PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART – PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held on TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2023 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Fr Peter Raj, Richard McGreevy (St Helen, Chair), Margaret Burrows (Sacred Heart), Fran Ludden (St John of the Cross), Keith Copperwheat (St John of the Cross), Georgiana Rylands (St Helen), Bruce McKenna (St Helen), John Bolger (Parish Pastoral Assistant), (Antonia Martinez (Parish Administrator), Catherine Watkins (Secretary)
1. APOLOGIES: Shinto Devassy (Sacred Heart), Ann Gibbs (Sacred Heart), Clare Glenn (St John of the Cross)
Fr Peter opened the meeting with a prayer.
2. It was agreed to try and finish the meeting by 8.50pm.
3. WELCOMES were extended to new Council members; Margaret Burrows, representing the Sacred Heart church and Bruce McKenna, representing the church of St Helen.
4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING: on 5 September 2023 were amended to show John Bolger as being present and were then agreed and signed.
5. MATTERS ARISING: Shoebox Appeal. Fran reported that sixty boxes had been wrapped and filled at the church of St John of the Cross in November and sent off to Ukraine. Gifts had been donated by all three churches.
6. HEALTH AND SAFETY UPDATE
A volunteer to be the new Health & Safety rep at St John of the Cross had not been found yet. Fire drills have been carried out at St John of the Cross and at the Sacred Heart. FIRST AID: Four volunteers had been found from each church and an East Anglia Air Ambulance employee will give the necessary training on 8 January 2024 at Aylsham. DEFIBRILLATORS: Ithad been agreed that one was not required at the Sacred Heart because one was available at the Birchwood Surgery just across the road. St John of the Cross – Peter Adamson had spoken to the Methodist churchgoers and they are going to discuss it. The church of St Helen now has a defibrillator following a donation from a kind benefactor. COMMUNION UNDER BOTH KINDS: Fr Peter said that while Covid was still present in the community, he felt it would be wise to delay the re-introduction of Communion under both kinds.
Action – Richard, Keith to report further
7. SACRED HEART MEMORIAL GARDEN – ACCESSIBILITY
Cathy reported that it had been decided to delay this work in order to give precedence to the work needed after the quinquennial inspections of the Sacred Heart church, hall and presbytery.
8. PARISH CENSUS
Antonia reported that the Census forms have been printed and would be distributed in the three churches in the new year. Each church’s forms have been allocated a different colour.
Action – Fr Peter, Antonia
9. FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE MATTERS
Richard reported that David Hoy and Peter Brander were settling into their roles as Treasurers. The tree at St John of the Cross had been removed and woodworm-eaten chairs replaced. Peter Adamson had contacted the Diocese regarding the masonry window which needs repair. St Helen’s has crumbling concrete beneath some roof tiles. Following appeals at each of the three churches on behalf of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) there was confusion over the moneys received at the second collections. Richard said that he would investigate.
Action – Richard
10. PARISH SOCIAL COMMITTEE REPORT
The Committee met on 25 September to discuss plans for a summer fayre on 22 June 2024. Disappointment was expressed about the lack of participants from the church of St Helen. It would be good to see at least three representatives from each church at the next meeting on 22 January 2024.
Action – whole PPC
11. PARISH PRIEST’S REPORT TO THE PPC
Father Peter expressed his thanks to the Council for their work. He also expressed thanks to the organisers of the three Advent/Christmas carol services and to Ben White for his work in organising repairs in the parish hall. He reminded the Council members that the patronal feast mass at St John of the Cross would be on 14 December and would be advertised ion the parish newsletter. The novenas of the Sacred Heart were continuing. A Reconciliation Service with two visiting priests, would be held at the Sacred Heart church on 16 December between 12.00 and 1.00. Fr Peter repeated his request to be notified of sick parishioners who needed visiting. He said that he was willing to celebrate Mass in care homes.
12. PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
St John of the Cross. A Forum was held on 26 November. Peter Adamson was thanked for arranging the purchase of new church chairs. A new keypad for the church door had been purchased. The heater in the little chapel had been condemned and needed to be replaced. A support group would be formalised to visit the sick and those in care homes. It was also reported that a new SVP Conference would be formed at the church in 2024, membership open to all.
St Helen. A Forum was held on 2 September. The old mower had been repaired. There is a new shed for the new mower. The Philippino event was a great success and very well attended. The church sign was becoming very tatty and would need replacing soon.
Sacred Heart. Antonia was no longer a church representative (see below) but reported that it was wonderful to see the increased number of altar servers. Thanks expressed to Ken who, as MC, was undertaking their guidance and training.
13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a. PPC Constitution amendment. Antonia Martinez, who had previously attended the meetings as a church representative had come to the end of her term of office. However, she felt that as Parish Administrator, she would have a valuable contribution to make to the meetings. It was therefore proposed that an amendment be made to the Constitution of the Parish Pastoral Council, to the effect that the Parish Administrator be made a full member of the Council. The Motion was put to the members and carried unanimously.
b. Parish Hall. Cathy reported on progress of repairs to the parish hall. The Loss Adjustor had agreed all the repairs and Ben White was co-ordinating the various works to be carried out. Work would not be completed until the new year. A very generous parishioner who was a professional decorator had volunteered to donate his time to decorate the lobby and the toilets.
c. Key Register. The responses were trickling in. Fran pointed out that the parish also needed to know who had keys to the safes.
Action – Antonia
d. Parish Website. John announced that he was now entering church events on the website calendar. Antonia would publish the information in the newsletter.
Action – Antonia
14. DATES OF MEETINGS IN 2024
Tuesday 5 March, 7.15pm for 7.30 at the Church of St John of the Cross, Aylsham
Tuesday 4 June, 7.15pm for 7.30 at the Church of St Helen, Hoveton
Tuesday 3 September, 7.15pm for 7.30 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, North Walsham
Tuesday 10 December, 7.15pm for 7.30 at the Church of St John of the Cross, Aylsham
Fr Peter concluded the meeting with a prayer.
