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