MINUTES OF THE BELMONT PARISH AGM
22nd NOVEMBER 2006
President: Father Nicholas Wetz
Chairman: Jim Smith
Secretary: Frances Grant
1. Opening prayer was led by Fr Nick
2. Jim Smith welcomed all those present, thanked those who had prepared reports and expressed a wish that more people had come to the meeting.
3. 27 people were there and apologies were received from: Doreen Sulston, Monica Tomlin, Monica Russell, Stephen and Catherine Fisher, Noel Ward, Jacqui Moore, Jan Wyman, John Walling, Jeanette Morris and Margaret Campbell.
4. Minutes for last year were read and once Gerald Wakelan’s name was corrected the minutes were approved as a true record.
5. There were no matters arising.
6. Chairman’s report. See attached
7. Parish Priest’s Report. See attached. Lesley Vessey spoke about the Catholic Women’s League in response to Fr Nick’s report. When asked by him if she would like to start a group here, she declined but said that she would support one if it was started. Jim said he would look into it.
8 Finance Report. See attached. Ann Stapleton raised the question of how much money was spent on the Gift Aid dinner. Mary Carroll also questioned this as there was no entertainment budget shown in the report. Father Nick said that the dinner in question was not just for those who Gift Aided but was properly a Regular Contributor’s dinner. Fr Nick went on to explain the Gift Aid/Regular Contributors scheme. Clare Wichhold stated that it was a known fact that people who “Gift Aided” were more inclined to leave legacies. Paddy Nugent said the investment was worth doing as it encouraged more “Thank you” communities. Margaret Rose said that is was a good social gathering of the Parish and one would always meet “new” people there. Mary Carroll said it would be better to have another quiz night where everyone paid instead of a free dinner. Frances David said she felt awkward about being given an invitation when other parishioners were not invited. Father Nick then said we would continue to have the party but the letter going out will ask if they wanted to continue having the party, whether or not there should be a contribution from those attending and finally that there will be a raffle at this year’s party to help offset some of the costs. Ross Williams and Peter Jowitt both said that they hoped the parties would continue as they were done in a generous spirit.
9. Written Reports
· Altar Servers: Chris Moore said that he had left out some names of Alter Servers but these would be added to his final report.
· Children’s Liturgy: Basil Nickerson expressed his dismay that there was no Donkey at this year’s Children’s’ Liturgy.
· Parish Centre Report: It was pointed out that there were less Educational Visits this year. Brenda Warde said that historically there were fewer visits in this term but that also last year there were very many visits and that not all schools could come every year due to extra costs.
10. As there were no further specific comments on the written reports, the meeting was thrown open for other topics.
· Father Nick said that he wanted to thank the Extraordinary Ministers for their work.
· Anna Nugent offered her support for the Chaplaincy at St Mary’s High School. Paddy Nugent said that although the post was originally for two days a week – there was now a consultation in progress to make the post full time and so caters to all the Catholic schools in the area. Father Nick said it was very important as we lose touch too quickly with the children of all ages.
· Role of the PAC – there are lots of models, larger and smaller than ours so many ideas were needed and it was up to the Parish to decide what they wanted from the PAC. All this would be looked at over the next few months.
v Lillian Allsop asked if we should be a Parish Advisory Council or a Parish Pastoral Council. We need to look at the difference between the two.
v Chris Moore asked what the lead was from the Deanery. Jim Smith replied that there were a number of parishes who had councils but that Belmont was the most active in this area.
v Anna Nugent asked what the PP thought his ideal council would be. Fr Nick replied that it was a question of how he can best serve us – groups and activities needed to be brought together. He felt that its role was not to discuss Admin matters but to ask why we are here and what the Parish is for.
v Jim said we have a budget for next year but no spiritual direction for next year.
v Frances Grant asked how the PP wanted to get this discussion going. PP said we would need a working party and work to a specific time scale.
v Frances David said that the PAC should have a role of interconnection.
v All agreed that we should review the role of the PAC.
v Anna Nugent said it would be good to start with being told what the PAC does now. Bernadette Hubert replied that unless you have specific hat to wear you feel as if you are just there to make up numbers.
v Chris Moore asked what would be the outcome for the Parish.
v Paddy Nugent said a way forward might be a small executive group working with a larger more relaxed group.
v Ross Williams asked where is all the talent in the Parish and how can we get it together. Jim replied maybe we need another review and/or census.
v Tony Hemson said that the Council used to travel around the three Churches but maybe we are trying to reinvent a rusty wheel e.g. why should the Liturgy Group report to PAC. Frances David commented that maybe it should have new name.
In view of all the above, Jim Smith said that the review of the PAC would be completed by March. The PP then said that elections to the PAC should be postponed. This was proposed by Eddie Wyman and seconded by Chris Moore.
Jim Smith then thanked everyone for attending and for the all the comments made.
The meeting closed at 9:00pm with a prayer led by Deacon Wyman.