1. THE PARISH TEAM
Fr Tom and Fr Vincent meet on Monday mornings to plan the week ahead and review events. They discuss the content of the newsletter and make sure the diaries are up to date.
Fr Thomas Parayadyil, continues to work with his community as the Syro-Malabar chaplain. Fr Johnson Alexander has been celebrating weekend masses while Fr Antonio Serra, is the new Priest in Charge of the Italian Mission at Ponders End joining the Enfield Deanery in September.
Operationally, Jane Landi runs the Parish Office while Kevin Keenan is Secretary for the Parish Council. The Parish Council and Finance Committee meet on a quarterly basis, here in the Parish Centre to review matters arising both pastoral and practical. The time and effort contributed by the members is very much appreciated and valued.
2. LITURGY/PRAYER AND EVANGELIZATION
2.1 Advent & Christmas 2012/3
The annual Advent Talks commenced on4th December addressing, “The Three Parts of the Creed”.
2.2 Easter 2013 Events
A full program of Easter events was held including Stations of the Cross, Lenten Talks (below), Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Churches Together. The 2012 Lenten Talks commenced on 19th February with “The History and Background of the Second Vatican Council”.
2.3 First Holy Communion
The First Communion course has again delivered by our dedicated team of Catechists – 43 children will be making their FHC on Saturday 11th May.
2.4 Altar Servers
The recruitment drive last year for Altar Servers was well publicised and resulted in an increase in numbers which is visible at all weekend masses.
2.5 Ten Ten Theatre Group
Ten Ten continue to produce acclaimed productions for the community. A statement is attached at the end of this report.
2.6 Activities
The Parish continues its wide ranging activities the last twelve months seeing many events including the Annual Pilgrimage in honour of Blessed Cyprian Iwene Tansi was held at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in August 2012, the parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes was in September attended by 30 pilgrims, the regular Cemetery Masses, Ten Ten, and various coffee and tea mornings run by various groups.
3. ECUMENISM
Many of our parish activities have appeared in the Compass magazine and thanks are again due to Felicity for her hard work. The magazine is printed from the parish office.
As part of the Easter schedule, Churches Together - Stations off The Cross held a service on the 23rd March at St John the Apostle, Whetstone. More information about Churches Together can be found in Compass each month.
4. PARISH REPAIRS AND RENEWALS
4.1 Church Buildings
New sash windows have been installed at the front of the presbytery improving security and thermal installation (this being North facing). Security and brink work repairs have been carried out to the old Sacristy, making good water damage and security the roof.
4.2 Planned Projects
Raised in last year’s report replacement of the current church boiler has now under active discussion. Quotations ranging from £40,000 to £25,000 have been received and additional quote is being requested.
The replacement / upgrade of the existing CCTV infrastructure is underway although taking longer than planned due to slow responses from suppliers. Quotes have been received ranging from £12,000 to £8,000 including support. The Diocese has for governance been advised of these projects.
5. FINANCE
The parish continues to require funding to cover weekly running costs of circa £4,500. Our income remained very stable over the past reporting period, despite the continued hard economic climate. The overall balance as at 31 December 2012 was £329,350 up from £261,970 for the same period in 2011. Funds have been ear marked for essential repairs to the building structure and upgrades of plant as summarized elsewhere in report.
Current balances remain healthy while a fundraising campaign suggested for 2013 has been postponed in light of the Living in Faith Diocesan funding campaign. The need to capture a greater proportion of Gift Aid available to the parish for cash offerings and increase the number of parishioners submitting and increasing the number Direct Debit is now more pronounced to ensure sufficient funds are available for future needs. Operationally a secure cash collection service has been recently introduced to lessen the risk associated with taking funds to the bank.
Brian Hunt stood down as Chair of the Finance Committee last year but continues to prepare the Parish Accounts and offer guidance on financial matters. Patrick Bolger is Chair and has been leading the Finance Committee since last year.
6. COLLECTIONS & APPEALS
For the year ending December 2012 a total of £19,568.00 was raised by the Parish for a variety of charities and good causes including; the Priest Training Fund, Sick and Retired Priests, CAFOD, the Catholic Children’s Society etc.
Although not a complete list the 2012/13 appeals include:
• CAFOD Lent Fast Day raised £2,300.00 in March and further £1,834.00 was donated in October for the Harvest Fast Day.
• The annual collection for Sick and Retired Priests raised £1,902.00 in February.
• Earl Mountbatten Hospice raised £1,040.00 in September
• St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre Sponsored Walk raised £1,821.00 in July
• Cake Sale in July raised £750 for the Bardet-Biedl Society.
• The Parish January Sale raised £1,405.00 which has been allocated to the purchase of a new Advent Candle Stand.
• World Mission Sunday 2012 (AFP) raised £943.00 in October.
• Catholic Children’s Society Crib Appeal raised £1,425.00 over the Christmas period for the organization that offers practical and emotional support to children and families who are under great personal and financial strain.
• January Sale raised £1,405 remarkably consistent with the £1,450.00 raised in 2012. Funds are set aside for parish projects.
• The Easter appeal for Holy Placed raised £2,008.00
• Coffee mornings held for various groups including Barnet Mencap raised £640.00 in November.
• The Fair Trade stall continues to operate once a month with extra stalls during Fair Trade fortnight and just before Christmas. Profits are sent to CAFOD.
• There is also a monthly collection of pennies for Pax Christi
The Council, Clergy and all the organisations supported through these appeals are very grateful for the continued support and generosity of our Parishioners. Gift Aid makes a significant contribution to the funds raised and a sincere thanks to those who count these extra collections.
7. PARISH CENTRE
The Big Hall is in constant use from Monday to Sunday. Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, Irish Dancing, Keep Fit, Knights of St Columba, Mothers and Toddlers, Ten Ten, Bernadette Club, Saturday Club, Sunday coffee and teas, Fund raising mornings, the Free Trade stall and the AA all hold meetings and events in the Hall.
The annual Parish BBQ is very popular event bring all families and age groups together. The date for this year’s event is to be confirmed.
The Small Hall continues to be used by other groups for smaller events and meetings.
8. PARISH GROUPS
The young members of the Parish are well catered for from the toddlers to the teenagers. Our Scout Group, the 22nd Southgate, provides an incredibly rich and diverse range of activities and pursuits throughout all the age groups organisations.
Our young people are cared for and the ethos of service and community is reflected in the fund raising activities such as Cardboard Box appeal in January which raised £2,748.00 for the homeless and the 125 mile Thames Caneo fundraiser for the North London Hospice over the Easter weekend. The groups also raised over £500.00 for Comic Relief in March.
The Bernadette Club meets monthly in the Parish Hall and is well attended by senior members of the Parish, running day trips such as the outing to Bletchley Park and the regular coffee mornings.
The Knights of St Columba have recently taken over maintenance / cleaning of the car park form Cecilia and her team who efforts and hard work are greatly appreciated by the council. The Knights meet once a month in the Small Hall.
The Parish Bereavement Group is staffed by trained volunteers who provide support to those newly bereaved providing a valuable service to the community.
Choir and Readers Groups are well supported by volunteers contributing significantly to the vibrancy of Parish Services throughout the year. The advent “Nine Lessons and Carols” a collaboration with St Paul’s involved both groups.
The Parish Council is very appreciative of the work carried out by all our Parish Groups which contribute so much to Parish life and presentation of the Church buildings. A Parish Group recruitment drive has been provisionally penciled in for late May 2013 to assist with new volunteer take up.
9. CHILD PROTECTION
No significant activity this year. The Diocese sends out a regular newsletter to child protection volunteers in the parishes.
10. WEBSITE & IT
The website is updated weekly with the newsletter and the various parish events over the course of the year and is a vital source of information on Parish life.
There have been no significant changes to the IT infrastructure within the Parish Office although IT trends are monitored and discussed by the Parish Council. From a practical point of view the new copier / printer is heavily utilised and a valuable resource.
Items concerning the Parish/Parishioners are always welcome – and an email or note should be sent to the Parish Office.
11. OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRIMARY SCHOOL
The School has again excelled academically, in music and sports, performing very well again in Year 6 inter school competitions over the past year. The children are thoroughly prepared academically and emotionally for SAT’s and the transition into Secondary School reflected in the KS2 Test results published in September 2012.
Pupils from the school are well represented in the Brownies, Cubs and Scouts and gain from the positive reinforcement of their responsibilities within the community within the safe and caring environment.
The school continues to be oversubscribed for places and the PTA is very active in raising funds to support school activities and refurbishment projects.
STATISTICS FROM OUR 2012 RETURN (1st January 2012 to 31st December)
• Baptisms – 42 (50 in 2011) inc RCIA
• Receptions – 5
• First Holy Communion – 46 inc RCIA
• Confirmations – 53 (68 in 2011)
• Weddings – 7 in this church (8 in 2011), and 5 paperwork prepared which took place elsewhere.
• Funerals – 43
• Average Mass attendance for October 10 1593 –(up from 1409 in 2011)
Gerard Barden
Chair, Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church Parish Council
April 2013
Clare and Martin O’Brien send their apologies that they cannot be present tonight due to work commitments but have the submitted the following statement.
Annual Report to OLOL AGM – Ten Ten Theatre
Clare and Martin O’Brien would like to express their sincere gratitude to Fr Tom, Fr Vincent, the Parish Team and all of the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes for their invaluable support of Ten Ten Theatre over the past 12 months.
The past year has been a very busy and very productive time.
Ten Ten now has a very significant presence in Catholic primary and secondary schools throughout the UK, and an increasing programme of work in many other areas too.
Secondary schools
The secondary schools team tour the UK between November and May every year exploring themes from social media and family breakdown, to chastity, abortion, parenthood, marriage and family life. In the past few months, the team has worked with over 30,000 students across the country. This includes leading 4 retreat days at Finchley Catholic High.
Primary schools
Ten Ten now has two teams on tour visiting primary schools for 8 months of the year each, working with over 60,000 children. Themes explored include family, friendship, freedom, gift of self, vocation and dignity. They have worked at Our Lady of Lourdes school, as well as the surrounding primary schools such as St Martin’s and Sacred Heart.
Parents
They now run a significant programme working with about 5,000 parents every year in schools. Last year, Ten Ten co-published a booklet alongside the CTS called “Being a Parent Today” which they give as a free gift to all parents who attend their sessions.
Parishes
The Ten Ten confirmation programme continues to grow from strength in the Westminster Diocese. The team now run the programme with about 40 diocesan parishes, working most weekends between November and June. This includes the confirmation candidates at Our Lady of Lourdes. Ten Ten also contributes to other parish events, such as the parish mission at St Monica’s, Palmers Green.
Young Offender Institutions
Recently, Ten Ten ran a six-week Lent project with a dozen young offenders at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution. Working with Fr Roger Reader, who used to be at Our Lady’s, it was a significant project for Feltham, and a continuation of the award-winning work by Ten Ten in prisons.
Community
Also throughout Lent, Ten Ten ran a very large community project in Runcorn in the north-west of England. They brought together 250 people from the local community – young and old – and staged a musical Passion Play in the town’s main shopping centre to an audience of over 1,000 people. Using “Born For This” (which Ten Ten put on with parishioners in Our Lady’s a couple of years ago), it was described by many as a very powerful, very moving event.
Theatre
Later this year, as part of the Year of Faith, Ten Ten will be staging a new production of “Kolbe’s Gift” – a play by David Gooderson about the life of St Maximilian Kolbe and the man whose life he saved. This will take place at The Leicester Square Theatre, a 400-seat venue in the heart of the West End, for a week of performances. This is significant change for Ten Ten as it raises the bar for production standards. Ten Ten have brought on board a number of partners including Aid to the Church in Need, the CTS, the Polish Cultural Institute and others.
General
Managing all of these operations with a small team and very limited budgets remains a significant challenge for Ten Ten. The parish provides essential office and rehearsal space, as well as community and spiritual support. On the first Monday of every month, the written prayers of the young people Ten Ten work with, along with the intentions of benefactors, are offered up at the 10am Mass.
Clare and Martin are very grateful for all that the Parish does for Ten Ten.
22nd Southgate Scout Troop
28th April 2013
The Scout group was formed in 1971 and today is the largest in the area. Its popularity is due to the amazing programme that is available to its members and the large number of adults that are drawn to help make it work. Besides their busy weekly meetings, all sections from the Beavers (age 6-8yrs) to the scouts (10 – 15yrs) spend weekends away at camps and sleepovers.
The Cubs had a four day camp near Preston over Easter and have another big event planned at Gilwell Park in June. The Scout Troop is away on a residential experience most months. For example during the Easter holiday 20 scouts were away for a week cruised almost 100 miles on the Grand Union Canal, working 48 locks on the way. As well as visiting the canal museum in Stoke Bruerne , they also went swimming, skiing and Airkix (sky diving without a parachute).
There has been a great emphasis on community this year, and the Scouts (with the support of the parish) have raised considerable sums for other people. In September they raised £600 for Macmillan Nurses, at a coffee morning. On a cold December night they earned through sponsorship and donations a staggering £2,832.00 (plus gift aid) for the Passage, by sleeping out in cardboard boxes. In March, £800.00 was raised through the Group Show for Comic Relief and later in the same month, bag backing at Morrison’ s raised a further £940 for Survival Box.
Over Easter, four members of the Group paddled 125 miles from Devizes to Westminster, taking part in the international canoe race. They camped out overnight in sub zero temperatures and cooked their own meals. This followed 6 months of training and preparation and has raised a further £2,000.00 for North London Hospice. That makes just short of £7,000.00.
The Group has also won a £10,000.00 sports for all grant to purchase new tents and other activity equipment including canoes and archery equipment.
Chris Nagle
Scout Leader
22nd Southgate Scout Troop