NORTH COUNTRY DEANERY PASTORAL COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING

Held 5^th November, 2011 at St Patrick's , Gympie

 

Present:  Elaine Madill, Edward Ekari, Helen Bonanno, Kim Koster, Gay Gordon, Nigel  and Carol  Young, Jack Crough, Kathy Banney, Cavell Black, Fr Pat Dowd, Fr Pat Cassidy, Fr John Hong, Anne Young, Vince Dollison, Julie Lynch, Tom Bushell

 

Apologies:  Pam Radcliffe, Denise Rapkins, Anne Miller, Ross Hamilton, Berry Doak, Fr John Khoai, Fr Michael Carroll, Fr Paul Kelly

 

Minutes:  The minutes from August were read and accepted – with one change:  where the minutes read "13 new priests will be coming to Aust in 2012"  it should read , " there will be 13 new priests altogether in 2012,  including overseas priests, after ordinations" ?

 

Business arising :

Both Gympie and Hervey Bay have recently had retreats – very successful (Gympie had Sr Diana, and Hervey Bay had Sr Mary Franzmann)  Gayndah also had time recently  with Fr John Reilly who stayed in the parish for a few days, travelling to different churches and giving the homily. He charged very little and was very good.

Deanery retreat  - was very meaningful, a beautiful setting at Ormiston. Maybe next year, we could have another deanery retreat – perhaps within our own region ( Bunya?);  not a silent retreat next time

 

Correspondence:  James Curtain emailed to inform us that the Archdiocesan pastoral Council has been disbanded, and its future will depend on the next Archbishop. Thank you to James for being our deanery rep on the council over the last couple of years.

 

Financial Statements:

All members were given a copy of expenditure by deanery and by individual parishes. By looking at other parish expenditure, we can perhaps get ideas for our own parish  projects.

 

Left Over money:  For those parishes who have already spent all their allocated funds, our dean has invited us to apply for any extra  projects we may have before the end of the year – as there will be possibly $9 000 still available. This money does not carry over to next year.  Please contact Fr Pat directly , at Gympie parish if you wish to obtain some of these funds.

 

Fr Paul and the Maryborough parish had prepared  a list of  projects , and wish to use some of the extra funds for these.  These ideas  were  read out to the meeting. 

Kim suggested that his parish might use some of the funds for Christmas Cultural activities for Youth in Gayndah.

Anne suggested one idea might be to bring in guest speakers from the Jesuit Refugee Society to our parish.

 

Dean's Comments:

The Dean showed us the 3 different sized new Missals which have recently arrived in parishes. 

The Dean spoke about next year – The Year of Grace – the focus will be more on a deanery and parish level, rather than archdiocesan. Material will come through late January/February, in readiness for Pentecost when the Year of Grace begins.

There has been no word about the replacement for Archbishop Bathersby.

Fr Pat spoke about the recent meeting of the Australian Bishops with the Pope. They wish to find a role for retired Bishop Bill Morris, in the life of the Church in Australia. 

Fr Pat said next year, all of us in the deanery would do well to take the opportunity to SLOW down! And make the most of the Year of Grace.

Formation  at DPC meeting

Ideas for guest speakers at our meetings in 2012, to be discussed at first meeting of the year. (18 Feb in Maryborough)

 

Dates for 2012: Saturdays -  18 Feb (Maryborough), 12 May (Gympie), 11 August (Murgon), 10 November (Gympie)

 

 

The meeting paused for a short break and then re-gathered at 11am for a session with Peter Arndt.

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"Building Bridges, Not Walls. The Prisons and the Justice System"

2011 Social Justice Statement (from the ACBC)

presented by Peter Arndt (From Catholic Justice and Peace Commission)

 

Peter led us through the document, concerning  the Australian prison system and the pastoral needs of prisoners .  Anne Young, previously a Prison Chaplain for 6 years, and Vince Dollison, currently a prison chaplain at Maryborough prison, share stories about the prisoners to whom they had ministered.

 

Peter, Anne and Vince are all happy to come and speak to parishioners, to help raise awareness of issues of prisoners and the special needs of prisoners on their release into the community.

(Peter Arndt's  Phone No:  33369173.;  Vince may be contacted via the Maryborough parish ;  Anne Young may  be contacted through the Hervey Bay parish. )

 

Meeting concluded at 12.15pm  and members shared lunch, before travelling home

 

 

North Country Deanery Pastoral Council

Minutes of Meeting

13^th August 2011 in Murgon

 

Present:  Nigel & Carol Young, Helen Bonanno, Denise Rapkins, Jack Crough, Julie Lynch, Kathy Banney, Fr Pat Dowd, Fr Joseph, Fr Michael, Edward  Ekari (Seminarian)  , Kim Koster, Cavell Black

 

Apologies:  Fr Paul Kelly, Fr John Hong, Fr John Khoai,  Tom Bushell, Berry Doak, Fr Pat Cassidy, Gay Gordon, Ross Hamilton, James Curtain, Kay Dove.

 

Everyone introduced themselves and described their involvement in their respective parishes.

 

Minutes:  Read and accepted

 

Business arising from Minutes:

1. Family Conference  follow up - Jack spoke about the Men's group "Men Alive" Gympie will start this next June.  Jack will have more to report at the next meeting. It is still in the planning stages.

2.  Deanery Retreat – on 16/17 September.  There are presently 24 participants, with a few places still spare. Participants will receive confirmation of details in early September.

3. Parish Retreats  - Sr Mary Franzmann will be doing a retreat in H Bay on 30/31 October;  Gympie will have a retreat day with Sr Dianna Law on 16^th October.

4. Deanery Youth Day – 60 people attended, with youth from Gympie, Gin Gin, Noosa, and Hervey Bay. This was held at Xavier College, Hervey Bay, and led by members of the Emmanuel Youth Outreach team. Gin Gin has a keen group of youth , and Nanango has a group with mainly primary aged children. Gympie is tying to get Year 7 involved before moving up to high school. The Gympie youth are involved in the cuppa after mass.  Two ladies – Joanne Rogers and Sordelisa Claudio – are very involved and doing great work.  Next year, perhaps Kingaroy might host the DYD? Julie said there is a new Youth coordinator in Kingaroy parish; otherwise Gympie will do it.

5. New Missal Workshops – there has been much positive feedback on the workshops with Elizabeth Harrington in our deanery.

 

 

 

Other Business:

Fr Joseph reported from the Deanery priests meeting -  there will be 13 new priests coming to Australia in February 2012 (from Nigeria, India, and PNG)

The appointment of a new Archbishop may take a while as it is a long process.

In 2013, the new deanery fund will be much less – maybe $17 000 ? The Deanery Pastoral Council will need to review our Funding allocation .  Our parishes have been fortunate to have funding over recent years for our own projects and this will  not be the case in the future.

 

Expenditure Statements:

Each parish received a statement of their spending of funds (prepared by deanery finance person, Mary Kirkpatrick)  PLEASE SPEND YOUR FUNDS BEFORE DECEMBER.

 The money allocated to Beginning Theology courses may need to be reviewed, as very few groups have formed in recent years. It may need some good advertising again?

 

Social Justice Statement.  Next Meeting (5^th November at Gympie) – Peter Arndt has offered to come to our deanery once again to speak on Prisons and the Justice System (latest Social Justice Statement to be released in September). Meeting agreed it may be worth bringing him to our next meeting; we would need to advertise it to our communities in case others (such as prison chaplains) may wish to attend also.  Julie to check with Fr Pat Cassidy first.

 

Fr Michael Carroll gave a very interesting talk and insights  on the history  of Cherbourg .  He recommends  the book " A Dumping Ground , A history of Cherbourg Settlement 1900- 1940" -  would be very good for parish libraries.

Fr Michael suggested the DPC may like to go to the Rations Shed at Cherbourg, when we meet in Murgon again, next year, for some education about the history of the aboriginals in the area.

Fr Michael also shared about his study of icons at the Catholic University in Belgium last year during his sabbatical.  He has done some 'writing of icons'

 

NEXT MEETING :   5^TH NOVEMBER IN GYMPIE.

 

 

MINUTES OF DEANERY PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING

Gympie, October 30^th 2010

 

Present:  Nigel and Carol Young, Cavell Black, Fr John Hong, Wayne Jensen, (Kingaroy & Nanango) Ross Hamilton,  Fr Joseph , Pat Deeley, Julie Lynch (Hervey Bay) Denise Rapkins , Helen Bonanno(Childers),  Elaine Madill (Murgon), Kathy Banney (Maryborough), Tom Bushell, Fr Pat Cassidy, Fr Pat Dowd, Jack Crough, Berry Doak (Gympie) , Sr Cecilia Anning (Pastoral Council Secretariat)  and Peter Arndt  (Justice & Peace Commission)

 

Expenditure:  Statements were given out, showing individual parish expenditure of deanery funds, and also deanery level expenditure.   Three parishes have yet to spend their $4 500. Wayne said that Kingaroy will be sending invoices very soon, for their projects.

Cecilia Anning commented that the North Country was doing very well -  we are spending our funds  in the intended way. She congratulated us.

Wayne asked if it was possible to earmark funds for early next year.  Fr Pat said yes, but only if the project had begun this year, with invoices coming in next year. 

 

Budget:   The following suggested budget for 2011  was discussed.

(Amounts in red are this year's 2010;  amounts highlighted in green/yellow are proposed for 2011)

 

DEANERY  LEVEL :    $ 34 000/  2011       $34000

Admin (5hr/wk coord – this was previously 10 hr/wk)

$8 000   ($6500 – Wages;  $1500 – office supplies, fuel and lunch costs for meetings)

$15 000 ( 13 000 –wages;  $ 2000 – office supplies, fuel and lunch costs)

 Adult Faith Education, Theology studies (Beg Theol, etc)$6 000  $6000

8 fully funded BT courses @$320 =           $ 2560

 5 High level theol part funding @$500 =  $2500

2 deanery level w/shops ministry           = $  940(incl fuel reimbursements, lunch and costs of presenter…)

 Deanery Youth Day 2010   $4 000    $3000   (2011)

SPECIAL PROJECT :  Pray 2010 (July 7-10)...........  $16 000                 $10 000   - 2011 project  (to be decided)                                          ************************************************************************

PARISH LEVEL (DO THE SAME IN 2011 - $4 500 X 8 = $36 000)

(Total  parish level allocation :  $4 500 x 8 =     $36 000)There will be $4 500  available to each parish for the purpose of implementing any one or more  of the Synod priorities

The $10 000 allocated to Special Projects, was discussed (previously this has been used for WYD, Pray 2010, and other major events)  Some suggestions for this:

1. Ecumenical Gatherings are being organized throughout the Archdiocese in 2011, the closes being at Sippy Downs. Fr Pat suggested we use funds for buses to attend this.
2. A Deanery retreat – maybe at Ormiston? – was suggested, for Deanery Pastoral Council members , and an invitation to all  (costing to be done by February meeting)
3. Sponsoring youth to the WYD in Spain

 

The Parish level funds – all agreed to continue as we did last year – with individual parishes applying for funds for projects which implement Synod priorities (the stated purpose of our deanery funding)  The application forms to go out soon, to all DPC members.  These to be completed and returned by February meeting.

 

Pastoral Plan Review.  Our deanery needs to send in statistics to the Archdiocese, and name any changes to our 2005-2011 Pastoral Plan.  The plan as is,  may be used to 2013; priests meeting will further discuss this, as well as the deanery exec.  At our February meeting, comments/review on the existing plan will be given to the DPC members to discuss. 

One thing mentioned, was the need for each parish to have a Local Plan, in cases of emergency (i.e. when the priest is  suddenly ill/unavailable).  Priests will discuss this at their next priests meeting.

 

Parish Profiles template (number of baptisms, funerals, etc)  was given out again to all DPC members. All statistics to be sent to Julie Lynch( Fax 41243983) by the end of 2010 if possible.

 

General  Business:

Fr John Hong commented that Peter Warner in his parish, had been training to be deacon, but at present his training was not proceeding. Fr John is disappointed, and feels that there is a big need for a permanent deacon in the Kingaroy /Nanango parishes.

It was suggested that we put on our agenda for February – the need for diaconate  and/or lay ministries in our deanery.  How to ensure an increase in such ministers.

 

Sr. Cecilia Anning distributed a sheet which explains the Role of the Secretariat for pastoral Councils.  She introduced our new deanery members on the secretariat – Elaine Madill for the west o f our deanery, and Helen Bonanno, for the East side.  She thanked Pat Deeley for her years of great work, reporting to the secretariat on behalf of the East side., and presented her with a lovely framed thank you certificate.

 

Dates for next year were given:

February 12^th   (Maryborough), May 7^th (Gympie), 

August 13^th (Murgon), November 5^th (Gympie)

 

WORKSHOP

  Peter Arndt  broke open the Social Justice Statement 2010 (Violence in Australia), with small group discussions.  Peter offered his services to any parish, who might like to explore social justice issues, or find more resources. set up social justice groups .....

 

 

 

North Country Deanery Pastoral Council Meeting

April 17 2010, Murgon

 

Present:  Cavell Black, Sr Eunice, Fr Pat Dowd, Pat Deeley, Denise Rapkins,  Helen Bonanno, Kay Dove, Berry Doak, Ross Hamilton, Fr Joseph Hien Van Vo, Fr John Hong, Wayne Jensen, Tom Bushell, Kim Koster, Elaine Madill, Kathy Banney, Fr Pat Cassidy

Apologies: James Curtain, Fr Paul, Fr John Khoai, Gay Gordon, Hope Koster, Betty Young, Teresa Hodson

Minutes:  Accepted

Business arising :

*Julie to  email youth contacts, and organize a meeting to start  preparing for the Deanery Youth Day (August)

* Fr Bill O'Shea's presentation in Gympie (Movement for a Better World)  was to be in May, but has been postponed.  Jack Crough, PPC chair in Gympie, will let us know the dates, so any other deanery members can attend, if they are interested.   The presentation is an all day event, and Gympie parish plans to implement the follow up  program .

Correspondence:  A letter sent to our dean by Bishop Brian was read  out – it was the approval for the $34 000 deanery level funds (this includes administration, wages for coordinator, $16 000 for all parishes to send people to Pray 2010, etc. See budget)

Deanery funding to parishes:

FOR  PAYMENT OF INVOICES, OR REIMBURSEMENTS FROM DEANERY FUNDS: All invoices to be sent to:  Mary Kirkpatrick,  St Mary's Catholic Parish, 269 Adelaide St, Maryborough 4650 .  If this is money to be reimbursed, please include the name of the reimbursee, and their address, so a cheque can be sent.

Fr John Hong asked about the money which is not spent in any one year.  He suggests that this money be used for the future. This has been discussed with the Archdiocese in previous years – if any project is ongoing i.e it begins in one year and continues in the following year, or invoices are to be paid in the following year, that is OK. However, keeping money for future years, with no definite project already started , is not allowed.  Looking on the positive side, this does ensure that each parish does some planning, in order to access the funds in the immediate future.

Julie was asked to send out the parish expenditure statement for this year so far, with these minutes (though not much has been spent as yet, due to parishes finalizing and sending in their plans)

Julie is still waiting on 3 parishes to send in their plan/application.  Kay asked if spending could begin now – and the answer is yes.  There is money in the account,  (from the approved deanery level funding) SO  (we are assuming our parish level funding will get approval!) parishes may begin spending. 

IT was suggested that the synod priorities and examples of ways to implement, be sent to all parishes  (Julie to find some which the archdiocese sent to all parishes a  couple of years ago……….)

It was suggested that budget updates be always sent to PPC chairs.  (all but two  of the chairs are actually members of the DPC, but Julie will send a separate mail out to PPC chairs)  Please note:  all DPC reps need  to be updating their PPC's on deanery activities, funding, etc.

Kay asked whether planning by PPC's could be ongoing i.e. each year plan for the year ahead with deanery funding.  (We have been told that the current level of  funding  will continue for three years, including this year, so PPC's could well be planning a little ahead;  the  deanery  pastoral council will review the budget each November.

Pray 2010.  Buses have been booked for a day trip to Friday 9 July sessions.   – one for the east of deanery (Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie, and Childers?), with 44 bookings so far.  Murgon, Kingaroy and Nanango have one small bus going, with 10 bookings so far.  Gayndah will be taking car loads of people.  The $2000 funds per parish, may be distributed by each parish, as fairly as possible, to support people going to Pray 2010  (i.e. for registration, fuel/transport, and accommodation perhaps)

Future Meetings and workshops

JULY 24 Meeting (Gympie) :  Elizabeth Harrington was booked for this meeting. She has concerns about the amount of time, so the following is proposed:

Brief meeting begins at 9.30am;  10am cuppa;  10.30 – 12.30 workshop;  12.30 LUNCH      

Julie to contact Elizabeth about this. Proposed topic for the liturgy workshop:  Lay lead liturgies. (perhaps also ministry of communion to the sick). General guidelines regarding Lay Liturgies, and discussion of some of the issues surrounding this .

OCTOBER  30 (Maryborough)  – Peter Arndt has been booked to come and "break open" the Social Justice statement which will be released in September (this year it is about anger and violence)

Meeting finished at 12 noon, followed by LUNCH

RETREAT: Many members went to the home of Fran and Neil Hutton, of Wondai, for an afternoon retreat. , with afternoon tea and bbq tea.  Thank you so much to Fran for leading us through a lovely time of reflection and to Elaine Madill,  Murgon DPC rep, for organizing this.

 

 
Julie
 
 

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NORTH COUNTRY DEANERY PASTORAL COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 6^TH FEBRUARY 2010, GYMPIE

 

Present:  Conor Ryan, Margaret Ryan, Avila Power, Betty Pierce, Julie Lynch (Hervey Bay);  Elizabeth Arthy, Cavell Black (Nanango);  Sr Eunice Osborne, Betty Young, Kim Koster, Gay Gordon (Gayndah); Fr  Paul Kelly, Kathy Banney (Maryborough);  Elaine Madill (Murgon), Tom Bushell, Berry Doak, Fr Pat Cassidy (Gympie);  Fr Emmanuel Sebatian, Kemsley Kelly (Childers)

Apologies:  Fr Joseph, James Curtain, Fr John, Fr Henry, Fr John Hong, Julie Foot

Minutes:   Accepted

Business arising from Minutes:

PRAY  2010   There was discussion on our participation in Pray 2010 (July , in Mt Gravatt).  Parishes have been sent detailed programs and registration details.  Some Early Bird discounts still apply for those registering by 31^st March.  Hervey Bay parish said they were considering hiring a bus , to take parishioners down for one day……this would enable more to attend, and save on accommodation costs.   It was suggested that a good use of deanery funds might be to hire a bus (perhaps one for Childers, Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Gympie  and one for Murgon, Gayndah, Nanango and Kingaroy) .  West and East of deanery to organize this for themselves, if they get good response….  Elizabeth told us about the call for volunteers for Pray 2010, if anyone is interested.

Proposed Budget for 2010

 

DEANERY  LEVEL (Total Deanery level allocation :    $ 34 000)   Admin (5hr/wk coord – this was previously 10 hr/wk) $8 000   ($6500 – Wages;  $1500 – office supplies, fuel and lunch costs for meetings)   Adult Faith Education, Theology studies (Beg Theol, etc) $6 000  8 fully funded BT courses @$320 =           $ 2560  5 High level theol part funding @$500 =  $2500 2 deanery level w/shops ministry           = $  940 (incl fuel reimbursements, lunch and costs of presenter…)   Deanery Youth Day 2010 $4 000   Pray 2010 (July 7-10) $16 000 (allowing $2000 per parish……….closing date  (end of May???) to be set for application for this $2000 and remaining funds to be used by those parishes   with more planning to attend Pray 2010. Registration costs approx $180 - $200 per person for full program, plus up to three nights accomodation in Brisbane if needed)

PARISH LEVEL

(Total  parish level allocation :  $4 500 x 8 =     $36 000)

There will be $4 500  available to each parish for the purpose of implementing any one or more  of the Synod priorities (see previous page)

 In order to obtain the funding  ($70 000 in total), we need to submit our plans. Therefore , we are asking each parish to complete the following, (Form below)  and return to Julie Lynch (PO Box 3250 , Pialba 4655 or pa.herveybay@bne.catholic.net.au ) by the end of February…………????

 

APPLICATION FORM FOR PARISH PROJECTS

NAME OF PARISH………………………………………………………………………………

Proposed Use of Deanery Funds to implement Synod Priorities

PROJECT  ONE

Synod Priority :

Activity/project to implement this priority

Approximate costs  involved

TOTAL amount:

The proposed budget as outlined above , was accepted by those present.  It was pointed out, the  Archdiocese has stipulated the use of deanery funds for MAJOR projects at deanery level.  We all agreed that our deanery was unique , with its large area, and far flung parishes, and that some of our funding should continue to be used at parish level,  while using half our funds for deanery level projects.  IT is important that our focus be on the Synod priorities, as listed in the Budget document.  This will be proposed to Bishop Brian Finnigan.

All parish priests and pastoral councils will be sent the application forms for parish projects , to be returned to Julie , by  early March.  These will then be submitted to Bishop Brian for approval of our funding.

Please Note:  The dean asks that each parish keeps the number of projects to just 2 or 3 major ones.

Fr Paul read out a sample Project Application:  (see last  page for sample application )

 This might be helpful to parishes, in formulating their own applications.  This to be sent to all Parishes.

Pray 2010:  as  in our budget, $2 000 has been allocated for each parish to send people to Pray 2010.  Once parishes know how much they will need to help send people to Brisbane (including cost of transport, accommodation and registration), please let Deanery know, by the end  of March.   Any excess funds can then be redistributed, to those parishes with larger contingents.

Important Dates :*Archdiocesan Gathering in Gympie, Saturday 13^th March 10 am

*Mass of Oils, Gympie, Sunday 21^st March, 2.30pm

Dates for remaining meetings of Deanery Pastoral Council this year: 

*April 17^th, Murgon (with afternoon retreat at Fran Hutton's)

*July 24^th, Gympie  (with a Liturgical workshop presented by  Elizabeth Harrington)

*October 30^th, Maryborough

The retreat after the April meeting, will  be at Fran's house, with an afternoon tea.  Those who need to go, may then leave, then the others remain for a bb q.   Anyone needing  to be billeted for the night……Elaine will organize this, with Mass in the morning.  Julie and Elaine will remind everyone in March, and find out who can stay .  It  is unfortunate that most priests will need to go back to their parishes for Mass on Saturday night;  it is hoped they will have time to stay for the first part of the retreat.

It was suggested that we invite all parishioners to attend this, if they wish, along with the DPC members.

The workshop with Elizabeth Harrington in July – this to be confirmed with Elizabeth. , and once again, all parishioners to be advised that this will occur.

Fr Bill O'Shea and Mary Fama – Movement for a Better World – will be presenting a session in Gympie after Easter. Fr Pat will advise of the date.

For October meeting, it is suggested that we invite Peter Arndt (Social Justice Commission), as he offered last year, to come up to us.

Youth

Youth reps from parishes have been contacted, and some initial conversation has begun on the Deanery Youth Day this year.  It is proposed that August 1^st be the date for this, and it will be hosted by Maryborough parish.  Julie to liaise with the youth reps, and organize a meeting in April.

Outgoing Members

Pat Deeley and David Hogan, from Hervey Bay , will no longer be attending DPC meetings. IT was suggested that they be sent a Thank You for their contribution.  Julie to bring a list of      members to next meeting, to confirm membership from each parish.

It was also suggested that a note be sent to each PPC,  explaining the role of the DPC, and naming the reps.  (as was done last year)

Minutes should be sent to PPC chairs  after every meeting – a good idea, in case the DPC member is not a regular attender at PPC meetings.

The meeting finished at 11.15am.

 

Other parishioners then joined us, in the Church, for the Lenten seminar, presented by Fr Anthony Mellor, Tricia Stapleton, and Rob Cosgrove., finishing with a shared  lunch.

 

Dates for remaining meetings of Deanery Pastoral Council this year: 

*April 17^th, Murgon (with afternoon retreat at Fran Hutton's)

*July 24^th, Gympie  (with a Liturgical workshop presented by  Elizabeth Harrington)

*October 30^th, Maryborough

 

 

 
Julie
 
 

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