St Felix de Valois Parish Pastoral Council

Minutes

30 th September 2009

Chairperson Bev Lamaro declared the meeting opened at 7.00pm.

Opening Prayer – Fr Dominic

Present: Fr Dominic, Joe Doumit, John Sarkis, Joe Michael, Maureen Vincent, Bev Lamaro, John Ashe, Line Collet, Aotearoa Seufatu, Bill Nolan, Hop Nguyen, Wadih Hanna,

Apologies: Alison Collet, Chris Kreltszheim,

Absent: Renato Knox, Joseph Do, Suzanne Gruchot, Br. Peter

Minutes of previous meeting: Accepted: John Sarkis Seconded: John Ashe

Matters Arising from Minutes: RE. Applying for a grant for Parish Centre, asking for $30,000. Fr Dom received a reply letter. Will talk about it later.

John Sarkis has ordered the banners for the fete – they’ll be in by next week.

Business Arising out of Minutes: nil

REPORTS

Chairman:

A quiet period - nothing to report

Sacramental Program:

Fr Dominic said;

We had a wonderful Holy Communion – good number of people.
But a week later, only about 20% attended Mass. Next year will be different, we will have a few masses - over two weekends – so that they can understand more – A lot of complaints from people that it was too crowded – not enough room. We will try something new.
John Sarkis suggested three weekends – 1 st group, 2 nd group and 3 rd one for the certificate so that everyone will turn up to receive their certificate.
For the preparation of the children, Fr. Dom asks if anyone would like to be leaders at the sessions – instead of the parents – and also the group should be of 6 children and their parents (instead of nine) smaller group is much better. PC agreed.
A suggestion from Bill Nolan - normal Sunday mass with a few children doing their First Communion. We do it over 5 - 6 weeks. In this way, parish community will have the opportunity to participate in the mass also and welcome them.
John Sarkis suggested that after the 6 th week, a school mass during the week should be celebrated so that all the children will be there together. Bill Nolan said that there was a mass during the week for a grade at school, it was on a Thursday normally.

Children’s liturgy:

Is going ok. We have 4 people who are prepared to assist. The number will come down now because those children from the 1 st Holy Communion will stay in church now to participate in Mass.

Music Liturgy:

Joseph started playing on the 20 th September, Sunday 6pm mass.
A few Filipinos will be playing guitar at Sunday 8 O’clock mass.
Line will be away on holidays for the next 3 Sundays.
The Samoan Divine Mercy group will be singing this Sunday, 4 th October. Alison will be available for the following Sunday. The 3 rd Sunday the Samoan, Vaoliko & Ala, are rostered, but as both Alison & I will be away on this Sunday – I don’t think there will be music or singing at mass.
Fr. Dom said that Vaoliko is sick – problem hip, was in hospital at some time.

Pastoral Care:

Fr. Dom said that there are more people who require assistance to come to church. But sometimes when they are picked up, they are not feeling well and said they are not going, which is a bit inconvenient for the volunteers.
Nursing home visitations are ok – Centacare Catholic care wants someone to be trained as counsellors against abortion or other option- they are running a course. Anyone interested to let Fr. Dom Know.

St Vincent de Paul:

John Ashe said, we have not lost any volunteers – the ladies are doing an excellent job – the new stock is selling well. We are still doing home visits.
The Catholic weekly is not selling as well, only 30 or so. There is a competition going at the moment and it closes next Wednesday.

Acolytes:

Renato has moved to St. Ives and he thinks it will be for 6 months or so.
His parents are still in the parish. Fr. Dom will look for new acolyte.

Art and Environment:

Line would like to thank Father for the Iron and Ironing Board. John Sarkis commented that it was his wife, who went and bought them - It made a big difference.
The church was decorated for the 1 st Communion, which was celebrated on the 13 th of September. Bill Nolan said it was very beautiful. Line would like to thank Margaret Sarkis for her help.
Special thanks to Hop and the other parishioners who helped to clean up the church on Saturday, after Wednesday’s dust storm (23.09.09).
Line has started a PowerPoint manual for the decoration of the church, to make it easier to explain to others what has to be done on different occasions. The next time to decorate will be for the feast of St. Felix, which will be on the same day of the fete.
Line suggested a different Sunday, for its difficult to be at the fete the day before and decorate and prepare for the mass/liturgy/singing for the feast the next day.
The matter was put to the vote, so everyone agrees to another Sunday. The feast Mass will be on the 15 th November, and after mass, there will be Cakes and Coffee.

Altar Society:

Everything is going well. Group 4 was rostered for last week and it was very helpful to see some people in church helping with the cleaning.

RCIA:

Br. Ambrose can take a few people for training now. Three candidates will be trained.

St Felix de Valois School:

The national assessment numeracy and literacy test results are in and the children did well.
RE. The School Hall - We have had two meetings since the last council meeting.
Puflett Assosciation from Double Bay gave information about the hall – it is 990 sq. Metres now, but the new one will sit about 400 people – the stage will be on the side, and will be moveable – on either side there will be removable doors.
Entrance to be along Chapel Road. There will be a garden in front. – We are moving 5 metres back from the Car Yard.
There will be rainwater tanks, solar power on roofs and the playground and hall will be on the same level. Garage type doors which will be roll up so it look even bigger (from the children playground). New toilet block for the boys. (Quite a big project). The stage will be 3 steps up from the ground. The Kitchen, be parted by a mesh door to connect to the hall. Project will start in March and finish in October. Control of the Hall will be by the School – Not the parish – The school will be looking after the cleaning and maintenance – School function and Parish function - And the others, will have to decide later, In regards with the bond etc. It has to be environmentally friendly. No air conditioning.
A letter from Dr. Dan White.
Strategic plans for catholic schools – Listening assemblies will invite – Assembly for St Felix will be at Liverpool Catholic Club - 26 th October, from 7pm to 9pm. Two Questions – what will have been the significant successors -re: HSC or the cost within the CPI, or the challenge by building schools – the importance of - see memo attached. Challenge about getting the poor family into our school –
Year 5 spent some time at La Salle college – met seniors, had Barbeque lunch etc.

La Salle School:

96 young men were graduated this morning – next year will be less.
This Year will get about 107 for year 7.

Friendship group:

Bev said that John Sarkis’s friend had a restaurant – she wants to know if she can organise a night over there – John has already talked to the owner – so there is a $25, $35, $45, menu - she wants to put an amount per head so that she can organise a group to go and she will do a flyer to go either on the bulletin or in the church – It will happen on a Saturday night – 21 st. November – At Crum in Concord.

Cemetery committee:

The last meeting was 21 st. August, the Canopy is installed now. The plants have died. There will be more planted. The committee decided to put 2 more Memorial niche walls on the eastern side boundary through the cemetery from south to north.
There will be stepping stones in the cemetery, as a pathway– this will allow people to go in because some are hesitant to walk through the cemetery, think they are walking on graves.
Next meeting will be on 24 th November at 10.30am.

Vietnamese committee:

The Eucharistic youth still using the classes for their mass.

Polish committee:

Fr. Dom said the polish were celebrating their 50 th Anniversary – mass with the Cardinal then at the Polish club for lunch. He also ask Wally if he wanted to continue, but he said he will get someone else, a young person, but has not found anyone yet.

Divine Mercy/

Samoan committee:

Roa and Julie have moved to Rosemeadow but will still participate in this parish.

Priest Report:

We have written a letter to Mr. Stewart, re Hall for $30,000.00. The Catholic Care would like to put a stand at the church entrance, so that we, the parish can promote their pamphlet, books, etc.
The Archdiocese plan is to be read and any suggestion or ideas, can also be anonymously done, and addressed to Fr. Dom, or just leave it in the mail box at the presbytery, because we will invite the bishop at the next meeting –

Felix Hall: UP

It was cleaned last week.

Youth Report:

Held two youth nights since the last meeting;

1. Movie Night - 14 th August – approx. 25 youths.

2. Pizza Night – 18 th September – same youths plus the Divine Mercy Youth group.

Launched the “FLY – FAITH LIVING YOUTH” group at the Pizza night and asked for ideas from the youth. Representatives from Youth for Christ attended and have expressed interest in bringing Youth for Christ to the parish and helping out with the youth at St Felix. Will keep the Parish Council posted on these developments.
Joe said that her daughter talk about the meeting and it is promising.

Catechesis:

Last Sunday in the bulletin we had photos of 4 Catechists, they were very proud.
They received blessing and certificate at the mass at the Cathedral. Rosa and Fadwa received intermediate certificates. But Anthony Joseph has all of his certificates and went for a higher grade, so he has a higher certificate now. This year, Priest who is a catechist received certificate also. But as Bev didn’t give Father’s name, he did not get one. Fr. Dom said he didn’t need one. Bev said she will try to get one for him.

09 Fete:

White Elephant will start next week, on Tuesday nights at 7pm for one hour.
Raffle tickets have been sold at masses. The first week was good, the second slow.
Tickets will be sent home after the holidays. Rides – 2 new rides for this fete, the Dodgem cars are out.

General Business:

Trees in front of Hall will stay.

Meeting closed at 8.30pm

Next meeting: Wed. 2 nd of December, 2009 at 7pm

Chairperson: John Sarkis

Minutes: Alison Collet