8 attendees: DB = Diana Betts, MM = Mary O'Mahony (Chair), AM = Angela Martin, OC = Owen Clutton, JA = June Adams, RW = Roger Wright (Secretary/Chair), GT = Geraldine Thompson, PL = Peter Lowe.

Agreed actions shown in bold red type.

1. The meeting started with the Praised Be prayer.

Apologies for absence: Nick Babb.

2. Minutes of last meeting

Most actions had been completed and matters would be discussed as part of the agenda.

3. Manna Centre

MM had been unable to agree a date with Fr David for a collection but would do so at the earliest opportunity.

The meeting assumed that there would be only one collection this year.

[Noted in previous minutes:

MM would talk to Fr David about dates for three collections during the calendar year. RW suggested that as each of those dates approached the Manna Centre should be asked for their preference for either: food, clothes or toiletries; focussing parishioners’ attention on that choice.]

RW noted that Nick Babb had offered to assist the J&P Group in any way possible. He therefore proposed that Nick should be asked to coordinate any activities associated with the Manna Centre, e.g. organise collections.

4. 'Care for Our Common Home' event

MM had distributed flyers to the Confirmation group and their parents had been emailed to encourage youth attendance. She had spoken to all appropriate youth group leaders.

RW reported that 57 people had registered for the event so far. He distributed a schedule of practical tasks to be completed on the day and invited everyone to suggest anything else that needed inclusion. Members then volunteered to help in various ways.

RW also noted that a new digital projection system was being installed. Austin Barradell had been responsible for ensuring that it would be operational in good time for the event and this was much appreciated.

5. Traidcraft

DB confirmed that the 2016 accounts had been finalised and she would ask for an item to be included in Briefly. In summary, takings for the year had been £2,535 and there was a positive balance of £307 including stock value. £200 had been assigned to the parish project. The accounts can be viewed on the parish website.

Rota volunteers for the stall on 28-29 January were agreed as follows:

6.00pm GT JA

9.15am PL DB

11.00am AM OC DB

6. Parish Project

At the last meeting it was realised that the date for the main fund-raising activity on 22 April 2017 clashed with a PTA event which had not been announced before the J&P calendar planning stage last September. It was subsequently found that no other Saturday dates were free so the meeting reluctantly decided that the parish project event could not be held. MM noted that the Confirmandi had planned a fund-raising evening event for Peru and would also have the car washing sessions which were so successful last year.

£2,240 had recently been sent to Fr Alex making a total of £7,358 donated so far to St Helen’s.

Rickie Sankar, a member of the parish and also of the Chislehurst Rotary Club, had submitted an appeal to the club on behalf of St Helen’s last year. This resulted in a donation of £1,000. He thought it might be possible to secure a second donation and asked for an update on the project. He made it clear that the club would be unable to support the building of the chapel but support for children’s welfare would be eligible. OC had emailed Fr Alex to enquire about other aspects of the work of St Helen's parish that might be assisted, including possibly children's welfare and OC will liaise with Rickie on this.

It was agreed that this particular project would come to an end in July and ideas for a successor would be considered at the next meeting.

7. Bromley Borough Foodbank

RW had been in discussion with Geoff Ford to identify two dates for (a) the cash collection and (b) food for the school summer holiday appeal. The dates agreed are 02 April and 16 July respectively and these can be seen in the online parish diary. RW suggested that the cash collection pledged to the Foodbank should be preceded by short talks at each Mass the weekend before.

Volunteers to take donated food to the Foodbank were agreed as: February RW and March DB.

8. Prisoners’ charity

Chris Hairs had emailed MM and RW appraising them of “New Bridge”, a charity founded by Lord Longford. It describes its work as based on befriending offenders in prison, with New Bridge volunteers helping them to reconnect with the world outside. New Bridge is non-judgmental, trustworthy and constantly in support of prisoners. A befriender can write letters, visit a prisoner and keep in contact wherever the prisoner moves. Any prisoner who wants a befriender can write to New Bridge. More can be learnt about the organisation via www.newbridgefoundation.org.uk. Ways to get involved in New Bridge include becoming befrienders (training is provided) and fund-raising.

It was agreed to discuss this more fully at the next meeting and possibly invite the contact recommended by Chris to speak at a later date. Members were encouraged to visit the website before the next meeting.

9. Any other business

RW had received an email from Westminster JPIC about a petition organised by the Global Catholic Climate Movement. The email observes that while both scientists and Pope Francis are calling for dramatic action against the climate crisis, it is most alarming to know that President Trump is determined to do exactly the opposite. The email goes on to say:

As leader of the most powerful country on earth, which happens to have contributed the most to the climate crisis (considering historical and per capita pollution), he has the moral obligation to accept climate science and take action accordingly. What he is doing instead is to appoint a climate sceptic, Scott Pruitt, to be head of the US Environmental Protection Agency. This is hardly encouraging, and we are invited to participate in a petition organised by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, urging President Trump to take the climate crisis seriously.

The email is signed off by Fr Joe Ryan who is chair of the Westminster Diocese Commission for Justice Peace and the Integrity of Creation. All members present at the meeting agreed to sign the petition at actionnetwork.org/petitions/asease

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.05pm.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 22nd February 2017 at 7.45pm.