St. Andrew's Parish Pastoral Council Consultation Exercise
Preliminary Findings
Introduction
After Mass in the weekend of 18/19 April the Parish Pastoral Council consulted you, the parishioners, on a range of subjects. We asked you to help us shape our priorities as a parish; we sought your ideas on what we can do in the parish to :
After Mass in the weekend of 18/19 April the Parish Pastoral Council consulted you, the parishioners, on a range of subjects. We asked you to help us shape our priorities as a parish; we sought your ideas on what we can do in the parish to :
- Deepen our relationship with Jesus
- Develop our parish community
- Reach out to the wider world
Liturgy
Including the Sacraments, music, prayer and devotion.
On the whole, parishioners were appreciative of aspects of the Liturgy. There was a demand for a quiet and contemplative time in church before Mass. There were mixed thoughts around Music. Details of the various comments will be fed back to the co-ordinators for each of the ministries for review.
Including the Sacraments, music, prayer and devotion.
On the whole, parishioners were appreciative of aspects of the Liturgy. There was a demand for a quiet and contemplative time in church before Mass. There were mixed thoughts around Music. Details of the various comments will be fed back to the co-ordinators for each of the ministries for review.
Youth
Including child and young adult faith formation.
If our provision for primary-school children was praised, the provision for secondary school pupils/ young adults was widely recognized as of great concern. The parish needs to focus on What can we do to continue with a Catholic education for the senior years of our young peoples lives? Can we enable them to enrich their moral and spiritual development? The distance to the Catholic secondary school is an issue, therefore it's how best we as a parish reach out to support our young people in continuing their journey of faith. There have been excellent suggestions that could help deepen young people’s relationships with Jesus. This is done in their primary years within the parish, therefore it's imperative that we, in conjunction with the Archdiocesan youth initiative, work together to ensure that the young person is at the centre of putting their faith into action throughout their teenage years.
Including child and young adult faith formation.
If our provision for primary-school children was praised, the provision for secondary school pupils/ young adults was widely recognized as of great concern. The parish needs to focus on What can we do to continue with a Catholic education for the senior years of our young peoples lives? Can we enable them to enrich their moral and spiritual development? The distance to the Catholic secondary school is an issue, therefore it's how best we as a parish reach out to support our young people in continuing their journey of faith. There have been excellent suggestions that could help deepen young people’s relationships with Jesus. This is done in their primary years within the parish, therefore it's imperative that we, in conjunction with the Archdiocesan youth initiative, work together to ensure that the young person is at the centre of putting their faith into action throughout their teenage years.
Pastoral
Including youth, elderly, bereaved, the fallen away, the poor, the suffering, the disadvantaged.
A number of topics were highlighted as being well done, e.g. the Soup Run, the Food Bank, St Vincent de Paul and SPRED. Our work in ecumenism and the visits to the sick, elderly and bereaved was complimented. Capable of improvement were longer term support of the bereaved, encouraging greater participation by the youth of the parish, reaching out to the “fallen away” and better transport for/ contact with elderly and housebound parishioners and their carers.
Including youth, elderly, bereaved, the fallen away, the poor, the suffering, the disadvantaged.
A number of topics were highlighted as being well done, e.g. the Soup Run, the Food Bank, St Vincent de Paul and SPRED. Our work in ecumenism and the visits to the sick, elderly and bereaved was complimented. Capable of improvement were longer term support of the bereaved, encouraging greater participation by the youth of the parish, reaching out to the “fallen away” and better transport for/ contact with elderly and housebound parishioners and their carers.
Catechesis
Including for children, for youth, for adults, for enquirers.
The comments submitted were on the whole positive, with many excellent suggestions on how we can develop in this area. The Children’s Liturgy provision received special praise whilst in other areas such as Adult Faith Formation/ Spiritual Development there were requests for initiatives to develop this aspect of Parish Life. A programme of talks is in the process of being implemented to address this.
Including for children, for youth, for adults, for enquirers.
The comments submitted were on the whole positive, with many excellent suggestions on how we can develop in this area. The Children’s Liturgy provision received special praise whilst in other areas such as Adult Faith Formation/ Spiritual Development there were requests for initiatives to develop this aspect of Parish Life. A programme of talks is in the process of being implemented to address this.
Social
Including events, socials, clubs, fundraisers.
There was much praise for the coffee mornings after 10a.m Mass, with suggestions that we extend them to after other Masses (particularly 12 noon). There were also very positive comments on the organisation of various social groups and activities e.g. whist, carpet bowls, the Christmas card sale etc. People felt there is a need to focus on families and youth, organising more social events to encourage greater participation in and a sense of belonging to the Parish community. There was a clear recognition that we need more volunteers to help plan/ take responsibility for organisation of parish social activities and that we must find a way of re-energising a wider support for Parish events from parishioners. A number of innovative suggestions for a wider range of get-togethers have given the Parish Pastoral Council substantial food for thought.
Including events, socials, clubs, fundraisers.
There was much praise for the coffee mornings after 10a.m Mass, with suggestions that we extend them to after other Masses (particularly 12 noon). There were also very positive comments on the organisation of various social groups and activities e.g. whist, carpet bowls, the Christmas card sale etc. People felt there is a need to focus on families and youth, organising more social events to encourage greater participation in and a sense of belonging to the Parish community. There was a clear recognition that we need more volunteers to help plan/ take responsibility for organisation of parish social activities and that we must find a way of re-energising a wider support for Parish events from parishioners. A number of innovative suggestions for a wider range of get-togethers have given the Parish Pastoral Council substantial food for thought.
Other
Including communications e.g. social media and a more visual awareness of fellow parishioners.
A large body of responses was to the effect that we have a beautiful parish with committed parishioners, good workers and very hard-working priests. The Weekly Bulletin, Reachout and the parish website were all praised.
Many commentators did feel that we could improve communications, e.g. by using social media. We could also make it much easier for parishioners to put names to known faces, and faces to oft-heard names. Perhaps our natural modesty, is in this instance, not benefitting us!
Including communications e.g. social media and a more visual awareness of fellow parishioners.
A large body of responses was to the effect that we have a beautiful parish with committed parishioners, good workers and very hard-working priests. The Weekly Bulletin, Reachout and the parish website were all praised.
Many commentators did feel that we could improve communications, e.g. by using social media. We could also make it much easier for parishioners to put names to known faces, and faces to oft-heard names. Perhaps our natural modesty, is in this instance, not benefitting us!
Conclusion
There were many good ideas and suggestions, which we’d all love to see put into practice. What is very clear is that we will not be able to take forward all the suggestions without the involvement of more of our parishioners so please start to give that some thought. If you have not given God that extra hour a week, or not for a good while, come forward and help out in the Parish work you’re most comfortable with.
If you wish to view the complete findings please speak to a Parish Pastoral Council member.
There were many good ideas and suggestions, which we’d all love to see put into practice. What is very clear is that we will not be able to take forward all the suggestions without the involvement of more of our parishioners so please start to give that some thought. If you have not given God that extra hour a week, or not for a good while, come forward and help out in the Parish work you’re most comfortable with.
If you wish to view the complete findings please speak to a Parish Pastoral Council member.
