Pastoral Council Minutes

MINUTES OF MEETING

of the PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

of the CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SLIGO

on Tuesday, 19th MARCH 2024

Present:

Fr Declan Boyce SPS             Fr Frankline Nkopi                 Grainne Kelly

Donal Lyons                           Margaret Prior                         Dr Pauline Cushman

 

Apologies:

Mary Finan                             Ronan Hegarty

 

 

  1. As Ronan Hegarty, the Secretary, was unable to attend, Minutes were not read.

 

  1. St Patrick’s Night Concert in the Cathedral: This was a great success.

 

  1. PPC Gathering, Boyle, 09/03/2024: It was agreed that this was very worthwhile and gave much food for thought.  Fr Declan is considering having the Facilitator, Grainne Doherty, for a day retreat here.  It appears that our PPC has room to improve but is not behind.

 

  1. World Day of Prayer, 01/03/2024 at 8pm: Very poor attendance was thought to be due to the timing – 4pm on a Sunday would be better.

 

  1. Cluster Meeting, 13/02/24: There will be elections for Officers at the next meeting on 09/04/24 at 8pm, in St Joseph’s Hall.

 

  1. Up-coming Lenten Day Retreat, 23/02/24 at 11..30am to 4pm: 45-minute sessions.

Colette Furlong will provide music.  Margaret and Pauline will do the teas, with people invited to help themselves; people will bring their own lunch.  There will be Confessions with 1 hour per priest.  People are invited to come for an hour or for a whole day.

 

  1. Palm Sunday 24/03/2024: At 12 o’clock Mass, the Confirmation Class Children, during the reading of the Passion, will be encouraged to respond in the ‘Crowd’ section of the reading:

a spirit of participation will be fostered by them sharing one booklet per 2 children.

 

  1. Reconciliation Service in the Friary, Tuesday 26/03/24: This will be facilitated by the Cathedral and Margaret Prior will do the First Reading.

 

  1. Chrism Mass, Wednesday 27/03/24: This will be at 7.30pm and is a Diocesan arrangement.

 

  1. Holy Thursday 28/03/24: Washing of feet, to be arranged.

 

  1. Good Friday 29/03/24: 3pm Reading of the Passion of Christ.  There will be a practice for this on Sunday 24/03/24 at 3pm in the Cathedral.

 

  1. Fr John Carroll will celebrate his 60th Anniversary of Ordination on Good Friday.

 

  1. Easter Vigil Mass 9pm 23/03/24: There will be a baptism at it this year.

 

  1. During Easter Week, there will only be the 30am weekday Mass Monday to Thurs, and on Friday there will also be 7pm Mass.

 

  1. Parish Gathering: Moved from June 23 to June 30.  This will coincide with the 150th Anniversary of the Cathedral.  To foil possible rain, the Scouts will erect their marquee in the courtyard of St Mary’s for it.

 

  1. Fundraiser: In 2025, the Cathedral will be re-painted and thus may be closed from January to April.  The plan may be to keep it open Saturday and Sunday mornings, and move to Nazareth House Monday to Friday, as there is ample parking there.  This move would require a phone line and availability for a camera to continue Ocean FM access.

 

  1. Next PPC Meeting: To be decided.

 

 

———————————————————————-

            Pauline Cushman, Acting Secretary

 

 

____________________________________________

             Grainne Kelly, Chairperson.

 

MINUTES OF MEETING

of the PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

of the CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SLIGO

on Thursday 8th June 2023

 

Present:

Fr. Declan Boyce, Sister Elvira Rosel, Margaret Prior, Donal Lyons & Pauline Cushman.

 

Apologies:

Mary Finan & Ronan Hegarty.

 

  1. Personnel: Sadly, Fr Willibrord will be leaving us on July 3 to minister in Rooskey Parish.  He will be missed   We thank him for the beauty of his Ministry among us and his kindness, and wish him every blessing.

 

  1. Parish Garden Party: Sunday, June 25, 1pm, at St Mary’s Presbytery courtyard or indoors in St Mary’s if raining.

Seating and Décor:    by Sligo Men’s Shed

Teas:       by PPC, in coordination with Helena of the Parish Office

Bouncy Castle:       Colette Divers to liaise with the parents of the Altar Servers for supervision of children on the Bouncy Castle

Ice Cream Stand:       by Mammy Johnston’s, Strandhill

Sponsorship:      by O’Hehir’s Bakery

Table:      will be provided;  people will be welcome to bring food to share

 

            The 90th Birthday of a prominent Parishioner, John Crummy, from John St, will be

            celebrated at the Garden Party.

 

  1. Mother Adela Galindo, Foundress of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Who is a prominent speaker in the United States, will preside over a Healing Service in St Anne’s on September 16, at which the Relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis will be venerated.

On the following day, September 17 she will speak in the Gillooly Hall at 8pm, followed by tea.  Please Note:  If there is a very large crowd, Mother Adela will speak in the Cathedral.

 

  1. New Kitchen in the Cathedral: John Drury from the Gillooly Hall has very graciously volunteered to build a new kitchen.  His kindness is very much appreciated.

 

  1. Presentation of Mary Sisters:

As part of attending their Chapter in Rome, Sister Edel who was previously stationed in Sligo, will return briefly to Sligo and Knock on August 14 and 15. She will be accompanied by their Provincial Superior and 4 School Directors. 

 

  1. Baptisms: From September, Baptisms in groups after the Sunday 12pm Mass, will resume.

 

  1. Next Meeting: To be decided.

 

 

——————————————————                             ————————————————

Pauline Cushman, Acting Secretary                                       Grainne Kelly, Chairperson

 

MINUTES OF MEETING

of the PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

of the CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SLIGO

on Thursday 18th May 2023

Present:

Fr. Declan Boyce, Fr. Willibrord Sakwe, Mary Finan, Grainne Kelly & Pauline Cushman.

 

Matters Discussed:

 

  1. Parish Garden Party: This will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 1pm at St Mary’s Presbytery Courtyard, or indoors in St Mary’s if raining, with the help of the Men’s Shed. The meadow will be mown beforehand, and there will be a Bouncy Castle, ice cream, tea and coffee.  People are encouraged to also feel free to bring eatables. The flyers advertising it will be repeated.

 

  1. Report from the Cluster:

 

Corpus Christi Procession – June 11.

Fr. Ahern’s 50th anniversary – June 4

St. Anne’s Mass on Church Island via boat – June 19

Garland Sunday at Holy Well – June 30.  Walk from St Anne’s 4.45 am, Mass at 6am, 10am, 12 noon.

Sligo Cemetery Sunday at 3pm – August 13.

Lough Derg Trip – September 12.  Cost E65.00.  Bus leaves St Anne’s at 8am, return at 6pm.

Visit of relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis in St Anne’s – September 16.

 

Corpus Christi Procession:    Leave the Cathedral at 7.45pm, led by Bishop, and Fr Willibrord to carry the Cross.  Via the Friary, St Joseph’s, St Anne’s to the Abbey. 

The Parish Office is to contact the O.P.W. for access to the Abbey.

Instead of saying the Rosary while processing, Colette Furlong will lead the Antiphons.

 

Next Cluster Meeting October 3, when officers will change.

 

  1. Area Masses to be arranged.

 

  1. Next Meeting of the P.P.C.: June 8 at 8pm.

 

 

 

—————————————————–                  ————————————————

Grainne Kelly, Chairperson                                       Pauline Cushman, Acting Secretary