9 July 2024, 7:30pm
Present: Mike Campbell (chair), Eva Kaltenthaler (minutes), Father Kevin, Maria Levesley, Sian Price, David Bellamy, Deacon Stephen Parker, Richard McQuinn, Stephen Spooner, Sam Caldwell, Mel de Maio (for part of the meeting).
Apologies: Richard Bushell, Lindsay Reynolds
Matters Arising
- Thom Flynn, who is the CAFOD photographer will be speaking at our Parish Day about CAFOD.
- It was suggested that the LiveSimply Campaign should be a standing agenda item going forward and all matters pertaining to the campaign could be discussed together.
- David B will report back on progress with training from St John’s Ambulance at the next meeting.
- Work is beginning soon on the repainting of ground floor window frames and the Lychgate. Mike will check on progress. Richard McQuinn said he had some equipment that Leo (the painter) could use and would contact Leo about this. If equipment needs to be purchased, the parish would reimburse.
Parish Mass Books
New books are needed for this Advent. The new Lexionary and Gospels have been paid for already from Parish funds (£825). There was some discussion of the purchase of new Mass books. There are a total of six books needed (two per year cycle). We currently have 200 books for each but this was felt to be too many as numbers of Mass attendees have decreased and many people don’t use them. It was decided that we should determine how many are needed before these are purchased.
Action: Mike to put a note in the Franciscan to about this. The reader after Mass could ask for a show of hands to see how many people used the books during the readings.
Parish Social Events
Mel discussed some options for social events to consider.
- Film night (Mike is interested in helping with this). Ideas for films include Into the Great Silence, Of Gods and Men and The :Letter.
- Nature walk in August (Sian is interested in helping with this).
- Shared vegetarian meal in January (Stephen Spooner is interested in helping with this).
- Summer BBQ
- Fish and Chips or Pizza night
- Harvest Supper
- Ceilidh or barn dance
- Burns night
Other ideas included
- Revamping the notice boards in the Narthex to make them more welcoming and inclusive.
- Creche area for small children. The screen at the back of the Church would be partially opened up and a small area set aside for children. This would be trialled in the autumn.
LiveSimply Campaign
The Covenant with the Poor was presented and approved by the Parish Council with the annual financial commitment to be 5% of the offertory collection. It was agreed that this would be presented at the AGM in October and charities chosen by the Parish at the meeting.
Action: Eva to update the Covenant with the Poor and share final version with the Parish.
There will be a Recycling Sunday every three months to recycle named items, such as old pens or ink cartridges. These will be advertised well in advance. These will be taken to the appropriate recycling point by a member of the Parish.
The Wildlife Garden has been planted and seeds are now sprouting.
Liturgy and Spirituality
2025 is the Year of the Jubilee. Stephen Parker said we need to start considering how we will approach this and what events should be planned. He will work with Lyndsay and the musicians on this and present some suggestions at the next meeting.
Youth Ministry
There was nothing to report currently.
Other matters
There have been some concerns about the noise level in church before Mass. It was suggested that after the musicians finish practice, one of the readers will make an announcement welcoming everyone, stating what Sunday it is and asking for silence before the start of Mass. There will be a note in the Franciscan about this.
Action: Mike to put a note in the Franciscan about silence before Mass.
There was discussion about the need for a card reader. There are various options available and these will be discussed at the next meeting.
Action: David to present card reader options at the next meeting.
Father Kevin had some concerns as the new velux windows are leaking. This was thought to be because they had not been closed properly. The roofing company will be called back to sort this out. The windows in the church will need to have a new system to open them remotely. This will cost £895.
There have been concerns raised in the Crosspool Forum about caress car parking and St Francis has been named as being partly responsible.
Action: Mike to put a note in the Franciscan asking that people take care when parking.
Top priority agenda item for the next meeting will be reformation of the Parish Finance Committee.
Mike read the closing prayer.
Date of next meeting 10 September 2024 at 7:30pm.