In Moira's absence the meeting was chaired by Tom Halloran. Tom welcomed all in attendance and in particular Bev Purnell who representing the Refugee Resettlement Committee will report on the Committee's activities.

Present: Fr. John Bosman, Marian England, Thomas Halloran, Sharon Loiterton,
Kevin McMahon, Meg Millband, Peter Polkinghorne, Matthew Toohey,
Sabina Van Rooy.

Apologies: Josette Allester, Michael Bannon, Toni Cox, Sally Cox, Helen Currie, John Drury Mike Kiley, Stephen Kiley, Moira Sutch.

Prayer was led by Tom Halloran.

Next meeting: Moira Sutch

Bev Purnell who is the Community Liaison Officer for the Refugee Resettlement Committee reported to the council the current situation and obstacles facing the RRC.

Bev informed the Council that the Refugee Resettlement Committee has a page on the parish web site and encouraged members of the Council to access it and familiarise themselves with what the RRC does. The link for their page is as follows: http://www.stjohnkippax.org.au/pastoral/refugee.htm

Bev reported that over the years the committee has had to adapt to the various changes in policy of both Government and Community organisations. He said that potential refugee clients may be referred to them by their current clients, women refuges and providers of emergency accommodation, such as the YWCA, as well as local settlement agencies including Companion House, Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services, and the St Vincent de Paul Society. One of the significant changes in recent times is that CatholicCare no longer refers clients to them. The RRC also liaises with the ACT and Federal Government Departments and Agencies including Centrelink and Medicare. Some of these organisations provide information, training and support for the volunteers.

Bev further reported that the RRC has a crisis with regard to membership and urged Council members to think about someone they may know who would have the gifts and talents for working with Refugees. The Annual General Meeting will be held in July and the Committee has asked for our support in both prayers and action.

•  Acceptance of Minutes

Minutes were accepted by Sabina Van Rooy and Peter Polkinghorne with the following changes:

1 . Item 2 include John Bosman as present at the meeting.

2 . Item 8 (4) change date from Friday 10 June to Friday 11 June.

3 . Item 10 (a) insert the words body of the in front of the word church to read: There was a healthy discussion on the merits of displaying the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island, and Australian flags in the body of the church.

•  Business arising from minutes

1. Opening spiel at mass

Matthew presented a proposed Commentary Sheet for discussion and consideration…..
[refer Attachment A]
It was proposed that at the beginning of the commentary we would insert the words “On behalf of the parish”.

There was a lengthy discussion on the merits of having a Commentator at each mass. No definitive decision was made on this role.

A decision on the final format of this opening statement was held over until the July meeting.

2. Flag Proposal

As only half the Council members were present at this meeting the discussion on this proposal was held over until next months meeting. A couple of points have been noted:

•  The proposal is for flags to be displayed in the body of the church not a plaque placed at some other part of the building.

•  The Council agreed to display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Flags in the body of the church for NAIDOC week which commences Sunday 4 July. Sabina will locate the flags for us.

3. Money Appeals

In responding to a request for 2 appeals for the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop we have listed the money appeals for 2010 as follows noting that there is at least one appeal a month:

•  Out Nil

In Nil

“God of Surprises” Chapter 2. “Clearing the Approaches ”. A short discussion was held on this chapter. Next month chapter 3 “Inner chaos and false images of God”.

1. Adult Education. The next Heart to Heart session will be held on Tuesday 15 June, the topic being discussed will be on the letter by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Seeing The Faces, Hearing The Voices: A Pentecost Letter On Sexual Abuse Of The Young In The Catholic Church.

As Michael Fallon is commencing a series of six lectures on “The Gospel of Luke” commencing 22 June, the Heart to Heart discussion group will take a break during that time.

1. Finance Council

Refer Attachment B

1. Parish School of Religion

Refer Attachment B

1. Parish Sacramental Team

Refer Attachment B

1. Social Justice Committee

Refer Attachment B

1. Refugee Resettlement Committee

Refer Attachment B

Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass - Friday 11 June

Nothing new to report.

1. International Food Day – Sunday 22 August
   Still being developed
2. Changes to Mass times

The sub group of the Council who is looking at the issues of preparing the Parish for change with the first practical change being reducing the number of masses from four to three will survey parishioners during the month of July.

There was a suggestion that instead of only looking at amalgamating the two Sunday morning masses it may be beneficial to look also at the Vigil mass. With every parish in the Belconnen Region offering a 6:00pm Vigil mass it may make more sense to drop this mass. This would have benefits for the priests as a free Saturday afternoon would afford more opportunity for relaxation.

The sub-group will present a new survey to the Council at the July meeting.

a. Solar Panels

As a result of the public meeting held on the 26 May the Parish Finance Council has decided it would apply to purchase a 6kW solar panel system . This will generate approximately $4000.00 of income per year.

•  MSC Chapter

Every six years the MSC hold their Chapter meeting. One of the purposes of this meeting is to elect a new Provincial for a further six years. The Chapter will be held from 27 September to 5 October. The weekend of 2/3 October there will be no priests available to celebrate mass. That weekend the Parish will celebrate Liturgies of the Word with Communion. The Liturgy Committee has already been informed of this.

•  Fr. Michael's Farewell

On the 29 June 2011 Fr Michael will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. We will combine this celebration with an official farewell from St John's. As that is still 12 months away there will be a leaving collection at all masses on 27 June 2010 as a thank you gift to Michael.

Meeting closed with final prayers at 10:00pm.

Next meeting 8 July 2010.

Moira Sutch welcomed all in attendance and thanked everyone for the meal just shared.

Present: Toni Cox, Sally Cox, Helen Currie, John Drury, Marian England, Thomas Halloran,
Mike Kiley, Stephen Kiley, Sharon Loiterton, Kevin McMahon, Peter Polkinghorne, Moira Sutch, Matthew Toohey, Sabina Van Rooy.

Apologies: Josette Allester, Michael Bannon, Michael Fallon, Meg Millband,

Prayer was led by Sharon Loiterton.

Next meeting: Tom Halloran

•  Acceptance of Minutes

Minutes were accepted with no changes by Sabina Van Rooy and Kevin McMahon.

•  Business arising from minutes

1. Opening spiel at mass

Matthew will prepare a statement for the June Council meeting.

2. Parish Groups addressing the Council

Marian reported that the Refugee Resettlement Committee was the only group who is interested in addressing the Council. Marie McKie Chair of the RRC will arrange the date for later in the year. The St Vincent de Paul Conference did not feel the need at this time.

•  Out Nil

•  In 1. Di Bruce - Chair of the Liturgy Committee in regards to:-

• i. The microphones and sound system in the church.

• ii. Issues related to having only one Priest ministering in the parish.

2. Judy Kenny copy of letter was emailed to all PPC members.

In response to this letter a small group has been formed to look at areas of parish life that need to be reconfigured in view that the signs of the times are indicating that this parish will only be ministered to by one priest.

This group is: Fr John Bosman, Matthew Toohey, Moria Sutch, Helen Currie, Sabina Van Rooy, and Marian England. Marian will ring Judy Kenny and Wenda Blackwell and invite them to join the group.

“God of Surprises” [ Chapter 2. “Clearing the Approaches ”] because of the dinner this
discussion was held over until the June meeting.

1. Adult Education. Tom reported that the topic on the Eucharist was well attended and received. The next discussion is an article written by Michael Trainor which was featured in a past COMPASS magazine titled “Towards a Parish Spirituality of the Word of God”.

Compass is at http://www.compassreview.org/

Tom was asked about the discussion on “Reforming the Liturgy” which is the first topic Heart to Heart discussed this year and what the implications were for the changes to the missal. Tom said that he would forward the URL's so that Council members could access sites that were detailing the changes.

Texts from new translations of the Missal
http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/index.shtml
http://whatifwejustsaidwait.org/   
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2010/02/celebrant-propers-in-new-translation.html

1. Footprints

Attached

1. Liturgy Committee.

The Liturgy Committee has been meeting to plan the liturgies for Pentecost. After Pentecost things will be a little quieter as we move into Ordinary Time. The Committee would like the parish to give consideration to the following:

Have the sound system checked

Have a sound technician come and educate the parish on the use of microphones.

Look at the number and times of week-end masses in the Belconnen area with a view to cutting one mass and eliminating duplication of mass times.

1. Social Life of the Parish Toni reported that the welcome Pot Luck dinner for Father John was well attended and was a great night. An observation was made that there were a lot of older women attended the night on their own so the need for social interaction in the parish may be greater then realised.

A yearly calendar featuring all the social events is in the church foyer.

5. Belconnen/Gungahlin Regional Pastoral Council

Sabina reported that the BGRPC in celebrating the Year of the Priest hosted a lunch at St Francis Xavier College for the priests Belconnen and Gungahlin district. Ten Priests and ten lay people attended. Every priest received a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the people of Belconnen and Gungahlin. Sabina and Moira expressed their appreciation to Sue Sturgiss Acting Principal of St Francis Xavier College and Jen Madgwick School Secretary for the amazing lunch and their hospitality. The next meeting of the BGRPC will be held at St John the Apostle parish on 27 May 2010.

Refer to Attachment A for the list of identified projects for 2010

a. Parenting Support Initiative.

b. Parish Prayer Groups

As a. & b. above are long term projects and there being nothing new to report any discussion was held over to future meetings.

•  Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass - Friday 11 June

The Liturgy Committee will organise the liturgy for the mass. Toni reported that she had been speaking to Joan Breen who is happy for the Youth to do the music at the mass. Following the mass there will be a supper and then the St John's Got Talent.

•  International Food Day – Sunday 22 August

Toni reported that she had been in contact with the Catholic Women's Leagues and Coffee Club and they will do a Devonshire Tea stall. The Youth will do a BBQ. More details to follow.

•  Flag Proposal

There was a healthy discussion on the merits of displaying the Aboriginal, Torres Strait island, and Australian flags in the church.

Some of the issues raised were:

•  Display of the flags could be seen as a political statement [i.e. separation of church and state]

•  We are a multicultural society how do we recognise all the other nationalities who are represented in our parish.

•  The gesture may be interpreted ambiguously.

•  What is the message we wish to convey?

•  Ascetically the interior of the church was designed to be minimalist; we need to monitor careful the additions to the interior.

•  Other churches acknowledge the traditional owners with a plaque.

A suggestion was made that perhaps the flag could be displayed on Sorry Day and during NAIDOC week.

•  Money appeals for 2010

The parish had received correspondence during the week from the Josephite order asking us to do to appeals for the Canonization of Mary MacKillop. Marian will do up a schedule of all the appeals for this year so that we can determine what appeals we will do keeping in mind that we try to limit them to one per month.

•  Public meeting 26 May Solar Panels

A flyer will be attached to Compact the week-end of 15/16 May giving detailed information on this meeting.

•  Open Letter from Hans Küng to the Bishops

This article had been circulated to members of the Parish Pastoral Council on the 30 April for their opinion on making it available to the wider parish community. The meeting agreed to make it available on the table in the foyer without promoting it and if people were interested they could take a copy.

Meeting closed with final prayers at 10:00pm.  

Next meeting 10 June 2010.

Moira Sutch welcomed all in attendance.

Present: Toni Cox, Sally Cox, John Drury, Marian England, Thomas Halloran,
Mike Kiley, Kevin McMahon, Meg Millband, Moira Sutch, Matthew Toohey,
Sabina Van Rooy.

Apologies: Michael Bannon, Michael Fallon, Stephen Kiley, Sharon Loiterton,
Peter Polkinghorne, Josette Allester, Helen Currie.

A Scripture reading and reflection on Easter was led by Sabina Van Rooy.

Next meeting: Sharon Loiterton

•  Acceptance of Minutes

Minutes were accepted with no changes by John Drury and Sabina Van Rooy.

•  Business arising from minutes

1. Opening spiel at mass

There was a lengthy discussion on the content of the welcoming statement at the beginning of mass. There was a suggestion that the acknowledgement of the first inhabitants of the land would happen only once a month and the opening spiel would also include current events happening in our world. It was pointed out that it becomes an administrative issue with a spiel that changes each week and someone would need to be responsible for the changes. No definitive decision has been made on the content of the welcome.

2. Parish Groups addressing the Council

Marian will contact the following groups inviting them to address the Council bringing the Council up to date on their activities.
St Vincent de Paul Society, Refugee Resettlement Committee, Social Justice Committee

Catholic Women's League, Family Groups.

3. West Macgregor Doorknock

Matthew expressed some disappointment at the parishioner response to the doorknock on
Sunday 21 March saying that it is a struggle to get people interested.
During the doorknock they covered around sixty houses. It was suggested that there is value in doing the doorknock four times a year. Matthew said that he was unable to give time to it in the future and it would need someone else on the council to coordinate it. Moira thanked Matthew for all the work he has put into this initiative.

•  Out Nil

•  In Nil

“God of Surprises” [ Chapter 1. “Where your Treasure Is ”] Tom led a healthy discussion on this chapter.

1. Adult Education. Tom reported that six regulars attended the five week series during lent. The next planned discussion is on Tuesday 13 April. The topic is the Eucharist and will be led by Brian Mahony.
2. Footprints

3. Liturgy Committee. Were pleased with the Easter Liturgies. There was anecdotal reports that the Stations of the Cross were very moving however half of the Stations were done at the back of the church and people had their backs to them and didn't see the actions of the presenters.

4. School of Religion

Attached.

5. Parish Sacramental Team

Attached.

6. Social Justice Committee

Attached.

7. Social Life of the Parish

Toni will develop a yearly calendar featuring all the social events.

a. Refer to Attachment B

b. WYD Madrid 2011

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are hoping to offer a Heart Spirituality experience for World Youth Day. Marian will keep us up to date with this information.

•  Welcome to Fr John - Pot Luck Dinner

Parishioners will be invited to attend a Pot Luck Dinner on Friday 30 April to welcome Fr John.

b . May PPC meeting

With a view to the PPC members getting to know each other better in a relaxed atmosphere It was agreed that the May PPC meeting will start early at 6:30pm with a meal . Toni will contact everyone and organise what they will bring.

•  Proposal for the Aboriginal Flag permanently installed within the church

As per attachment A

•  Care of Children during mass

Marian was approached by a parishioner with pre-school children who is interested in some form of care for children during the mass. Sabina explained that Children's Liturgy is not child minding. The children's version of the Liturgy of the Word happens down stairs at the same time as the Liturgy of the Word is happening at mass. It was suggested that there may be some benefit in having a box of toys or books in the void area between the wooden pews and the sacristy to help entertain children during mass. Moira said that she would be happy to look after this.

Meeting closed with final prayers at 10:00pm.

Next meeting 13 May 2010 will commence with a dinner at 6.30pm.

ATTACHMENT A  

A PROPORSAL FOR CONSIDERATION

Under the heading of General Business I wish to make a proposal for consideration by the Council.
As an example of Parish inclusiveness and in support of reconciliation I propose that the Council consider that the Aboriginal Flag [as presently designed and used] be permanently installed within the precincts of the Church i.e., not in the foyer the library or its surrounds.

While the flag is generally accepted by government authorities, and flown at specific events, it is not a State flag and therefore the Church would maintain the long held policy that the Church and State are separate.

Should the Council indicate support for the proposal I foresee the need, in the first instance, to obtain the approval of the following:

1. Father Fallon
2. The Parish Congregation
3. The Archbishop
4. The Ngunnawal Elders.

I ask that the proposal be given due consideration and any discussion be held over until the next meeting of the Council.

Kevin McMahon

08.04.2010

Moira Sutch welcomed all in attendance and congratulated Sabina on being elected as Chair of the Belconnen/Gungahlin Regional Pastoral Council.

Present: Michael Bannon, Toni Cox, John Drury, Marian England, Thomas Halloran,
Mike Kiley, Sharon Loiterton, Meg Millband, Moira Sutch, Matthew Toohey,
Sabina Van Rooy.

Apologies: Michael Fallon, Stephen Kiley, Sally Cox, Kevin McMahon,
Peter Polkinghorne.

Absent: Josette Allester, Helen Currie.

The prayer was led by Matthew Toohey. We sang The Servant Song a-cappella and said Psalm 145 in choir concluding with a prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Next meeting: Sabina Van Rooy

•  Acceptance of Minutes

Minutes were accepted with no changes by Sabina Van Rooy and Tom Halloran.

•  Business arising from minutes

Business arising from the minutes will be dealt with at Item 9 On Going Projects.

•  Out Nil

•  In Nil  

Sabina talked on Harmony Day and highlighted the following points of action which we can do to bring Harmony Day into focus for the parish.

•  parishioners would be encouraged to wear something orange to mass on the week-end of 20/21 March.

•  The compact will be printed on orange paper.

As not everybody had collected the book and read the first chapter the discussion was held over until the April meeting.

1. Adult Education. Tom reported that the Heart to Heart series of discussions on Reforming the Liturgy is going well.

2. Footprints: It is planned to have the first evening for the 16-21 youth group on Thursday 18 March. The Footprints group will minister to this new group. Sally was to talk to the years 11 and 12 at St Francis Xavier College however with the recent car accidents of two year 12 students Sally thought it might be best to delay the talk. For the new youth group to use the parish centre on a Thursday night means that the Charismatic group will have to move to the library every third Thursday this could prove inconvenient for them as they would have to carry their equipment up the stairs. We are still negotiating the swap of the use of these rooms.

3. Liturgy Committee There were nine responses to the recent appeal for volunteers to assist with the Easter Liturgies. Preparation for these liturgies are coming together quiet well.

4. School of Religion

Attached.

5. Parish Sacramental Team

Attached.  

6. Social Justice Committee

Attached.

7. Belconnen Regional Pastoral Council The recent meeting was held at St Matthew's page with two representatives from each parish attending. The Executive team was elected as follows:

Chair: Sabina Van Rooy St John the Apostle Kippax

Deputy Chair: Michael Carberry St Thomas Aquinas Charnwood

Secretary: Roger Fitzgerald St Vincent de Paul Aranda

The council talked about what Adult Education was happening in the Belconnen area and was pleased to report that all parishes were doing a Lenten program but not necessarily the same program. Fr. Warwick Tonkin of St Monica's Evatt is giving lectures on Luke's Gospel.

All the parishes took along a copy of their Parish Bulletins so that the Regional Council could be made aware of what is happening in the Belconnen area.

2009/2010 has been designated by the Pope as the Year of the Priest and on the 1 May the BRPC will host a luncheon for all the Priests. At the luncheon they will be given a Certificate of Appreciation.

8. Social Life of the Parish Toni reported that the two functions organised to say farewell to Fr. Mark were well attended and very successful. From playing the game at the pot luck dinner of 20 things you know about Mark came the idea that this would be a great way to welcome Fr John Bosman and get to know him. So a pot luck dinner is proposed for Friday 30 April as a welcome for Fr John.

Feast of the Sacred Heart is Friday 10 June and will be celebrated with mass followed by supper and a St John's Got Talent night in the parish centre.

Toni will develop a yearly calendar featuring all the social events.

a. International food day.

The proposed date to hold the International Food Day is the 22 August Toni will confirm this date with the Refugee Resettlement Committee. Refugee & Migrant Sunday is 29 August.

The 22 August is a fourth Sunday so there will be no Coffee Club that day.

b. West Macgregor Doorknock

After a brief discussion it was agreed that if the doorknock was going to happen before Easter then the best week-end would be Sunday 21 March. A notice will go in Compact this weekend inviting people to a training night on Wednesday 17 March. Matthew will organise a talk for the end of each mass this week-end. Moira and Sabina volunteered to talk at two of the masses.

c. Parish Assembly ~ Prayer Groups

A date for this assembly still hasn't been decided, it is envisaged that it will take place in the second half of the year. The Lectio Divina prayer during lent has been going well. There is an idea of continuing to offer a contemplative prayer experience once a week in the parish.

d. Parenting support initiative.

The program Tuning in to Kids which is currently being held in the parish centre is going well. There has been good anecdotal feed back on this program. There was a concern that the cost of $180 would be prohibitive for some families. Marian met with the facilitators Helen Connell and Marilyn Hatton who said that they are applying for a government grant which will allow them in the future to offer a number of free places in the course.

There had also been notices placed in Compact advertising two free courses being offered at the Canberra Institute of Technology [CIT]: Supporting your Anxious Child and Behaviour Matters.

We will continue to highlight any courses being offered that supports parents and parenting skills.

e. Welcoming Ministry & Identifying gifts.

Marian obtained the introductory spiel from Henley Beach . A brief discussion ensured with particular attention given to the acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the land. It was thought that it would be better worded something like the following:

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand. We acknowledge and pay tribute to all the cultures that contribute to the life of our parish.

Matthew will look at the introduction and adjust it to be suitable for St John's .

f. Quarterly Newsletter

Sabina provided a copy of the Corpus Christi quarterly newsletter which is a glossy production. Matthew will continue to look at the logistics of setting up an editorial team with a view to the first newsletter coming out in May 2010.

g. PPC retreat Rosedale

The proposed Pastoral Council retreat for the weekend of 20/21 March has been cancelled. There was a brief discussion about the value of the week-end at Rosedale and the role it plays in community building. It was suggested that some thought should be given to having a set date early in the year for the PPC retreat and keeping approximately the same date each year. A suggestion was made that perhaps the first meeting of the year in February could be held at Rosedale . With a view to the PPC members getting to know each other better in a relaxed atmosphere It was agreed that the May PPC meeting will start early at 6:00pm with a Pot Luck Dinner.

•  Archbishop's Commission for Women

We had been contacted by Colin Griffiths who is a member of the Archbishop's Women's Commission asking who our parish contact was. Sabina is our parish contact and has been for a long time. Marian will let Colin know.

•  Parish Groups addressing the PPC

A member of the Council was approached by a parishioner about the different Parish Groups addressing the PPC about their groups' particular activities. This is something that was done a few years ago. The Council agreed that any of the parish groups are welcomed to come at the beginning of the meeting and talk about their groups' activity.

•  Parish representative on the St Francis Xavier College Board.

Mariana Rollgejser is the parish's new representative on the SFX College Board. She replaces John Hinchey who has completed his term. The first meeting for the year was held on Tuesday 9 th March. The board meets four times a year, once each term. Mariana will report to the PPC later in the year.

•  The Shed

A parishioner approached Marian with an idea about building a shed in the parish grounds which would then be used for community projects and DIY workshops. The Council acknowledged the benefits that such a project can bring to the community but felt that the issues of Occupational Health and Safety would make this project to overwhelming to get off the ground. The Council would like to see plans and estimates of cost before any further consideration of this project.

b. WYD 2011

As a result of the MSC Parishes Conference at Henley Beach SA in November 2009 a proposal has been promulgated to the MSC Province that a youth network be established from among the MSC family. The following would be invited to participate in the Network:

•  All parishes in MSC care

•  MSC Colleges

•  OLSH Colleges

•  Young Lay MSC Association

•  Other Young Adult ministries and initiatives having strong MSC / OLSH connections

•  MSC Vocations Ministry

•  OLSH Vocations Ministry

•  MSC Initial Formation

•  OLSH Initial Formation

The plan would be to offer pre-WYD11 formation and offer an immediate post-WYD11 Formation at Issoudun. Madrid is reasonably proximate to Issoudun (860km). A pre or post WYD11 Madrid experience at Issoudun would open young adult participants to the world and vision of Jules Chevalier,

Meeting closed with final prayers at 10:00pm.

Next meeting 8 April 2010 7.30pm.

Moira Sutch welcomed all in attendance.

Present: Toni Cox, Sally Cox, Helen Currie, John Drury, Marian England, Michael Fallon, Thomas Halloran, Mike Kiley, Stephen Kiley, Sharon Loiterton, Kevin McMahon,
Meg Millband, Moira Sutch, Matthew Toohey, Sabina Van Rooy.

Apologies: Michael Bannon.

Absent: Josette Allester, Peter Polkinghorne.

The prayer was led by Moira Sutch. The 11 February is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and is also recognised as World day of prayer for the sick. Moira gave us two beautiful prayers in honour of these two occasions.

Next meeting: Matthew Toohey

•  Acceptance of Minutes

Minutes were accepted with no changes by Sabina Van Rooy and Toni Cox.

•  Business arising from previous minutes

• Quarterly Newsletter

This idea was first suggested at the 10 September 2009 meeting and the following people agreed to be on the Editorial Committee; Matthew Toohey, Stephen Kiley, Tom Halloran, Sabina Van Rooy. It was suggested at this meeting that in the process of developing an editorial policy we should look at models already developed. Matthew will give us an update on the format at the next meeting. Sabina will provide us with a copy of the Corpus Christi quarterly newsletter.

•  See – Change ACT

See-Change is offering to assist all faith organisations in Canberra to be able to purchase photovoltaic panels at a discount rate through bringing together those faith communities who would like to form a consortium and use the power of group buying. The idea is to purchase and install photovoltaic panels to feed in electricity into the grid. There is also the opportunity for parishioners to take up this offer. There will be a presentation by Andy Brown of Pyramid Power to  St John's parishioners on Monday, 12 April at 7.30pm.

Lenten Program

The Lenten Program has seen over forty people express an interest and formed groups. Veronica Brennan has organised the program and all groups are ready to commence at the start of lent.

•  Out Nil

•  In Nil  

•  World Refugee Day or Migrant Sunday

There was an idea expressed about recognising Refugees by holding an International Food day. This would be held after the 10:00am mass and different ethnic groups in the parish would be invited to host a food stall. The proposed date of 20 June will clash with our celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart on 11 June. We will need to set a new date.

Fr Michael has ordered ten copies of the book God of Surprises, however it will not be available for another three weeks . This will become the spiritual discussion topic for the council. Michael has asked us to read the text taking notice of how it affects us personally as opposed to critiquing the book.

In place of a discussion at this meeting Michael explained about the confidentiality of the Council and asked those who had not already done so to sign confidentiality agreements.

1. Footprints:

Footprints started the year with a social event with ten of the members going out to dinner. Next Thursday will be a planning night with a view to having a broad plan of events for the year. One of Footprints focus for this year is getting the younger youth group up and running. Sally will contact Sue Sturgiss [Acting Principal at St Francis Xavier] with a request to speak to the students about the new youth group.

2. Liturgy Committee

Have started meeting for 2010 and are currently in the planning stage for lent and the Easter ceremonies. They have organised the music liturgy and prayers of the faithful for Mark's farewell mass on Sunday 14 February.

3. RCIA

Twelve people are currently journeying towards Easter. Of those twelve seven will be baptised and the other five received into the church. One of the candidates because of work commitments will not be here for Easter so he will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist on Sunday 14 February.

4. School of Religion

Attached.

5. Parish Sacramental Team

Attached.

6. Social Justice Committee

Attached.

7. St John the Apostle Primary School

Attached.

a. Adult Education/Heart to Heart: Growth in faith through discussion.

Tom has selected the text Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics John F. Baldovin, S.J.

The format will be very similar to the template of how the parish book club runs:

•  Read the text

•  Come prepared to share what you found helpful or what took your fancy as well as what you found difficult to either grasp or agree with.

•  Be prepared to listen to other “takes” on the reading.

If and when appropriate and helpful, the sessions will be “enhanced” with PowerPoint presentations and/or handouts.

The program is as follows:

Sessions

Tuesday Evening 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Parish Library
23 February
Introduction & Chapter One: The Philosophical Critique. Pp 1- 35

2 March
Chapter Two: The Historical Basis Of The Reform.
pp 36 -64

9 March
Chapter Three: A Theological Critique.
pp 65 - 89

16 March
Chapter Four: Liturgy As Ritual: The Critique From Sociology And Anthropology.
pp 90 - 104

23 March
Chapter Five: Major Issues & Conclusion: A Way Forward.
pp 105 to 157

b. Parenting support Initiative

This initiative will become a focus project for 2010. At the Pastoral Council meeting of 10 September 2009 it was agreed that we would offer parenting sessions in the following format:

Who: Guest Speaker skilled in parenting training
Time: Sunday afternoons
Duration: 2 hours
Main Focus: Small group discussions
Facilities: Child minding
Cup of tea

Marian will contact Robert Pereira whose expertise is Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T) with a view to organising a workshop. PET skills are equally effective for parents with children of all ages; for step-parents, single parents, foster parents, parents of different ethnic background, and parents with different amounts of formal education. PET is a preventative program that works for parents of very young children - those who have not yet developed behavioural problems. PET skills also have proven to be unusually effective in helping older children change undesirable behaviours and overcome problems they're having at home or at school.

Helen Connell and Marilyn Hatton are offering a program on emotionally intelligent parenting titled Tuning in to Kids : The six session parenting program is targeted at parents of children aged 4-12 years. The first session commences Wednesday 24 Feb from 7:30-9:30pm. Program Cost: $180. There was some discussion that this cost may be prohibitive to some parents. Whilst this particular program was not devised by the parish it enhances our initiative in supporting parents and we are happy to endorse it.

c. West Macgregor Doorknock

Matthew will update us on this initiative at the March meeting. With the St Vincent de Paul doorknock happening during February it would be best to wait before embarking on the next stage. Perhaps with the doorknock we could incorporate delivering a flyer advertising the Easter ceremonies.

d. Parish Assembly ~ Prayer Groups

Establishment of Prayer Groups is one of the focus projects for this year. The parish has had a number of effective prayer groups for a long time and the focus this year is to give parishioners experience of different types of prayer with the invitation to people to form prayer groups hence making them available to everyone. During lent we will be offering Lectio Divina prayer on Tuesdays from 10:00am – 11:00am in the Parish Library, commencing 23 Feb – 30 March for 6 weeks.

e. Welcoming Ministry & Identifying gifts.

This is an area where we can't afford to drop the baton and where there is always room for improvement. Michael said that people visiting St John's often express that they feel welcomed and feel the warmth of the parish but we can always improve. It was identified that the Information Desk in the foyer is valuable in assisting parishioners and new parishioners. However it was identified that it is not always attended so there is a need to identify new people who can be on a roster once a month to attend the desk. Moira volunteered and Michael will personally approach people whom he thinks may be interested in this task.

It was also identified that the spiel at the beginning of mass is a time that we can welcome visitors and new parishioners. The idea is to uniform the spiel so that the same thing is said at each mass. Matthew said that Henley Beach parish has a good introduction which they have had for around fifteen years. Marian will contact John Rate and ask for a copy of their introduction and welcome.

•  Fr. Mark's Farewell

There have been two functions organised to officially farewell Mark on the week-end of 12-14 February. On Friday 12 February 6:30pm there will be a Pot Luck dinner in the Parish Centre. On Sunday 14 February after the celebration of 10:00am Mass there will be cake and tea & coffee at Coffee Club.

The parish has not purchased Mark a gift so it was agreed that there will be a leaving collection at each mass on the weekend of 20/21 February.

•  Assistant Priest – Fr. John Bosman msc

Arrives to take up duties on 1 March, John will celebrate his fifty years of Profession as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart on 26 February 2010. Michael is unsure of John's exact duties as yet but is hoping that he will take up the ministry to the sick and housebound. John will celebrate his seventieth birthday on 6 April 2010.

•  Time & Talent

Marian presented the Time and Talent sheet in the 2009 format for everyone's perusal and comments. Some minor changes were suggested to the wording and the following items were identified as needing to be included:

[ ] Guardians & Angels

[ ] __________________
Your suggestion

•  PPC retreat Rosedale

Michael has made a tentative booking at the MSC Retreat house at Rosedale for the Pastoral Council for the weekend of 20/21 March. The cost is $25.00 per night per person and the practice in the past is that everyone put in money for food, with the total cost being approximately $100.00. Members of the Council are asked to let Marian know by the 28 February if they will be attending.

1. Parish Office Staff

Matthew reminded us that in the future with no guarantees that we will have two priests there may be the need for the parish to employ more staff.

1. World Youth Day

With the cost of one person going to World Youth Day Madrid blowing out to approximately $7000.00 it is unlikely that our parish will be sending a group. Anyone interested in going will be able to join the Archdiocesan group.

Meeting closed with final prayers at 9:45pm.  

Next meeting 11 March 2010 7.30pm.