Parish Council

PRESENT
Fr. Tom Egan, Fr. Damian Cassidy, Ramon Landi, Eddie Albert, Patrick Bolger, John Donnelly, Peter Coleman, Frank Nolan, Jackie Reddington, David Clarke, Clyde Webb, Marianne Ahearne, Celia Webb, Tina Bolger, Patrick Madigan, Jane Landi

APOLOGIES
Brian Hunt, Joe Sutton.

OPENING PRAYER
The meeting started with a prayer.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING ON NOVEMBER 19th 2007
Marianne Ahearne should have been listed as present on the minutes.
The prices of the benches was incorrect – should have read £1,300 per pew and not £54 - £74.

With these amendments, the minutes were signed as correct.

MATTERS ARISING
CHILD PROTECTION. 
Nicky is waiting for about nine forms to be returned.  Is there a problem?  Some readers have been unwilling to sign the forms as they don’t spend time with young people  The Diocese say it’s a grey area, and better safe than sorry.  Eddie will chase late returns if Nicky wants him too.

FINANCE
Comparing end of year figures for 2007 and 2006, recurring income has dropped from £247,000 to £239,000.  Offertory dropped from £199,000 to £192,000.

Expenditure increased from £154,000 to £188,000.  Our Diocesan Assessment increased from £37,000 to £64,000.

Clergy salaries have gone down, but there was a rise in Property repairs and renewals, much due to the first payments on the roof repairs.

The bank statement at the end of December 07 shows a balance of £142,000, an increase of £57,000.

A letter from a parishioner was read out at this point, which enquired why we could not give our excess profits to charity.  We are now out of debt, and our income reflects the continuous generosity of our parishioners.

Are we having too many fund raisers for our own expenses?  We do have a lot of repairs and redecorations on hand at the moment.  We have only just got out of debt, and it is important to keep a reserve of funds in case of emergency.  It was decided that we should devote our fund raising to our needs for this year, and review in a year’s time.  

We collect for a lot of Diocesan collections every year.  

If parishioners would like to organize an event, they can do so.

WEBSITE
The average daily visits for October was 38, 41 in November and 45 in January.  Annual running costs are £120.  The Domain fee has been paid for the next two years - £35 for two years.

Eddie has uploaded a gallery of old pictures of the parish, but it is an arduous task, which could been made easier if particular software was purchased.  Costs vary from £65 per gallery, £100 to scan pictures, £750 for Photoshop.  Need to check more prices.

PRAYER AND EVANGELISATON
Waiting for volunteers to host Lent House Masses.  They went well at Advent.

A Lent Programme has been placed on the porch notice board.

Fr. Tom and Fr. Damian are going to give talks during Holy Week.

There are Diocesan talks for Young People on Wednesdays and “Who is my Neighbour?” in this church on Thursdays.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Went well at Advent, need a chart for people to sign up for Lent Sunday afternoons.

ECUMENISM
Compass is now available in colour – there may be a donation required.

The carol service at St. Paul’s went well.

FUNDRAISING
The Christmas Draw raised just under £2,000.

Dinner Dance:  192 tickets sold to date.  Celia and Marianne have done the bulk of the work and were thanked for all the cold Sunday mornings they had spent outside the church.  Raffle prizes are in hand.  The Dance will end at midnight.

January Sale:  £1,250.

Many individual donations are coming in for our various projects, mostly for the roof at the moment.  They have been written to, but should be thanked in the newsletter as well.

Future expenditure.

There has been problems with the flat roof over the sanctuary – water collects in it, and has been coming into the church.

Quote for decorating the church have been received, circa. £15,000.

If we are putting up scaffolding we should consider having the lights looked at.  Do they need replacing?  The bulbs are always going.  We should ask an expert to look at them and advise us.  

Check out the speakers too.

Get Chris Fanning to look at it and advise.

Should there be a block of colour behind the statue?  What shall we do with the sanctuary floor?  Good colour and the right lighting would make all the difference.  Need good advice.  Ask a consultant.  We should aim to be doing the painting in the summer, we can use the Hall for daily Masses.  Get the flat roof sorted out first?

Can we also have a pulley installed that would make covering the statue at Easter easier?

Benches:  Irish Contract Seating are bringing a sample bench next week.

Letter from Michael McGowan:  A parishioner has asked if he can hold a Traidcraft Stall once a month in the Hall, starting with two weekends running to mark Fair Trade Fortnight.  This may lead to a Parish Cafod Group.  The Diocese encourages us to support Fair Trade, and many items can now be bought under it’s banner.  It was agreed that Mr McGowan could run a stall if he underwrote the costs.  

PARISH HALL
We need to send a letter to leaders of groups using the Hall asking them to check the status of the hall as they leave.  Chewing gum is still being stuck in the urinals, which leads to flooding.  Notices and bins have been provided, but people are not taking notice.  It is not possible to say which group are mostly responsible (apart from the fact that they are male!).  Eddie will compose a letter.

Some of the plates were returned dirty after the last Big Breakfast.  Is there a case for a dishwasher in the Hall?  Where would it go, and who would be responsible for keeping it stocked up.  Scout leaders should be asked to make sure plates are clean.

Parties have been using the toddlers toys – recently they were not returned to the cupboard.  Who is responsible if an accident occurs?  It was suggested that the cupboard is locked, and private parties are not allowed to use the toys.  Our insurance covers all users of the Hall including the M/T group.  (does this include private hirers?)

The behaviour of children in the hall is a matter of concern, especially after the 11.15 am Mass.

PARISH TEAM
Still meet on Monday’s after the 10 am Mass.  The RCIA group are going to the Cathedral on 9th Feb for their Welcome.  

School signings finished today (28th Jan) – there have been 17 people with forms for OLOL – what will happen to the other places?

The Lenten programme has been displayed in the porch.

A Day of Recollection will be held for the readers and Eucharistic Ministers at Pentecost.  All ministries will be asked to renew their commitment during Mass.

The 11.15 am Mass on Pentecost Sunday will have an international theme and the school are making flags.

Fr. Thomas’ brother is sick and he is going home for a couple of weeks.  He is very busy with the Syro-Malabar chaplaincy and is looking for assistance from his bishop in Kerala.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was a complaint that the food ran out at the last Big Breakfast – it’s not fair on the customer to pay the full amount and then not get the full breakfast.  Could the Scouts be approached about it?

Eddie will send a letter of query – we should not make them feel they are being told off.  They do a lot of good for our young people in the parish.

The Catenians are sponsoring Elizabeth Coleman, a young parishioner of ours, to attend the World Youth Day in Sydney in July.

We have had a couple of security scares: last Sunday Fr. Tom found a man trying to open the safe during the 11.15 am Mass.

The Hall Door should not be left open by users during their sessions – they can’t watch who comes in and out.

Our next two meetings clash with school governor meetings, so they were changed to 3rd March and 19th May.

The AGM will be on Sunday 29th June at 7.30 pm.