PPC Minutes 10th October 2017

PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART – PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on TUESDAY 10^th OCTOBER 2017

PRESENT: Father James Walsh, John Bolger, Carol Shippey, Robert Hardie, Becky Walker, Michael Haughton, Elaine Haughton, Secretary Clare Hardie

1. APOLOGIES: Deacon Ron O’Toole, Frances Dickerson, Adrian Rudman, Chris Falla

Absent – Frances Green

Fr. James began the meeting with a prayer.

2. It was agreed to try and finish the meeting by 8.45 p.m.

 MINUTES OF THE MEETING of the 11^th July 2017 were approved.

 

4. MATTERS ARISING

‘Cool Catholic Kids’ – Children’s Masses are being held each month at Sacred Heart. Several children had attended a very enjoyable Summer Camp that was moved from Eccles Hall to the Horstead Centre. Ginny had organised a summer barbeque at her home, which was well attended. Prayer cards have been printed and distributed to parishioners to encourage them to pray for the ‘Cool Catholic Kids’

A discussion ensued as to how we could disseminate information about our Churches to all the families with young children moving into the many new homes being built in our three areas. Churches Together in Aylsham had produced a card with details of all the local churches, which was to be made available in the show homes on the new estates. We need to find out if this leaflet is still in circulation. Fr. Denys in Sheringham has received funding to produce a leaflet about the Catholic Church in Sheringham and Cromer. (Added after meeting – this funding was a grant from the New Evangelization Commission). Fr. James felt that any leaflet should be of an Ecumenical nature and needed to be discussed at local Forums and Fraternals. Another suggestion was an ecumenical article to be submitted to the local free magazines like The Bridge and Just Aylsham and Just North Walsham

Action – Parish Forums & Fr. James

Safety of Clergy and Parishioners in our Churches – Michael Haughton was appointed ‘safety officer’ for St. Helen’s and he has contacted their local Police Officer, Laura who suggested putting up notices warning of CCTV surveillance in the first instance, she said this usually acted as a deterrent. She advised that in any sign of trouble the first port of call should always be to dial 999. A safety policy will be prepared. Another St. Helen’s parishioner is a retired fireman and he will be asked for advice re fire safety in the church. St. John of the Cross and Sacred Heart communities still need to appoint safety officers.

Action – Parish Forums

Refugees in Norfolk – There has still been no update from Gervais Kouloungou re the situation of refugees settling into Norfolk. Rob and Adrian with help from the North Norfolk SVP are investigating ways to support Seeking Sanctuary who are helping to provide bedding clothing for the migrants in Calais and the surrounding areas.   This may involve collecting necessary items and transporting them to Dover or organising a collection.

Action – Adrian and Rob

New Evangelisation – Apart from the pages in the Diocesan Newspaper there is little guidance forthcoming from the Diocese. Rob had received advance notice of an event to be held in Newmarket on the 13^th January 2018 entitled ‘Creating Missionary Parishes’. Fr. James thought he would like to attend and would like to take at least one parishioner from each community with him. Further information is due to be sent our shortly. Rob apologised in advance for not being able to attend, as he will be away in January

Action – New Evangelisation Commission and Fr. James

Catechetical Certificate Training – Fr. James said Ginny Keane was going to undertake this training. Only one candidate was possible from each parish as the cost was in the region of £700.

New PPC Representatives – Adrian had written to say that he now felt with all his other commitments that he would not be able to serve a further term on the PPC. Ginny Keane will stand for St. John of the Cross and St. Helen’s have a couple of candidates to consider. Sacred Heart will now need to select a new representative. Rob thanked Michael Haughton (and Chris Falla and Adrian Rudman in their absence) for their participation on the PPC.

Action – Parish Forums

5.  LIVE SIMPLY AWARD UPDATE

The Parish has been undertaking the Livesimply challenge for a year now so each community was asked to decide what type of tree they would like to plant to commemorate the first anniversary. St. Helen’s will plant a Mountain Ash (Rowan), St John of the Cross an apple tree and Sacred Heart another fruit tree to be decided. We hope that parishioners will take part in ‘The Reverse Advent Calendar’ for the Norwich and Cromer Food Banks again this November. There will also be CAFOD World Gift catalogues available in November for Christmas Gifts. Fr. James had held a Creation Liturgy at the beginning of September to celebrate the month of Care for Creation. In October the Pchum Ben Mass had been celebrated at Sacred Heart with about 100 people present and 10 priests concelebrating, representing all the Parishes of the Diocese that are twinned with Cambodian parishes. A Cambodian priest Fr. Peter Sok Na from Phnom Penh was the main celebrant and Fr. James will invite Fr. Peter to visit our Parish one weekend as he is staying in Bury St. Edmunds for several months. Rob explained that Diss Parish has now gained their Live Simply Award and have now decided to have a week of activities around Living Simply each year to keep parishioners on board.  Wednesday 22^nd November is Aid to the Church in Need’s ‘Red Wednesday’ when people are asked to wear red clothing in support of persecuted Christians all around the world. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist will be illuminated in red light that day. Fr. James will be away but suggested we speak to Deacon Ron and arrange a Liturgy of the Word and possibly a Rosary at St. Helen’s in support of ‘Red Wednesday.”

Action – Live Simply Steering Group

6. REFORMATION COMMEMORATION

John Bolger presented the following papers to the PPC, which were then discussed with John enlarging on several of the points.

Lutheran-Catholic Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017

Extracts from the report (From Conflict to Communion) produced by the official dialogue which was set up in 1967 by The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Lutheran World Federation. See Vatican website.

On the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth in 1983, the international dialogue between Roman Catholics and Lutherans jointly affirmed a number of Luther’s essential concerns. The Commission’s report designated him ‘Witness to Jesus Christ’ and declared, ‘Christians, whether Protestant or Catholic, cannot disregard the person and the message of this man.’ [2]

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, signed by both the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church in 1999 … affirmed a consensus in the basic truths of the doctrine of justification between Lutherans and Catholics. [25]

The Second Vatican Council … dealt with such themes as esteem and reverence for the Holy Scripture in the life of the church, the rediscovery of the common priesthood of all the baptized, the need for continual purification and reform of the church, the understanding of church office as service, and the importance of the freedom and responsibility of human beings, including the recognition of religious freedom. [26]

Pope Benedict also recognized the ways in which the person and theology of Martin Luther pose a spiritual and theological challenge to Catholic theology today. “How do I find a gracious God? – this question struck Martin Luther in the heart and lay at the foundation of all his theological searching and inner struggle. For him, theology was no mere academic pursuit, but the struggle for oneself, which in turn was a struggle for and with God.”[30]

The 95 Theses

Introduction. Out of love for the truth and from desire to clarify it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

81. This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult even for learned men to rescue the reverence which is due the pope from slander or from the shrewd questions of the laity.
82. To repress these very sharp arguments of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies and to make Christians unhappy.
83. If, therefore, indulgences were preached according to the spirit and intention of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved. Indeed, they would not exist.

Sermon of Pope Francis in Lund Lutheran Cathedral, October 2016

The spiritual experience of Martin Luther challenges us to remember that apart from God we can do nothing. ‘How can I get a propitious God?’ This is the question that haunted Luther. In effect, the question of a just relationship with God is the decisive question for our lives. As we know, Luther encountered that propitious God in the Good News of Jesus, incarnate, dead and risen. With the concept ‘by grace alone’, he reminds us that God always takes the initiative, prior to any human response, even as he seeks to awaken that response. The doctrine of justification thus expresses the essence of human existence before God.

Fr. James thanked John for these extremely helpful extracts particularly as he, Fr. James, had been asked to give an address at St. Nicholas, North Walsham as part of their commemoration service on Sunday 29^th October. He would now be able to have a more positive attitude to the Reformation in his address, having done some further reading on the subject. Fr. James had also received an invitation from Aylsham to take part in their commemorations and had asked the Forum to decide the best way to proceed and whether the community wanted to take part. He knew that the service would be taking place in St. Michael’s but has had no further communication about the event so has written to find out further details. Elaine said there did not appear to be any commemorations taking place in Hoveton and they had all felt somewhat ‘out of the loop’ as far as being included in events in Aylsham and North Walsham.

7. NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

There is to be a National Eucharistic Congress in Liverpool next September 2018 and information should be disseminated to us from the Diocese. Each Parish will be asked to nominate two representatives to attend.

 8.  DIOCESAN EVENTS

There was a discussion about how parishioners were to find out about national and diocesan events as we seemed to be missing information about some quite major events which had happened recently for example the Relics of the Fatima Saints coming to Walsingham and the Cathedral, the recent relaunch of the Walsingham Novena and the Our Lady of Penefrancia Celebration which had taken place at St. Helen’s last weekend. Fr. James said he should be notified via the Ad Clerum emails but had been unable to open these emails recently as passwords had been changed. Elaine Haughton agreed to compile a monthly list of all events happening in the Diocese and the Parish if people would supply her with the information by the middle of the preceding month. Clare will ask Antonia to put a note to this effect in the Bulletin. Most of the information is available on the Diocesan website and Diocesan news but all felt a monthly list included in the newsletter would be a good way forward.

9. PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILLORS REPORTS

St. Helens – Security, Fire Safety and Tree planting see above. Notice boards need to be kept up to date and the Rylands are to be approached to take this on with Nick’s support. Safeguarding was discussed and whether one person across the Parish would be a way forward. Fr. James explained that Rebecca Bretherton had asked specifically for each community to have their own responsible person. Finance and property – Francis said the balance in the communities account was £4487 with a further £67 from The First Wednesday Club who were in a position to increase their donations to the different charities they supported. The organ was awaiting the technician to commence the repairs as they now had the necessary funding with the £2000 from Alive in Faith and the Parish making up the shortfall. The external part of the building had been painted and re-stained and the painters would be returning to paint the fence. The big gates are in need of some attention and Nick Walmsley will restore the church signs in the front garden. The cross on the front of the church also needs attention in the near future but this will require scaffolding or a cherry picker.

St. John of the Cross – The Aylsham Development fund had agreed to purchase an apple tree and the gardener has been consulted as to the best place to plant the tree as there is very little available space in the church grounds. Pending clarification of the Alive in Faith funding there is £6777 in the account, which includes the general reserve for outstanding work e.g. two windows in need of repair. Harvest Mass had been celebrated on 8^th October and the Harvest Supper is on Saturday 14^th October. A ‘bring and share’ meal, with donations for CAFOD. The Parish Advent Service will be at St. John’s on Sunday 3^rd December. A Cambodian Style Mass on Friday 1st December and to celebrate the Feast of St. John of the Cross a Cheese and Wine on the 14^th December at Rob and Clare’s with Mass for Patronal Feast Day on Friday 15^th December at 9.30. There was a Safeguarding meeting at Newmarket on 7^th October. Fran Ludden has volunteered to take on this role next year and Carole Shippey said Sara Mawe would do the online training and take on the role until then. Fran agreed to take on the responsibility for keeping the notice boards up to date. The next St. Michael’s Care Home Service is on Tuesday 28^th November. Next meeting is the 19^th November.

Sacred Heart – There will be a Mass with Anointing on Monday 16^th October to be followed by lunch provided by the Senior Citizens. There is also a Bring and Buy Cake Stall and Gift Stall for World Homelessness Day after Mass on Sunday 15^th October with the money going to The Connection at St. Martins in the Fields and the ARK Centre run by the Salvation Army in Norwich. The church redecoration is now complete and Rob asked Fr. James about the position of the statue of the Sacred Heart in the Narthex. Fr. James explained he had thought long and hard where to place the statue, which is actually out of proportion with the size of the church, and he really thought it was now in the best possible place.

10. A.O.B.

There was no other business to discuss

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 23^rd January at 19.30 at Sacred Heart, North Walsham

Fr. James then concluded the meeting with a prayer.