sunday Mass - Dominic will do a trial of fewer tables, to create an informal standing area where people can mix more freely. He would like to signpost the hall from the church to encourage more people to attend.
* Fred White will be invited to attend a future PPC meeting to speak about the new CRB requirements and the registration of members and other appropriate people.
* Thanks were expressed to the 2 ladies (Peter to confirm their names!) who have been selling their home-made cards after Sunday Masses. Their proceeds have bought valued improved resources for the Children's Liturgy Group.
10. Next meeting is planned for Friday 11th June. Each member was asked to email Alan with their preferred day of the week for future meetings.
11. Monsignor Gabriel closed the meeting with a prayer at 9.00 pm.

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Parish Pastoral Council

Notes of Corpus Christi Justice and Peace Meeting 21st November 2008

Notes of Corpus Christi Justice and Peace Meeting
21st November 2008