ST MARY IMMACULATE & THE HOLY ARCHANGELS

Annual General Meeting 2009

INTRODUCTION

Next Sunday our parish AGM takes place after 11.00 a.m. Mass at Kelvedon, and should last no more than 30-45 minutes.  If you can, please do stay on, or come over to make your contribution to our plans for the future.  Below you will find an indication of the different things that have been happening in the parish over the past year.  Are there are areas where you have a particular interest?  More help is always welcome?  What else would you like to see?  We will not know unless you tell us!  This year the number of baptisms and First Communions has been back to normal, but instead we have more than the usual number of weddings – eight! We have a new catechist for First Communions, Mrs Angie Hart, and I would like to thank her for all she has contributed in the way of new ideas as well as time and energy. We also need to thanks those looking after our Children’s Liturgy, in particular Charlotte Ezra who has taken on an increasing role. More helpers would always be welcome. As we look towards 2010 our focus will increasingly be on the Parish Mission in July. This will be led by members of the Sion Community in Brentwood. In the Autumn we shall be getting down to the more immediate preparation, and will be looking for those willing to help in various areas.
Fr Gordon

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR SOME GROUPS 2008/2009

Communications

• Weekly Newsletter
• Design and distribution of Good News Flyer
• Share best practice with/from BDPC
• Parish register/address list updated and put to good use
• Notice boards in all churches – Diary of Parish Calendar Dates
• Launch of Parish Website
  

Diocesan Pastoral Council

As the Parish representatives (Pat Richardson and Jadwiga Smith) we attend two meetings a year, one in November and one in May. These meetings have proved to be both informative and enjoyable and we both feel that we have learnt a lot about what happens throughout the parishes of the diocese.

This year we have had sessions covering

• Diocesan Development Fund
• Pastoral Support Team
• Pastoral Support Team
• Justice & Peace
• CASE ‘Come Home for Christmas’
• Valuing Difference
• ROOTS Parish Outreach
  

Ecumenism

• Taking our turn and supporting inter-faith WWDP with guest speaker
• Regular Clergy “fraternal” meetings
• Support to Fr. Gordon in regard to his challenging outreach across the 13 villages
• Group meetings are at Tollesbury Lighthouse to provide support both to Fr. Gordon and our far-flung colleagues
• Support all ecumenical services across the parish communities, taking part as and when required (BIG Breakfast etc)
  

Finance

• Upgrade of kitchen, storage area and disabled toilet at Tiptree was completed on time, to budget and to excellent quality standards
• Upgrade of electrics and kitchen facilities in St Dominic’s also completed
• Largest ever Gift Aid refund 2008
• Completion of Annual Parish Accounts in order to meet Diocesan standards and timescales
  

Justice and Peace

• Active involvement in Prison work
• Support of Emergency Night Shelter
• Host talks on Justice & Peace issues - South African restorative justice scheme
• Fair Trade and Live Simply
• Providing speakers from time to time
  

Mission

• A year of effort from a parish-wide selection of volunteers who delivered the Parish Council mandate of deciding the provider for Parish Mission 2010
• Since then, maintaining a watching brief on matters with an evangelistic flavour such as “Come Home for Christmas”
• Christmas card package compilation
• Support to fellow members on the sensitive aspects of outreach
• Liaison with Sion regarding their timetable and anticipated programme for Mission 2010
  

Parish Concern

• Six bi-monthly meetings during the year
• Members provide the backbone of the weekly Rosary Group
• Constructive forum for providing a balanced perspective on topical parish issues
• Inclusion of spiritual formation as an integral part of regular meetings
• Involvement of all group members in the consultation, planning, implementation and refinement of the Tiptree church upgrade project
  

Social

• Father Gordon’s 60th
• Quiz Night
• Curry Night
• Bazaar & Fete
• Senior Citizen’s lunch
  

Spiritual & Liturgical

• Support the adult and children’s Liturgy in the Parish
• Plan for all of the important feasts in the liturgical year
  
• Morning of Prayer for the whole Parish, attended by 40 people
• Highly successful Music & Children’s Liturgy Groups
• Liaison with preliminary Mission Team for 2010
  

I made a decision after the last AGM that I shouldn’t measure the success of events on the numbers of those who attend. Instead, I should accept that God guides us in all our ventures and calls each one of us in different ways to support our Parish. This has made me realise, even more than I did before, just how blessed we are to have so many willing volunteers that help the Parish achieve so much. I am really looking forward to our Parish Mission next year and to all the events that we have to plan in the run up to it. I am very grateful for the support and enthusiasm of the other Parish Council members and I would like to thank everyone that gives so much of their time and effort to our Parish Family. I feel very lucky and thank God for allowing me the privilege of doing this fantastic job!

Helena McInally
Chairperson

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