Present: Kate Charlesworth, Chris Hairs, David McCabe, Roger Wright, Fr Bryan, Owen Clutton, Austin Barradell, Breda Ford, Peter Benson, Aline Dalgleish, Sue David.

Apologies: Anne Jackson, Madeleine Howell, Nick Babb, Marie Morley.

Matters arising from previous notes

SVP inaugural meeting deferred to 24th February.

Christmas Services:  Went well.  5pm Vigil Mass no overcrowding issues but lack of carols raised by parishioners.  Will be reviewed for December 2010.

Noise in Church: PAT had produced a paper on Children at Mass to be circulated at all Masses this Sunday.

Hire of hall

Owen’s revised papers circulated and well received.  Agreed all groups need to sign the revised terms for usage in the updated application form.  Agreed meetings of parish groups will not incur a hire fee but events will be charged as per normal rates.  Pricing still to be confirmed.  Peter to research prices charged in other halls.

Parish register and Email circulars

Agreed that their use should be restricted to occasional usage with options for parishioners to unsubscribe from further circulars.

Hall redevelopment

Scoping team issued a progress report which is being circulated this Sunday at all Masses.  The team hopes to have costed options by June/July.  Much work is ongoing behind the scenes by the Scoping and Specification Teams.  A surveyor is to be appointed by the Property Committee shortly to obtain a full report on the condition of church and hall premises.  The choice of surveyor will be subject to final approval by the diocese.

MaP to co-ordinate an Autumn Fair as a fundraising project with Aline and Sue to co-ordinate names for the team.  Parish to be updated on covenants and benefits of gift-aid giving.

CAFOD Spring raffle

Agreed for 14th February.  David to organise volunteers with tickets to be sold at the back of the church and the hall.

Christmas Lunch for the over 60’s

Guides complimented on the running of this event which was very successful.  Lack of leaders highlighted and Fr Bryan to be kept informed if this worsens any further.  Feasibility of having a summer tea party for the over 60’s to be explored.

Cold weather action

The recent heavy snow caused many issues including lack of equipment to clear snow, lack of grit but also a lack of volunteers to help.  Property Committee will be asked to look at this issue.

Rotas for Briefly

Several MaP members approached on this subject.  There has been no decrease in attendance of duties since the rota has been taken off Briefly though Saturday evenings remain a concern for poor attendance.  Although rotas are well communicated by way of duty sheets in the lobby and information on the website, the parish has been used to and has valued the reminder via Briefly – also the information shown there is a witness to the parish at large as to the numbers who participate in supporting our liturgy.  Fr Bryan said he would review the situation.

Any Other Business

●   Parish retreat at Walsingham proposed for May 2010.

●   Combining 10.00am and 11.30am Masses proposed for St James’ Day in the garden on Sunday 25th July.  A team will be needed to organise this.

●   A homeless family from the Poverest Baptist church has been temporarily housed in the flat above the Presbytery.  Re-housing by Bromley council has been confirmed for mid-February.

●   An amendment sheet to the welcome booklet is being issued shortly.

● Fr Bryan to consider listing the sick of the parish in Briefly and during Mass.