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Pastoral Council Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council of the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo
13th December 2018
Attendance:
Fr Victor Samugana Fr Yashin Jos Sr Elvira Rosel
Dermot Layden Pauline Cushman Grrainne Kelly
Francie Cadden Margaret Prior Maire Finan
Ronan Hegarty – our new member.
Apologies:
Fr Declan Boyce Crispin Andaya Donal Lyons
- The Minutes of the last meeting of 8th November 2018 were read. They were proposed by Margaret Prior and seconded by Dermot Layden.
- Matters Arising:
Dermot and Francie attended Lectio Divina by the Franciscan Friars in St Bernadette’s Chapel: they reported that it was very well done. Much symbolism was used to encourage the people to listen in their heart and enter the circumstances of the Gospel in a deeper way than intellectual understanding. Jesus walking on the water denotes trust in Jesus.
- Report from Cluster:
News of the closure of the Veritas Bookshop was received with disappointment. Gratitude to the long-serving helpful staff was conveyed to them and to Veritas Head Office.
An Information Day was planned regarding Sacramentalisation of civil marriages; diplomatic and enhancing wording was encouraged.
Regarding Youth Matters, Fr Drumm may meet with Religion Teachers and Youth Leaders; and the Bridge Programme for parents of First Holy Communicants was discussed.
On Tuesday 18/12/18, there will be a Reconciliation Service in the Friary at 7.30pm.
A Cluster Calendar of Christmas events is to be published.
The Cluster is to communicate Christmas resources to the Parishes.
In the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18-25, 2019, Bishop Kevin will speak at the Service in St John’s Church of Ireland Cathedral on 23/01/19.
Colette Furlong, Cluster Catechist reports that a number of adults are preparing for Initiation into the Church at Easter.
- Parish Youth Ministry Leadership Training Course:
The deadline for application is 17/03/19. The aim is for 2 people from each parish or 5 to 6 from each Cluster, to support their Priest with Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Applicants should be at least 21 years of age but this is flexible, and should have Leadership, Management and Communication skills. The cost to the parish will be E700 per semester and it will run for 3 semesters.
2 Information Sessions for Priests, PPC Members and those interested will take place on Tuesday 29/01/19 in Summerhill College, Sligo and Thursday 31/01/19 in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon – both at 7.30pm.
It was agreed that this should be advertised several times; Francie felt the priests should approach volunteers and Ronan Hegarty endorsed this view – he also felt Eucharistic Ministers should be approached as they already have an interest. A summary of the Prospectus should be summarised and advertised on radio and displayed for the young people going for tea after 7pm Mass on Sundays.
Grainne felt Donal Lyons may be a possible point of liaison with IT graduates.
In summary, it was decided to defer this to the January PPC meeting.
- Mission 2019:
This is unlikely to run in Lent 2019 as the Stations will be in their second year.
Ronan suggested presenters with dynamic personalities and endorsed our Cathedral Priests.
Everyone agreed with Margaret’s opinion that Respect for the theme be Respect for the Environment (Laudate Si, Pope Francis’s Encyclical) – and Dermot volunteered that his previous book summarised Laudate Si.
Fr Victor suggested having John Feehan, who specialises in linking the cosmos and earth to God.
- Diary:
Carol Service on Sunday 23/12/18
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at 10pm
Following the Peace Mass on 01/01/19 at 11am, PPC members are invited to the Civic Reception in St Mary’s. Margaret felt this would be a good opportunity to lobby the Councillors regarding Care of the Environment.
- AOB:
Dermot reported that 8 to 9 people attended his presentations of ‘Catechism Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ between the 3 nights it has run. He read out a new notice advertising it.
Francie suggested the course should be run for schools, and that a Suggestion Box would be useful; Margaret advocated Evaluation Sheets after the presentations.
Francie said in excess of E12, 500 was raised by the recent Christmas Fair.
- Next Meeting: Thursday 10/01/19 at 8pm in St Mary’s.
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Pauline Cushman, Secretary Francie Cadden, Chairperson.
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council of the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo
November 8, 2018
Attendance:
Fr Declan Boyce Fr Victor Samugana Fr Yashin Jos
Dermot Layden Pauline Cushman Donal Lyons
Francie Cadden Crispin Andaya Margaret Prior
Apologies:
Maire Finan Sister Ellvira Grainne Kelly
- The Minutes of the last meeting of October 11, 2018 were read. They were proposed by Donal Lyons and seconded by Margaret Prior.
- Matters Arising: A lot has happened during the year; the full list compiled by Colette Furlong at the last meeting is to be distributed.
- Upcoming Diary:
17/11/18 – Evening for Readers in Mullaghmore; also a Mission in St Anne’s.
8/12/18 – the Feast of the Immaculate Conception – the Christmas Fair will be held on this day. This is a Parish-building event as well as a fund-raiser.
14/12/18 – Friday night, 7.30pm, cleaning of the Cathedral, a repeat of the 2017 effort by PPC members and Parishioners.
16/12/18 – Lectio Divina in St Bernadette’s on Friday nights at 8pm – Dermot and Francie will attend to see if there is something in St Bernadette’s the PPC can build on.
18/12/18 – Reconciliation Service in the Friary at 7.30pm
23/12/18 – (Sunday before Christmas) – Carol Service in the Cathedral.
Is there a need for a PPC Initiative? – there is a lot going on already, including:
On Monday nights the Way of Gentleness in Strandhill Church,
On Tuesday nights in the Friary for 20 weeks, the Soul Food Bible Course in the Friary,
On Sundays in November the Cemetery Rosary,
On Tuesdays the Prayer Group in St Michael’s,
On Wednesdays the Charismatic Prayer Group in the Gillooly Hall, and the Alpha Programme.
- Dermot Layden:
Catechism Beyond Reasonable Doubt is to go ahead, possibly on Tuesday nights.
There was a long discussion about the logistics of presenting this in either the Sacristy or GiIlooly Hall, and whether online with a laptop computer of by burning it onto a disc.
Dermot’s books can be googled.
- Baby, Mother and Father Group – Wednesdays from 11.15am to 12.15pm.
The message is ‘the Cathedral is a child-friendly place’.
Evangelisation needs to start when a baby is born. Many mothers in Sligo are far from their own families. The Group is for Babies, but not for toddlers, and will be advertised at the Baptismal Programme. It will consist of prayer, tea, pampering of mother and baby, the Gospel of the following Sunday, reflection and prayer, followed by the invitation “I’ll see you on Sunday”. It will run on Wednesdays from 11.15am to 12.15pm for a year, facilitated by Margaret McKeever and other Volunteers.
- Resignation of Anthony Ruddy:
Anthony’s gracious letter of resignation was read and Francie will write to thank him for his sincere service.
- Filling of vacancy created by Anthony’s resignation;
It would be desirable to procure someone young, free and single. A possible replacement, who is also a Eucharistic Minister, was discussed and is to be invited by Francie and Margaret with Fr Declan as back-up if necessary.
This naturally led to a discussion of:
- ‘We’ – should the Laity or Clergy invite and /or consult the people?
- Report from Cluster:
The following were reported on briefly: The PDR Day, the Alpha Programme, the Sacrament of marriage for those in civil marriages – a Canon Lawyer will be available;
Dialogue between the secondary schools and the Priests,
Reconciliation Service, Cemetery Sunday, Youth Synod,
The Bridge Programme in Lent 2019 with Fr Michael Drumm,
Parish Catechists and the need for new Pioneers.
- AOB:
Ceremonies to mark the Centenary of the end of WWI at the Cenotaph Memorial on Saturday 10/11/18 including the turning of a sod for a monument containing the 600+ names of Sligo people involved in the conflict, and on the following day Sunday Nov 11, Church bells will ring at 11.11am.
On 25/11/18, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal will be present.
Also, Dermot’s two books and Monsignor Dolan’s Critique of same can be read free online. Dermot previously sent 10 complimentary copies to each Diocese.
Finally, books of tickets for the up-coming raffle at the Sligo Cathedral Parish Christmas Fair on Saturday 8/12/18 were distributed to PPC members, to sell.
The Fair will take place from 11am to 5pm in the Gillooly Hall.
- Next PPC Meeting: Thursday, 13/12/18 at 8pm in St Mary’s.
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Pauline Cushman, Secretary
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Francie Cadden, Chairperson.
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council of the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo
October 11, 2018
Attendance:
Fr Declan Boyce Fr Victor Samugana Fr Yashin Jos
Sr Elvira Rosel Dermot Layden Pauline Cushman
Maire Finan Donal Lyons Francie Cadden
Colette Furlong
Apologies:
Crispin Andaya Grainne Kelly Margaret Prior
- The Minutes of the last meeting of September 13, 2018 were read. They were proposed by Maire Finan and seconded by Dermot Layden.
- Matters Arising:
The John St steps have been power-washed, at a cost of €200.
A second camera has been fixed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Volunteers are welcome for re-painting of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, during the Christmas period.
This is the second meeting Anthony Ruddy has missed – one is allowed to miss three.
- Colette Furlong reviewed the progress of the PPC during the preceding year, with a very positive outcome. Much has been achieved, especially around the World Meeting of Families which occurred during the summer.
Everyone was most appreciative of the great contributions of our three priests Fr Declan, Fr Yashin and Fr Victor.
There is much to build on, and a lot to do.
- Dermot Layden promoted ‘Catechism Beyond Reasonable Doubt’. Fr Declan, Francie and Pauline are to see if it is for inclusion.
- We were encouraged to read ‘Gaudete et Exultate’ by Pope Francis.
- There was intense discussion on the theme of ‘We need to ask the people……’ would they like to participate in / enjoy various projects: does the ‘we’ refer to Lay people or to the Priests? Who is to consult the people? Fr Declan argued passionately that we, the Laity should be approaching Parishioners; Francie felt that people expect, and respond to, approaches from Priests.
This is for further discussion at the next PPC Meeting.
- The next PPC Meeting will take place on Thursday November 8, 2018.
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Pauline Cushman, Secretary
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Francie Cadden, Chairperson.