St John Fisher RC Church Perivale
General Meeting Held on Thursday 18 November 2023, Duration 19.00 to 20.00pm, in the Church.
Chair: Fr Peter Shekelton
Minute taker: Diane George (Revised and elaborated on by Fr. Peter)
People present: approx. 57 parishioners
After leading the prayer to the Holy Spirit Fr. Peter thanked everybody for their presence and for all they do to help the parish. Fr. Peter officially became Parish Priest on the 13 October 2023, even though he had arrived on 1 October 2022 and had minded the parish until his appointment.
Fr. Peter proceeded by reminding those present that the parish belongs to the people, and most of them would probably be around when he moves on. He reminded everyone how Pope Francis is encouraging a “culture of listening” within the Church, listening to each other and the voice of the Holy Spirit present in the People of God. This is the reason for the Synod that is currently taking place in Rome and is in keeping with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. The Church should be synodal, as should a parish. At this present time Canon Law (the Law that governs the life of the Church) still gives the Parish Priest “lock, stock and barrel” regarding decision making, but this is not good. Hopefully Canon Law will change and embrace a more synodal form of government.
Before carrying on Fr. Peter remembered that we are a link in a chain, the parish was founded in 1936. Nobody who was there then is here now, they’re dead, like we will be one day. (e.g. the Knights of St Columbus, the WWII memorial statue in the sacristy). We have to remember and appreciate everything that has happened before, some things may have been better, but times were different. It would be very arrogant to forget or ignore the past and live as if it had never happened. However, it’s now our turn, we are the present link in the chain and we have the responsibility to “pass on” the faith to the next generation.
Fr. Peter then focused on the fact that the Parish is a COMMUNITY. He emphasised the idea of COMMUNITY and reminded all that the parish is not a business. He then said that unfortunately the diocese’s focus for the parishes is more about financial sustainability and compliance to civil law (e.g. GDPR, Health and Safety, audits safeguarding etc). Though important, these are not the reason the parish exists.
So why do we exist? Fr. Peter then projected a power point slide that read:
Our Purpose:
“To Proclaim the “Good News” of Jesus Christ as Missionary Disciples of a Prophetic and Compassionate Parish, nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, enlightened by the Gospel Principle of a preferential option for those most in need, as we journey towards the definitive “Kingdom of God.”
He said that this for him is the bottom line, the reason he “gets out of bed” in the morning. He invited those present to reflect on this text that is printed on the weekly newsletter.
This is the purpose of our Parish community, and because the community is not a business, it can sometimes be messy or disorganised, like a family, but that’s okay, it’s run by volunteers, volunteers who love the community.
He added that a parish will be sustainable to the degree that it is a COMMUNITY.
Fr. Peter went on to say that we no longer have a Parish Secretary because Ana Hains, the previous secretary, had decided to move on. Currently the Secretariat is being run by a team of volunteers and seems to be working. The idea is to create an opportunity for more people to get involved in Parish life, allowing things to become naturally more organic where greater networking takes place amongst everybody.
Fr. Peter then projected a power point slide that gave three characteristics of a healthy human community that should always:
• Protect children
• Form or educate the youth
• Care for the elderly & vulnerable
He said that a Christian community was no exception, but that in addition to the above, a Christian community should also have another three aspects to its life. These were also projected by power point and read:
• Liturgy
• Learning
• Diakonia
Fr. Peter proceeded to explain what each of these meant.
Liturgy: The public act of worship where the community comes together and prays with one voice.
Learning/Formation: The teaching of our Catholic faith through Catechesis, Faith Sharing Groups and Talks on the faith that must be ongoing.
Diakonia: From the Greek word “to serve”. This includes all the pastoral works of service within the community and beyond it, as well as practical, physical and administrative work.
Obviously these three aspects overlap considerably in the Christian life of each of us, but they must always be present to a greater or lesser degree depending on age, personal circumstances and possibilities etc.
We are all called to live these three aspects as a community and individually simply because we are baptised.
So, at this moment what does our parish have in these three areas?
Liturgy: Includes all those that comes to Mass, and those that in addition to coming to Mass: read; serve on the altar; arrange the flowers; assist as Eucharist ministers; clean the church; assist as lobby stewards; work as sacristans, play instruments and sing. Everybody here is living and participating in the life of the Liturgy.
Learning/Formation: Includes those who are receiving the learning and formation and those responsible: First Holy Communion and Confirmation catechists and the couples from the ‘Neo-catechumenal Way’ who lead the post-confirmation groups every Friday. Fr. Peter mentioned that we can and should have more faith sharing groups to provide an ongoing formation for all parishioners as was done in the past.
Diakonia: Includes those who serve and benefit from the service; the annual Senior Citizens Christmas lunch; the Yo! (Youth Outreach) events where the youth of the parish visit the elderly in their homes; CAFOD initiatives etc. Also cleaning, maintenance and administrative tasks are included here.
Fr. Peter mentioned that at a later date we could adopt a charity or pastoral work that we give particular attention to. He also mentioned that our spirit of service on an individual level doesn’t have to be in the parish necessarily, it could be voluntary work at a hospital or food bank that has no direct connection to the parish, but the important thing is to serve.
Fr. Peter then presented the volunteers responsible for each area (volunteer leads) so that those present could identify them
| Readers | Ann Smith |
| Cleaners | Priyangani Perera |
| Eucharist ministers and altar servers | Maher George |
| Music: | Elizabeth Wareman |
| Lobby stewards: | Paul Tranfield |
| Flowers: | Maria Elizete Pereira and Maria de Freitas |
| Money Counters: | Marietta Bourke (but now Rebecca Giarraputo) |
| Secretariat: | Ann Smith, Joy and Candice Dsilva |
| Parish Archives: | Ann Smith |
| Chair of Finance Committee: | Peter Augustine |
| First Holy Communion: | James Randall |
| Catechesis coordinator: | Marietta Bourke |
| Maintenance: | Jude Perera |
| Gardens: | Pat Hughes |
| Tea and Coffee: | Kate Griffin and Bridie Swords |
| Website: | Antonraj Mariathas |
| Live Streaming: | (no lead) Antonraj Mariathas, Jude Perera and Shakil Perera |
| Health and Safety: | Simon Rossi |
| Safeguarding: | Maura and Magda Lyons |
| Missio/APF red boxes: | Norman Smith |
| Post Confirmation Group | Steve & Anne Marie Devitt/ Brian & Magda |
| CAFOD | Marietta Bourke |
NB: Volunteer leads not present at the meeting but whose names were mentioned as those responsible for their specific area: Maher George, Maria Elizete Perera, Maria de Freitas, Jude Perera, Pat Hughes, Kate Griffin, Jude Perera (son), Shakil Perera, Maura Lyons.
Fr. Peter said that he didn’t want to micromanage and asked that the volunteers, and especially the volunteer leads, take ownership of their specific area.
He added that at this present moment it would be good to have:
• A team of volunteers to give the Baptismal Preparation Talk for parents and God parents of children to be baptised. This happens once a month.
• More Eucharistic ministers who were able to take Holy communion to the sick.
• A better idea of the skill sets parishioners have. He asked that those with professions and trades who were willing to volunteer make themselves known.
• A maintenance team. Jude Perera is an electrician, but it would be good to know if we have plumbers and carpenters etc.
Fr. Peter then asked a number of questions:
He asked those present whether he could go ahead with the building of the Parish Hall in the garden at the back of the presbytery as per the plan in the foyer. Those present voted positively, almost unanimously.
He also asked if those present would agree to him making some changes to the sanctuary which include moving the tabernacle so that it is behind the main altar. Again, those present voted positively, almost unanimously.
He also asked whether having a statue of St. Anthony in the Church would be a good idea due to the fact that a high number of parishioners are from India and Sri Lanka. (There is a great devotion to St. Anthony in these countries). Those present agreed.
He asked whether the Altar Server rota was working fairly, he was told by the parents of altar servers who were present that it was.
He then asked if anybody present would like to ask any questions:
Rebecca Giarraputo– May we write a petition to the diocese telling them that we want to stay where we are and that we do not agree with the proposed plan to move to the old school site?
Fr. Peter agreed and responded by saying that the Cardinal had told him personally that nothing would be forced on the parish, and that he thought that the present physical position of the parish, visible form the A40, was important.
Marietta Bourke– It would be good to write in the newsletter the areas that we need more people to help with, and provide them with the volunteer lead to contact. Fr. Peter agreed Rebecca Giarraputo added that the parents of children in our catechetical programmes should be asked if they were willing to volunteer.
Fr. Peter agreed
Rebecca Giarraputo added that the parents of children in our catechetical programmes should be asked if they were willing to volunteer.
Fr. Peter agreed
Rebecca Giarraputo – It would be good to know what happened to Fr. Agustin and why he left, to know what happened so we can move on, as a community we have a right to know.
Fr. Peter took the opportunity to publicly thank Fr. Agustin and Ana Hains for their work over the years and said that the diocese had not dealt very well with Fr. Agustin’s departure. The secrecy that seemed to enshroud it was unhealthy and only provoked gossip. While respecting people’s right to privacy, things need to be acknowledged to prevent there being an elephant in the room. He added that we are in no position to judge anybody, that it is important to respect people’s choices and decisions, acknowledge them, and move on.
Peter Augustine – It would be good to revise the present weekday Mass times to see if we can facilitate those that have to go to work.
Fr. Peter agreed and suggested that a survey be carried out amongst parishioners regarding the best time for Mass on weekdays.
The meeting concluded with a Hail Mary.