Your parish needs you!Thanks to everyone who attended the Parish Meeting. We have now managed to collate all the feedback which we will be discussing at the next Parish Council meeting to be held on the 22nd October.

 

There are many good ideas and suggestions but they won't come to fruition if they become ideas for somebody else. Thankfully, we did have some willing volunteers but we always need more to help to build and sustain our faithful community for the future.

 

One idea that is already getting some traction thanks to one of our parishioners, is a group called "Helping Hands". The idea is to provide some assistance to the needy in our community and you will find a discussion taking place on our forum here. Perhaps you would like to contribute to the discussion or even offer to get involved with this?

 

As mentioned at the meeting, this is the start of an ongoing conversation and one in which we hope you will particpate in.

 

Please note we have removed some of the names from the feedback below, marked xxxxxxxx.

 

What's not so good.

 

Education

Do young people truly know the meaning behind the Mass.

What we say?

Why we say it?

Welcome

More light hearted young people. Get people to be more sociable instead of going to the same benches and not talking.

More children's liturgists

It would be lovely to have more social events so that people who attend different Masses can mix.

Children's Mass

More hymns for children so that they might sing (school hymns)

Ask the children what they want from the Church (at the Tuesday youth group)

We need effective consultation before major changes are made to the church or hall. The following have been......... (post it difficult to read)

Flag stones are wobbly and uneven especially round church hall (patio pavements)

There needs to be more "young" representation on the committees to encourage more "younger" participation in the parish.

Welcome

How do we make the parish more welcoming?

Especially when someone is new to the Church. Friendly welcome

Not enough of the youth involved in the parish

I feel that there is a massive need for the welcoming committee. I moved to Preston 20 years ago and made an effort to join in (school governor, child protection rep etc) but still do not feel any sense of belonging to the parish. This, I think, is due to the fact that no-one made an effort to welcome a stranger all those years ago.

Can I ask why there isn't a representative of the youth – on the parish council

Encourage singers and musicians to become involved – even if it was a rota so their commitment was not limiting

Where are the young families at this meeting – need to engage them

There are lots of different groups of people that are catered for (e.g. families) but a group we feel is not is the 20's/30's could there be a link made (social / or spiritual)

Great meeting tonight – but would be better if facilitated by a person at each table to discuss ideas / suggestions, would encourage more of them.

Lunch & Cake & card sale 3 November

 

 

 

 

Volunteers

 

Parish Council

xxx xxxxxxxxx

(xxxxxxxx mum)

I'd like to represent the youth at the parish council. Xxxxx xxxxxxx age 16

I would like to volunteer to run a few charity events for young people e.g. football, running, treasure hunt.

Xxxxx xxxxxxx age 11/12

4th note

Information

Re Hospital volunteers

Duties ?

Time involved ?

"Helping hands"

I'd like to try and pull together a work team to do DIY / decorating. Jobs for the needy in the parish (I'd like to practice on the confession room)

What area's need volunteers?

More awareness for the need of volunteers and in what area. Perhaps a small article in the weekly newsletter

 

 

 

Suggestions and ideas

 

Can we do more to bring the "elderly" together

More encouragement needed for involvement with churches together in Fulwood. Hospital rota on the information desk very helpful way of informing people of St Clare's

Social centre – so we get to know people who are not at our Mass

Not knowing people – being from outside Preston – I have no knowledge of people beyond the area I sit on a Sunday. Should we reduce the number of services at the weekend to bring the community together? Signed XXXXXX

Net meeting

Break down into small groups with parish council rep in each group – then feedback to large group.

Ideas to get the youth of the parish more involved. Brainstorming session maybe?

All alterations to the church and outside the church – greatly appreciated. We truly now have a warm and welcoming church. Could some effort be made for us to have a choir again? Should this be what Fr. C wishes?'

It might help if potential volunteers knew more about what is involved in the various activities e.g. hospital volunteers, SVP

Reaching out to under 3 years olds and their families with something like messy church

Could we involve people who are housebound as prayer companions for various other needy parishioners

Music

I would like to see more variety e.g. having the folk music group back at 09:30 mass instead of just the organ all the time. Also the teaching of new music alongside traditional favourites. Please can we have more room and bigger benches for the choir.

Singing practise to get to know more songs

Parish Carol Singing

Visit local care homes / Hospital etc

Have a kid council where young people can come and give ideas

XXXX xxxxx

Age 11/12 2nd note

Think of ways to keep the youth involved ) late teens early 20's

Better use of the hall – coffee mornings etc. Meetings in hall rather that presbytery

Get the kids involved more. E.g. charity run

 

   

 

 

What is good

 

Well done on making the church look brighter and more friendly! Xxxxx xxxxxxxx

I love being part of the church community because of the welcoming priests and the brightness of the church

Excellent lawns and garden

More colour

Possibly a peace garden

I've only been coming to this church for 2 years and the warmth and welcome my family and I receive every time we come is amazing! Thank you!

I enjoy Saturday evening Mass and wouldn't want anything changed with it.

Priests are very welcoming. They encourage participation in the Mass and parish life.

Tonight's meeting was excellent – great to see what is already happening in our parish. Well done!

The work that has been done to improve the church has been very good – plastering looks great and makes the church more welcoming.

Friendly parish and wonderful priests. I appreciate all the opportunities to pray / worship

Passover meal – a great way to meet people from different mass-times. A good mix of socialising and practising our faith