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Post date: Nov 26, 2016 1:8:40 PM
St. John’s Record of Minutes for Meeting Held
Thursday 3rd November 2016 at St. John’s Hall at 7pm
Below is St. John’s RoM.
Please use/record/distribute to your parishioners.
Attendees:
Annitsford: Fr. Harriott, Gerry Killen, Jerry Laidler, Kathryn Maggs & Derek Harrison
Cramlington: Fr. Lee Barrett, Deacon Tony Turner, Deacon Rob Wareing & John Reid
(Apologies Graham Wilkins)
Blyth: Fr. Philip Quinn & Dot Fahey, Julie Gresgory & Cathy Patterson
New Hartley: Sr. Stephanie Hartas, Terri Ditchburn & Teresa Jackson
Item
1
Activity
Welcome and Introduction
Who
Chair
Notes
Time (mins)
<5
Welcoming everyone
Setting out the purpose and timing of the meeting
Timing - No more than 2 hours.
Purpose - To find common ground, resources and opportunities to share between all parishes including strengths and weaknesses (examples are on p4 of the ‘From Parish to Partnership’ document)
Notes & Actions:
For this meeting Jerry Laidler was asked to chair proceedings ACTION: It was agreed that all would take their own minutes
2
3
Prayer and Reflection
Observations and Parish Profile
Prayer Facilitator
Presenters from each parish
Using the ‘Partnership in the Gospel’ prayer taken from the proposal itself.
Presenting an overview of the Observations and Parish Profile documents – highlighting any strengths/weaknesses
<5
10 mins
Each parish
(<50)
Use any relevant information you may have/bring
Notes & Actions:
Each parish presented and discussed their ‘Observations and Parish Profile’ ACTION: Please see next section entitled ‘Partnership Parishes Strengths & Weakness’ ACTION: Tony Turner to send Kathryn Maggs further details/times/contacts of information Tony presented
4
5
What is this telling us?
Parishioners Input
Discussion Facilitator
All
Once we have an overview of the key points each parish wants to make discuss any common ground between us from the ‘two key documents’
Focusing and drawing out on our ‘Area Partnerships/common ground and Lay/Clergy Leadership’
Using the ‘From Parish to Partnership’ as a guide
After the discussion and with a view of looking at the proposal, we could possibly look at questions [1.3], [2.1], [2.2], [2.4], [3.3], [3.4] & [5] that lend themselves and have been put to parishioners.
<25
<25
Can we use any feedback provided thus far (if any) Can we try to answer these together at this meeting Are they in line with FTiH principles and our focus on our ‘Area Partnerships/common ground and Lay/Clergy Leadership’
Notes & Actions:
General discussion around what we had heard with a lot of good common ground to work from. ACTION: The general census was for that each parish writes a draft of their own responses to the proposal and circulate to ALL parishes (Please see item 7 below)
A number of suggestions were put forward with some feeling these could be done in parallel with the proposal: Increase communications between us Increase our outreach together Create a monthly newsletter between us (This is not a bulletin but a newsletter informing other parishioners of what we are doing and how we are doing it).
6
7
Consolidating and reflecting
Next steps
Prayer Facilitator
Chair
<5
<5
Taking the opportunity to reflect prayerfully on what has been discussed – possibly encouraging people to consider where they are personally in relation to this
Concluding with the Forward Together in Hope prayer
Agreeing the next steps Any items to carry forward Date of next meeting (weekly meeting perhaps?)
Notes & Actions:
ACTION: Next meeting agreed 15th November 2016 at 7pm at New Hartley. The purpose of the next meeting is to agree the content of and complete the Partnership Proposal.
ACTION: Prior to 15th Nov meeting each parish to draft their own responses to the proposal and circulate to ALL parishes. This will be chaired by Sr. Stephanie Hartas
Item 3: Partnership Parishes Strengths & Weaknesses
8
Thank you
Chair
Thanking people for their contributions
0 J
What We’re Good At …
Annitsford – Led by Jerry Laidler:
Well organised parish with effective leadership. Inclusive and proactive in nature allowing for a ‘light rein’ approach to leadership with encouragement for others to come forward and offer their skills/talents/ideas/suggestions. Very good links with diocese and deanery and promotes involvement beyond the parish walls. Attention given to planning – Planner produced at the beginning of each academic year and used as living, growing and flexible document.
Looking to the future engaging with young people and families – Parishioner spectrum runs from ‘young to not so young’ and are passionate about reaching out to families. Youth Council, Social actives, family masses -making memories & building communities.
Constantly looking for ways to further improve and outreach. Constantly seeking feedback and sharing good practice.
Good use of Social media different ways of communicating – newsletters, emails, ‘TheHub’
There are close and effective links between neighbouring communities. Making in-roads with other churches in Cramlington (eg: meetings had with Methodist, Church of England and Church of Nazarene) and looking at ways on how we can work closer together.
St. John’s fully supports helping poorer parishes and has financial helped deanery with projects (eg: Listening Service, evangelisation efforts etc) in addition to school initiatives (eg: finances bus to source for several months, secondary school chapel funded, Flame funded etc)
CAFOD - Deanery Coordinators and promoting connections local and across the world (eg: Brazil)
Church is a listed grade II building with lovely, well maintained grounds.
Blyth/Cowpen – Led by Dot Fahey:
Daily Mass with rosary prior to Mass + prayer (prayer once a month 2nd wed of month) + Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Daily?)
Minnie Vinnie’s
What We’re Not So Good At …
Spiritualty - Prayer Groups Marriage and Baptism Sacramental preparation and adult formation Could always do with more involvement with other faith communities, handicapped and care homes
Links with primary and secondary school Facilities not utilised to their full potential Hall is small and adequate for a small to medium number Parking is relatively poor but are in negotiations with Northumberland Council
IT (web/social media etc) Family outreach
Messy church – 2nd Saturday of the month SVP + Justice & Peace Ecumenical food bank Asylum seekers provided with tinned food/money? Weekly lunch club and coffee mornings RCIA Youth outreach/support person employed by the local school AA group URC uses church/day chapel for last 7+ years
Cramlington – Led by Deacon Tony Turner:
Church roof (at opposite ends) needs fixing No social space No adult formation (?) No youth profile (?)
Good leadership Two deacons and a priest Altar servers Children’s liturgy group with 9+ catechists SVP Prayer group Youth group The Source Youth club (9-18 year range) Food bank Good car parking Justice & Peace Confirmation Lent/Advent (Churches Together) Very good social group Very good links to school (The whole school attends Mass for feast days) Good outreach Corpus Christie Procession Prison outreach Tea timers Active PPC A leaflet has been/will be(?) produced to be sent out all households promoting some/all of the above activities.
New Hartley – Led by Teresa Jackson
Ageing congregation Few links with school Families/Youth
Good identity Proactive in planning for change Mass attendance has increased Good heating (?) Very welcoming Good facilities with upper rooms converted for parish/community use – A stair lift is installed
Playing field nearby but also have well maintained gardens attached to the church
No resident priest – Sr. Mary Paul is very good and Fr. Quinn fully appreciates & acknowledged that
Active leadership in many areas (catechists/eucharist’s) The ONLY church in the diocese with a pre-reformation altar (as stated by Fr. Harriott :)
Ecumenical with Delaval Churches Together Daughters of Charity who care for the street children in Mekelle, Ethiopia Peoples kitchen Very active social committee which will form stronger links with other catholic partners
Sound parish finances Fund raising for CAFOD/Christian Aid Their parishioners help with Messy Church at Blyth Provides food and clothes for The People's Kitchen, and the Refugee Centre both in Newcastle.
Associated with the Justice and Peace group in Blyth and our representatives are actively involved with 'Climate Change' initiatives.
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