FTiH – Minutes from St. John’s Parishioners Meeting– 19th July 2015
Post date: Jul 26, 2015 12:16:3 PM
Dear All,
Many thanks to those who were able to attend the FTiH meeting on Sunday (19th July 2015). Below is a summary of the captured viewpoints/comments of parishioners that attended.
If I have missed anything then please accept my sincere apologies and either contact me directly, or feel free to add your comments to one of the question forms.
The next meeting will be Sunday 2nd August and we hope that some of the other members of the PPC will be in attendance (commitments depending).
By the 2nd ALL twelve questions would have been published in the bulletin – though all are currently published on the website (which a number of people have reviewed and answered).
Also, it would be advantageous if we could have people – either parishioners or PPC – who are conversant on the topics/question that had been posed – Eg: Finance, leadership etc.
So if you have an “expertise” in one or any of the areas the questions focus on, please feel free to attend or offer your input.
#GodBless+ Forward Together In Hope +
Jerry Laidler on behalf of St. John’s PPC
(07801452372)
The following represent what was openly discussed in an environment of encouragement and openness.
We felt it vital that parishioners were able to say freely what they felt or saw as important during the constructive conversations that ensued.
Please remember that these are parishioner’s views and initial thoughts based on what they understand of their parish and are in no way meant to be read as negative but rather informative, open and honest.
Housebound Outreach - (Please also see Prayer + Adoration below):
Eucharistic ministers attend a number of the house bound. As a form of outreach and inclusion the following has been suggested:
Eucharistic ministers could inform the sick/housebound of the FTiH process and gain any feedback
It would be advantageous if Eucharistic ministers were known to the rest of the parishioners so that parishioners could approach them to suggest any person who they know are sick/housebound – this is in addition to informing any members of the PPC or Fr. Harriott directly.
Allow Eucharistic ministers to come up just before the end of mass so that the whole congregation can pray and be part of the out reach process
If acceptable to the sick/housebound person, allow parishioners to know which Eucharistic minister is visiting which sick/housebound parishioner so they can discreetly pass on their prayers, love and support
Allow parishioners to say prayers on behalf of that sick/housebound person
If applicable, allow family members to become Eucharistic ministers if they desire it – announce in the bulletin etc.
Prayer + Adoration:
Allow different forms of prayer sessions to take place – eg: 24 hrs, 1 hr exposition etc.
Provide themes for prayer such as FTiH, for the housebound etc.
Do additional rosary sessions for those who can’t make mornings – also allow a full hour for rosary prayer
Deacon and FTiH:
What is the role of deacons in respect to FTiH – do they have a special part to play
What is the diocese plan wrt deacons going forward during and beyond FTiH
What age is the cut off period for someone to be considered a deacon
ACTION Jerry - Jerry to contact our local deacons Rob Wareing + Tony Turner wrt to this as well as diocese FTiH team
NOTE: People understood what a deacon is and does but wanted clarity on the above.
Outreach Programmes:
If outreach programmes are indentified by parishioners, how best should they be ‘managed’ and ‘promoted’.
Would it be advisable to have them under the SVP banner
If not, could a separate committee be formed to canvass ideas, ask for volunteers and generally to get things started.
Suggestion from Jerry – This could be expanded into, and come under, the evangelisation efforts that St John’s performs – this would allow us to continue to increase our evangelisation efforts on a broader scale.
These efforts would also be in line with such initiatives as Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium (EG), the diocese FTiH & general evangelisation efforts, and the Bishop of England and Wales ‘Proclaim15 initiative – to name but a few. All of the above information wrt these initiatives and what St John’s tries to do is on St Johns parish website and social media of which a number of parishioners are active in using and promoting.
St John’s FTiH BBQ:
In addition to prayer + adoration, it was suggested that we could have a St. John’s FTiH BBQ.
This could be extended to all sister parishes (St. Pauls Cramlington etc) and beyond (St. Pauls Dudley)
Note: The CofE are also going though a similar process what they are calling “Reform and Renewal”
(checkout: https://www.churchofengland.org/reform-renewal.aspx)
Greeting People:
The current people do a great job and this is fully recognised.
It was noted that greeting strangers and other parishioners is the job for us all --- ‘no face is a stranger’
In order to capitalise and make best use on how we greet people, could consideration be given to provide support for our greeters in the form of:
Allowing them to focus solely on greeting people
Having a minimum of two greeters per mass
Fine tuning their skills to identify those who may not want to be greeted and those who do
Asking for volunteers who may wish to be a greeter
Making everyone aware that non-catholic’s are allowed to come to communion for a blessing if they so wish
Computer Lessons for Parishioners:
It was asked if St. Benet Biscop School would be kind enough to provide simple computer education for parishioners. Perhaps the school kids could help in some way and possibly use St. Benet’s school as they may already have facilities to accommodate this request.
ACTION Jerry – To contact the head teacher, Con Todd, and ask if this is possible.
St. John’s Presentation Published on our website:
The presentation used during the parish meetings is now published on our website – the url is below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3p7OrEnrKbsTXhLQkNYcVNjZEE/view?usp=sharing
We’re Green - we’ve got a bus J
St John’s has for many years put on a bus for those parishioners who can’t easily get to church – this is considered a good thing and should be promoted along with the fact it makes St John’s Green J
This also led to a request that since people need to get on the bus, they will miss these excellent and very informative meetings we are having ... cue action ...
ACTION Jerry – To get himself on the bus – which has a captured audience, so they can’t escape – and present to them St John’s FTiH presentation and to gain feedback
Comment from Jerry – OK, no problem – will do this in the next few weeks and will announce to give people a chance to make other travel arrangements J
I will need to know:
Where the bus starts and ends
Who the driver is so they are OK with me getting on the bus
I’ve never presented on a bus before so I will ad-lib
Do I have any volunteers to help me J