SUMMARY OF THE MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE WEST BERKSHIRE PASTORAL AREA PASTORAL COUNCIL
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH 2011 AT OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION, THATCHAM
Present: Fr Padraigh Faughnan, Fr Eamon Walsh, Fr Ignatius Madineni, Fr Dermot Tredget OSB, Deacon John Foley, Jo Harrison, Liz Kellar, Pauline Mason, Richard Fueger, Toby Tyler
Apologies: Sean Tucker
1. Opening Prayer: Based on the Lectio Divina preparation for the upcoming Gospel (Matthew 7:21-27)
2. Bishop Crispian
JH thanked LK for the DPC meeting summary circulated ahead of the meeting, which included reference to the Bishop’s forthcoming retirement. Consultations on his successor are taking place, and meanwhile each PAPC is to submit to the Bishop an uptodate report of where they are, to be passed on to the incoming bishop. Bishop Crispian is no longer able to attend a meeting on 12 May with the PAPC, but Tom McGrath, the Vicar General, and Nicky Stevens still will. The requested report will then be prepared
- ‘Together’ magazine
Thanks were extended to LK for delivering the magazine. An active member of the community, Adam Charnaud, who owns a printing press, has offered to become involved, and TT and LK to meet with him to discuss further. There are still problems with invoicing, and the matter is to be put on the agenda for parish finance committees. LK will check with parishes and schools for future number runs. There are named contacts within each parish for articles to go to, and they should for the time being send them on to LK. She will ask the schools for a nominated contact
4. Schools
JH reminded everyone that the year 2010/11 is celebrating Catholic education. A new Education Bill aiming to deliver reforms enabling higher standards of education for all children has been introduced, hopefully freeing many schools from central government bureaucracy. Our Area has three vibrant primary schools, and this is an important time for their governors. The Education Department realises that governors are unsung heroes, deserving more acknowledgment and support; they are to receive more access to data across the schools and will set expectations and challenges for the schools. While the PA is, obviously, focussing on Catholic schools, there are many Catholics in non-Catholic schools, and with RS being taken out of the new Baccalaureate, should we advise parishes for them to perhaps lobby to keep RS? It is sad that, after a marvellous Catholic primary education, the Area’s two Catholic secondary schools are too far for most, although apparently even Catholic secondary schools are finding it difficult to maintain a Catholic ethos. Would the coming together of the various Christian groups lend more weight to working with secondary schools? The question of the PAPC supporting the St Finian’s School project financially was raised, prompting a question on closer interaction between the school and parish. This is a live issue requiring work on all sides, so would it be possible to put together a group of interested people? There are plans to visit every parent within the school for fundraising support, although it is a pity the new build is so close to the Living Our Faith campaign. People have given very generously, so it is difficult to ask for more. By the same token, however, there are many who have not given to either campaign. Maybe clear commitment from the PA would send a strong signal. St Finian’s has approached big companies for possible donations, but they tend to go lukewarm on discovering it is a faith school. Also how may St Finian’s parents best support their school? Asked whether Woolhampton parish might put the project on their parish council agenda, Fr Dermot replied that there would have to be a formal approach from the school’s governors. Could the Diocese be clearer about its support for the school, and maybe parishioners who have committed to St Finian’s could be excused from the Living Our Faith campaign? Maybe parishes could hold a sponsored event to raise money for the project? Building this new school is a tremendous project for the future of Catholic education, and JH asked that everyone think on it and liaise further with JF
5. PAPC Finance Meeting
The meeting with Stephen Morgan in December was most constructive, and one outcome is that the PA will arrange a finance meeting among the parishes to see if combining forces is an option. It was also suggested that the meeting consider whether PA invoices may be handled centrally
6. Pilgrimage to Stonor
The costs are prohibitively high, and so it was agreed that the St Francis de Sales outing to Littlemore, birthplace of Cardinal Newman, on 18 June be opened to the Area instead
7. Date of next meeting is Thursday 12 May, 7.45 pm, at St Francis de Sales, Wash Common
8. Closing Prayer |