Deanery of St Thomas More
Date of next meeting: Monday 3rd September at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Presbytery.
Dear colleagues
I attach the minutes of the our last meeting as well as a 'personal' letter to each member of the Deanery Pastoral Conference. It is self explanatory. Please contact me if you want to discuss this.
For the Deanery Priests - if you are one of the 'link priests' then please note the meeting on the 21st January. You are invited to attend.
Yours
Andrew
DEANERY OF ST. THOMAS MORE – NORTH SHEFFIELD
SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2007 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
SACRED HEART PARISH HALL, Ripley Street, Hillsborough, Sheffield
Jesus was famous for many things, and one was that he would both welcome and be welcomed by people who came into his life. Two thousand years later are our parishes and churches as welcoming?
The aim of the workshop is to hear of good work being carried out in each parish and then suggest a way forward so that all parishes can introduce something new that means that all who come into our churches are treated with kindness and respect.
Welcoming, friendly parishes:
Offer understanding and friendship to all
Are a source of help in times of need
Help everyone in the parish feel that they belong
Encourage and celebrate life to all who come into the doors of the church
It would be great to hear how it’s done in St.Catherine’s, St.Vincent’s, Sacred Heart, St. Marie’s, St. Mary’s High Green, St Patrick’s, St. Ann’s, St. Mary’s Penistone, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Mores, St. Charles
Contact your Deanery Rep or Parish Priest. Come along anyway and help us to grow into a loving and vibrant church.
For further information contact Breda Askwith (0114.246.2105), Richard Bushell (0114.255.8256) or John Wright (01226.764642)
at 7pm at Sacred Heart Presbytery, Hillsborough
1.Present: Andrew Crowley (chair) , Judith Bower, Ken Robinson, Shaun Smith (secretary)
2.Apologies: Breda Askwith, Martin Clayton (dean), Mike Nadin, Andy Scully, Colin Taylor
3.Minutes of meeting held 19th February 07 had been circulated by email on 21st March. Arrangements need to be made for those without email to receive them for those who do have it.
4.Mission Group report:
a)Shaun reported that 2 good meetings have been held on Justice and Peace, and three people from the group went to the National Justice and Peace Network AGM in Doncaster. The next group meeting will be held on Monday 9th July at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Presbytery.
b)The ecumenical dimension of Mission is likely to be developed nationally through the forthcoming project called “Hope 08” – the vision is that each church decides on its own action for the benefit of the community but co-operates with neighbouring churches on publicity and (where appropriate) joint events. The next meeting for this will be on Tuesday 19th June at 10.30am for 11am at the Salvation Army, Psalter Lane.
c)Andrew referred to a report from Ruth Reardon on inter-church marriages and how churches relate to each other. He will circulate this with these minutes.
5.Finance and Premises
Ken underlined the value of this group, in helping to ensure that everything is done properly as far as parish accounts are concerned, and that health and safety regulations (including fire risk assessments) are adhered to.
6.Pastoral Care: no report available
7.Young People:
Andy Scully had sent a written report on the meeting held on Monday 21 May with Fr Des Sexton and Judi Shimmell and various representatives from five parishes in the deanery. It was realised that we were not yet in a position to appoint a line manager for the proposed deanery youth worker, and therefore we would postpone the start time until September 2008, allowing time for the group to develop itself as a suitable support group and to do the necessary groundwork for the appointment of a line manager. This group will meet again on Wednesday 4 July at 7.30pm at the Pastoral Centre.
8.Liturgy group:
Ken reported that 2 successful meetings had been held. A chair and secretary had been appointed, and the needs of parishes are being identified: for example, training of readers and Eucharistic ministers and catechesis for the sacraments. Members undertook to visit other parishes to glean some ideas of good practice, and are getting familiar with the liturgy official books – “The General Instruction of the Roman Missal”, and “Celebrating the Mass”. Unfortunately there is no representation from the Cathedral, and it would be good to have someone. The next meeting is on Wednesday 27 June at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Presbytery.
9.Faith Formation
Andrew reported that the key to this topic is the ongoing formation of adults, and with a view to identifying the most helpful ways of promoting this, the members are preparing a survey for the deanery to use. The survey highlights what has been helpful for our own faith formation and what we need now. This will hopefully provide a set of actions for the deanery to undertake. Ken commented on the value of experiencing homilies from more than one priest, and we agreed to explore the possibility of having a “priest-swap” again. The next meeting of the faith formation group will be announced when it has been arranged.
10.Any other business
a)Action point agreed: minutes of group meetings to be sent to Andrew please, so that they can be sent on the parish priests and deanery reps, for general dissemination, so that people can be kept informed.
b)An international Mass was held at St Catherine’s on Pentecost Sunday and was a most inspiring occasion. A Nigerian Mass is to be arranged in the autumn.
c)Sacred Heart Hillsborough is holding an Arts and Flower Festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 15th, 16th and 17th June, and everyone is welcome to come and visit the displays of art, crafts, flowers, and banners, and to attend the young people’s revue on Friday evening, and the music concert on the Saturday evening.
11.Date of next meeting: Monday 3rd September at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Presbytery. All members are asked to do their best to attend please.