The first meeting of the Wellington & Wiveliscombe Parish Forum was held on 6th May 1998. Since then it has met four times a year, wherever possible, to fulfill its agreed mission statement and responsibilities, namely:
Mission Statement
To be a united and coordinated Roman Catholic Community, spreading the word of God through practical mission wheresoever we are.
Responsibilities
Helping the Parish to discern its mission by listening carefully to the needs of all its parishioners and those of the local community, and to work out a common vision and priorities together.
Encouraging the kind of open, trusting and caring relationships which are characteristic of genuine community.
Fostering a climate of acceptance, affirmation and encouragement in which people will be empowered to recognise their, and others', gifts for the good of the community and the glory of God.
Ensuring there are opportunities for people to grow in a faith that links with everyday life.
Working together to provide a communication structure within the Parish through which everyone can be involved in consultation and appropriate decision making.
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LAST
PARISH
FORUM MINUTES
(AGM. lower down.)
Present: Fr. Vincent, Monica Spalding (Facilitator), Peter Gaywood, Veronica Gaywood, Mary Ravnkilde, Anita Abrams, Geoff Gunn, Margaret Gunn, Mary Hutchings, Julia Tucker, Mark Yvon, Eileen Hewitt, Andrew Marsh, Alma Hamilton (minutes)
Apologies: William & Noreen White, Angela White, Jill Bryce, Trish Longley, Paddy Finnegan, Sue Marsh, Deirdre Roberts.
TOPIC for discussion: CHANGES TO THE LITURGY.
The Forum began with mass in church at 9.15 a.m. using the new rite, followed by tea & coffee in the Parish Room.
At 10.15, Monica Spalding (Facilitator) welcomed those present and outlined the programme for the morning. She encouraged a positive attitude to the changes; change in itself is often difficult. She explained that the process of revision had been under way for some years. The main aim was to bring the language closer to the words of the Latin mass in order to bring out a greater depth of meaning. Translation in itself is always difficult and, in this case, complicated by variations in spoken English in different parts of the world.
Part 1. Questions, comments and suggestions.
Use of the new books would encourage us to focus on the words.
It would be useful to have the number of the Eucharistic prayer on the board.
Most other European countries had revised the words of their liturgy.
Some phrases in the new form are closer to the first post-Vatican 2 translation
and more scriptural.
Fr Vincent commented that many of the ‘new’ Latinised words had a deeper
theological meaning than the ones we are used to.
Some European languages are closer to Latin, so their ‘new’ liturgies needed
less revision to bring them into line.
Punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence so must be noted.
We will need a short pause before the creed so that we can remember to begin
with ‘I believe’ rather than ‘we believe’ as at present.
Fr Vincent hoped that The Sign of Peace will be more restrained.
Music settings used at present don’t fit the new words. New settings will be
used. Some are circulating but not yet approved in England.
To end the lectionary readings, ‘the Word of the Lord’ seems abrupt, but is
more of a proclamation than ‘This is the Word of the Lord.’ It was noted
that this new ending takes us further away from forms of worship in other
churches.
How could we encourage more attentive listening to the scripture readings?
Possibly themes could be highlighted before the mass began.
Should the Church be putting so much time, effort and money into changing the
liturgy when there are more urgent social and global needs? Would the new
liturgy attract more people, especially the young? The laity were not consulted
about the process.
There were strong feelings about this.
Perhaps our soon-to-be-redundant mass books could be sent to developing
countries?
Was it right to be concentrating on verbal niceties rather than on the values of
the gospel?
Part 2. We divided into small groups to study different sections of the ‘new’ mass and then reported back to the whole group.
It was noted that:
The Penitential Act seemed to over-emphasise sin.
Was salvation for ‘all’ (as at present) or for ‘many’? If only for the
‘many’, who was being excluded? But ‘many’ was closer to the original
Latin.
Perhaps the offering of the gifts could be done in a more meaningful way, in
order to emphasise our offering of ourselves and our lives?
Silence is a valuable part of the mass – perhaps a respectful silence before
and after mass should be encouraged and also kept at certain points in the
liturgy, such as after the sermon and during the Bidding Prayers?
In conclusion, it was hoped that the new words and forms would help us to
grow in our understanding of the liturgy and to deepen our faith.
Monica thanked those present for coming to the Forum and for participating in
the discussions.
The Forum ended with the Angelus at 12.00 noon.
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Present: Fr. Vincent, Monica Spalding (Facilitator), Peter Gaywood, Veronica Gaywood, Mary Ravnkilde, Anita Abrams, Geoff Gunn, Margaret Gunn, Mary Hutchings, Julia Tucker, Mark Yvon, Eileen Hewitt, Andrew Marsh, Alma Hamilton (minutes)
Apologies: William & Noreen White, Angela White, Jill Bryce, Trish Longley, Paddy Finnegan, Sue Marsh, Deirdre Roberts.
TOPIC for discussion: CHANGES TO THE LITURGY.
The Forum began with mass in church at 9.15 a.m. using the new rite, followed by tea & coffee in the Parish Room.
Saturday June 12th 2010.
The meeting was held in St Richard’s, Wiveliscombe and began with mass at 9.15.
22
parishioners attended: Fr.
Bob, Pat Howard, Brenda Towler, Monica Spalding, Peter Gaywood, Adrian
Kellett,
7 apologies:
Paddy
Finnegan, Julia Tucker, Jill Bryce, Noreen & William White, Anna
O’Donoghue, Mark Yvon.
The parish welcomed as speakers two of
our Diocesan deacons, Deacon
Deacon Ken outlined the history of the diaconate from biblical times. Deacons had to be of good character, sober and good family men. At first they were used for practical tasks such as collecting relief for the poor, distributing the consecrated bread and teaching the catechumens (people under instruction to join the Christian churches.). Their role developed as Christianity grew. It was a servant ministry, carrying out the wishes of the episcopai (bishops) often as adminisrators or representatives. Under persecution, many were martyred.
By the Middle Ages their role had
declined as the role of priests grew in importance.
In
After the coffee break, Deacon Vincent explained how men are selected
and trained for the diaconate. They have to be 30+ if single or 35+ if married
but with no small children under 5. People
who are ambitious to be deacons are not usually right for the job;
those who see the need to go through some period of discernment may be
better. Unlike priests in training,
they have to be financially self-supporting. Again, unlike priests, once
ordained and appointed to a parish, they cannot be moved, in recognition of
their family commitments.
Their role in any parish varies according to local
needs, a mixture of liturgical, pastoral and administrative duties.
Deacons can administer the sacraments of baptism and marriage, conduct
funerals, distribute communion and take communion to the sick, conduct marriage
preparation but not
preside at the eucharist, absolve or anoint. Some of these roles now
overlap what the laity can do by virtue of their baptism.
Because of the declining numbers of priests in
Questions followed on the role of women,
priestly celibacy, pastoral assistants and clergy wives.
There followed a short session on the ‘who-does-what’ document
–‘Parish Provision Document 3’ - initiated
by the Parish Pastoral Council – which explores how the parish will function
when we have no resident parish priest. This
is the 3rd part of a year-long process to take forward the ideas,
questions and comments of parishioners at the Parish Meeting in June 2009.
The next step, under way by the P.P.C., will be a skills survey to invite
parishioners to commit their talents, time and energy to ensure the smooth and
effective running of the parish in the future.
The meeting ended at 12 noon with the
Angelus.
draft
Parish
Annual Meeting held in the Parish Room on
March 6th
2010.
Mass was celebrated in church at 10.00 am.
Minutes
Present:
Fr. Bob, Monica Spalding (Chair), Mary Ravnkilde, Pat Leigh,
Margaret Gunn, Geoff Gunn, Justine Macfarlane, Eileen Hewitt, Julia Tucker,
Trish Longley, Mary Hutchings, Jim Hawkins, Janet Lee, Mark Yvon, Deirdre
Roberts, Steven Tapsfield, Jackie Tapsfield, Peter Gaywood, Alma Hamilton, Sue
Marsh, Andrew Marsh, Rachel Parvin.
1.
Fr Bob opened the meeting with a biblical prayer.
2.
Apologies:
3.
Minutes of the
2009 A.G.M. were approved.
4.
Matters Arising:
4:3 Outreach The
presentation ‘What the Papers Say’ was crowded out by other parish events
but may take place later. 6:
Treasurer’s Report Boxes
for church flower donations will put in place.
Action: Monica& Mark
7:
Parish Projects. It was agreed
that there should be more feed back from the people proposing the accepted
projects. Projects to be called ‘Parish Charitable Projects.’
8: Question Boxes A
food collection at harvest time will considered by the P.P.C. later this year.
Action: PPC
5: Ramp
at St Richard’s. Mark will check
with Pearl Wilson’s son whether the church can still have use of the ramp.
Action:
Mark
5.
Treasurer’s
Report & Accounts for 2009; Budget for 2010.
These were prepared by James Corry (Treasurer), presented by Jim
Hawkins’ in James’ absence.
Summary:
The main source of income is the offertory collections.
This year’s giving (2009) was down by 4% to £22,000.
2nd collections rose to £6,804 compared with £5,606.
The new Diocesan contract for gas and electricity should reduce costs.
The Finance Group is considering the likely impact on parish finances of
Fr Bob’s leaving in September. Some
of the recent legacy money has been spent on the Parish Room carpet and
book trolley (St John Fisher’s) and a loop system (St Richard’s).
A
detailed budget sheet is available in both churches.
6.
Questions
on the finances.
In
response to questions it was noted that:1. the increase in the parish deficit
causes concern and needs to be tackled, possibly by attracting new parishioners
through distributing ‘Welcome’ leaflets in new areas of the town, by
suggesting more people set up Standing Orders for their offertory gifts and
encouraging conscientious use of the envelopes.
Action:
PPC & F&GP
2. The
presbytery would not be available for rent because the new deacon will be living
there, probably part time. 3.
The deacon’s salary will be paid for by the Diocese but running costs,
by the Parish. 4.
The high cost of supply priests was noted; this is under review.
Action:
F&GP
5.
The changes to the mass timetable have had some financial impact through
a number of parishioners attending mass elsewhere.
6. Votive candles are paid from the Sacristy budget.
7. Publications always show a
deficit because papers, magazines and C.T.S. booklets sell slowly.
James
was to be thanked for preparing the Treasurer’s Report and Accounts.
Proposed by Geoff Gunn, seconded by Mary Hutchings.
7. Reports from parish
groups.
a.
Youth. The
Kingfishers’ Group has suddenly declined, which is disappointing.
This may be due to more participation in Sunday sport or to changes in
the mass timetable. Latecomers to
church need to be encouraged to take their children into the Children’s
Liturgy. Perhaps sacramental
programmes start too young so that 9-11 year olds have become disaffected.
Action: PPC
b.
Liturgy. The Advent
penitential service was poorly attended; perhaps it was too early in the season.
A Lent Penitential Service is planned for Tuesday March 30th
at 7.30 pm in St John Fisher’s. Lent
provision also includes weekly Holy Hours, Tuesday Cake & CAfé Evenings,
Stations of the Cross on Fridays in both churches and the Lent study programme
on Thursday afternoons (this year with ecumenical invitation from our Bible
Study Group.). Exposition can be
arranged at St John Fisher church on Saturdays during confessions if one or two
people can commit themselves to be present from 10.30 – 11.30 am.
c.
Ecumenical. A successful
Women’s World Day of Prayer had just been held; the speaker (in
Questions
(from those who intend to be present) to be submitted in advance in writing. (Details
of this later)
d.
R.C.I.A. One
candidate is being prepared for reception into the church at Easter.
She attended the Rite of Election service at Clifton Cathedral.
e.
St Richard’s Liason Group has
met. It includes Fr Bob, 2 P.P.C.
members and other members of the Wiveliscombe congregation. It will plan local
fund-raising events, look after the church buildings and liase with the P.P.C.
Communications between the 2 churches will have to be revised when the
churches are being served each Sunday by different priests.
f.
Fair Trade. Goods are
collected from
Rachel
was thanked for her hard work in organising the Fair Trade sales.
Additional.
More flower arrangers are needed.
Action:
Monica
8.
Parish Projects for 2010
Presentations were given on
three charities and it was agreed that these would be our Parish Charitable
Projects for the coming year:
·
Voluntary
Service in
·
Fr. Pedro
training missionaries in
·
·
CaFOD is
also on going.
9.
Questions from the boxes.
None submitted.
10.
Future Events. NB the current Parish Diary, is available in the porch.
Everyone should have one.
i.
Café and Cake evenings. Last one
on Tuesday March 9th, 7.30 pm in the Parish Room.
The organisers were thanked.
ii.
Parish Forum: Saturday June 12th.
The Work of a Parish Deacon. Permanent
Deacons Ken Fowler & Vincent Woods.
iii.
Lent Penitential Service.
See 8b above.
iv.
Isidore Obi’s ordination to the
diaconate in
v.
Holy Hours in Lent on Wednesdays
at 7.30 pm in St John Fisher’s.
vi.
Lent course: Love for the Future,
continuing each Thursday in Lent.(but not in Holy Week.) 2.30
–4.00pm in the Parish Room.
11.
Fr Bob’s address to the Parish.
Fr Bob reminded us that this would be his last address to the parish
before retiring in September. He
outlined his own plans for the future.
He thanked Monica Spalding for taking over the Chairmanship of the P.P.C
after the death of David Hamilton, and also thanked all the active people
of the parish for their commitment to building up the local church community.
Old embattled attitudes must be shed. The
church must be open and welcoming.
12.
A.O.B.
i.
Anna O’Donohue and the Parish
Magazine Group have decided to produce only 2 copies of the Parish Magazine
instead of 3 as at present. New
editions will be on sale in June and early Advent.
Action:
Parish Magazine Group.
ii.
Monica noted that the PPC will
revise the format of the Parish Forum in response to comments from parishioners.
Action: PPC
13. Date of the next A.G.M. meeting. Saturday March 5th 2011.
The meeting ended at 12.15 with the Angelus.
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