Parish Council Report February 2009

Following last week’s meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council, here is a summary of the topics we discussed.

Building maintenance

Current or recent jobs:

As you will have noticed, scaffolding has gone up on the hall. This is for repairs to the roof, which is 50 years old and getting dilapidated.
The presbytery boiler failed recently and has had to be replaced, though as the fault may lie with the installation it may be possible to recoup some of the cost.
Secondary glazing is to be installed in the organ loft.
The floor of the sanctuary is being sanded and sealed.

Maintenance jobs under consideration:

Secondary glazing for the clerestory windows; re-laying the paving outside the hall; a permanent ramp on the path to the hall; replacement of the boiler that heats the back of the hall (the old one is beyond repair).

Bishop Terry will be holding his course for young people, ‘Who do you say that I am?’, on Tuesday evenings in March in our hall.
Caroline Dollard is offering an ‘information evening’ to introduce her Celebrating Family course here on Wednesday 4 March.

Look out for further details, or visit the diocesan website, www.middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk

The difficulty of bringing vehicles close enough to the hall gates when making deliveries or picking up/setting down has prompted a query about whether there could be vehicular access to the hall forecourt. We felt this to be impractical but the council could be approached to see if the pedestrian refuge could be moved.
Some people were unhappy with some of the changes to Christmas services: the absence of the traditional crib; the children’s not being invited up to the crib during the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve; the lack of Christmas trees, and the fact that Vespers took up most of the time usually devoted to carols at Midnight Mass. The crib was only ever intended to be replaced (by figures made by the schoolchildren) for one year, and the other concerns have been taken on board.
Why are we no longer singing ‘Praise to You, O Christ our Saviour’ after the Gospel? Well, the simple answer is, it is not liturgical.

The parish pantomime! Aladdin awaits; buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
On Friday 6 March you are invited to ‘Come to the waters’ with David Cross of CAFOD. This event launches our Lent course and also marks Fairtrade Fortnight. Reflection, discussion, refreshments and Fairtrade stall. 7.15 for 7.30 in the small hall.
The diocesan clergy will be meeting with Bishop Terry to discuss the Pastoral Plan with a view to parish reorganisation.
Fr Dominique will be on retreat in Valladolid from 16 to 20 February. We wish him a time of spiritual and physical refreshment.