Update from the Pastoral Leadership Team 

Spring 2005

The Pastoral Leadership team first came together in September 2004.  Taking the Mission Statement for the parish of Mount Argus, where the focus is on building a community where all feel welcome, where we care for each other’s Welfare, and where Worship and the Word of God are at the centre of our lives, the team developed a Vision Document that would set about putting this into practice.

The first week in January the team set about drawing up a programme of priorities and plans. Using the vision document as our road map it was agreed that our goals would be divided into short, medium and long term.  It is hoped that through engaging with the various ministries and with the whole parish, the PLT will continue to try and identify, implement and evaluate those pastoral initiatives and policies best suited to the spread of the gospel in this parish. To date a number of initiatives have been set in motion.

·        As required by the Archdiocese, a constitution was drawn up for the pastoral leadership team.

·        The vision statement was communicated to the parish on the website and to homes in the parish through the Community Link magazine.

·        The Rationalisation of the masses – there are now 4 instead of 6 masses at the weekend.

·        New Liturgy group to be formed this year.  A research group has attended liturgy group meetings in other parishes to see how they are working. Their report will form the basis for the development of the new liturgy group.

·        The Sunday readings are now on the website and references are given in the bulletin.

·        The team has also looked at education courses available in other institutes.

·        A sub group was set up to look at how the space within the church could be made more welcoming. Their findings have been made available to the PLT group.

·        Another group has been formed to look at long term plans for the use of church space.

·        The World Youth Day – a sub group has been formed to facilitate parish participation at the world youth day in August.  Five young people will attend the event from the parish.

·        Review of the ministry groups – 4 meetings took place in April, with  follow up meetings planned for the autumn.

·        Meetings are ongoing with regard to review of the Baptism Group, and the development of a funeral team.

·        A forum was established to bring the 4 executive groups of the Parish together – the PLT, the Parish team, the Finance committee and the Community Centre Executive committee.  This group will meet again in September to discuss areas of common interest such as fund-raising, volunteers and communications.