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Report of the English Martyrs' Parish Pastoral Council, October 2007
What's New?
English Martyrs' has been asked to play host to a Youth Prayer Group for the York area. This is being set up by Fiona Moffat, the Diocesan Youth Officer, and further details will be available in due course.
An architectural review of the diocese is shortly to begin, in partnership with English Heritage. This may lead to some churches and other diocesan buildings becoming listed buildings, and English Martyrs' is certainly a candidate for this. There are both advantages and disadvantages to being listed, but it is not a decision that individual parishes can influence.
The Adult Formation team for the diocese has recently launched a Handbook of Short Courses. These courses are designed to be held in parishes, at a nominal cost, and cover a wide variety of topics. Copies of the handbook will be available in the parish; if any course particularly appeals to you, please let Fr Dominique know.
Our parish has been awarded Fairtrade status. This means that we are committed to using Fairtrade tea and coffee for all parish events; introducing other Fairtrade products (e.g. sugar, biscuits) when possible; and promoting Fairtrade through stalls and other means.
From the Suggestion Box
We have received a few suggestions via the box. One, very practically, was that paper should be provided for suggestions! The problems of parking were raised: there is a reciprocal arrangement with the Mount School by which we can park in their car park on Sunday morning and Tregelles parents can use the church car park for dropping off and picking up their children. Inevitably these arrangements sometimes run into unforeseeable difficulties. The problem of some mass-goers parking in the private driveway to Oliver Mews still continues.
There has been a plea for more involvement of young people in the liturgy, with the suggestion of a youth-led Mass perhaps once a quarter. This idea will be taken further by some PPC members and those involved in children's liturgy. Hopefully our young people may lead the liturgy on Youth Sunday, 25 November. There was, too, a request for more contemporary hymns.
The upcoming Talent Night on 7 December is the result of an earlier suggestion, as is the baby-changing table that should shortly be appearing in the Ladies' in the hall.
Many thanks to all who posted suggestions. Please keep them coming!
And finally ...
Oh yes it is! English Martyrs' is going to have its very own pantomime. The plan is that Cinderella will take the stage at the end of February. This project will call on the talents and expertise of the whole parish. On stage, backstage, front of house: there is something for everyone, so watch out for further announcements and start thinking about how you can get involved.