7 attendees: DB = Diana Betts, RW = Roger Wright (Secretary), OC = Owen Clutton, MM = Mary O'Mahony (Chair), JA = June Adams, BF = Breda Ford, PL = Peter Lowe.
Agreed actions shown in bold red type.
Apologies for absence: Geraldine Thompson (GT), Fr David.
The meeting started with “Praised Be” by Rachel McCarthy, a prayer inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si'.
1. Minutes of last meeting
All actions had been completed and matters would be discussed as part of the agenda.
2. SVP proposal
Peter Benson had asked to speak to the Group about a possible collaborative project involving the SVP, St James’ School and an overseas English speaking school. He sent his apologies for not being able to attend this meeting. OC had spoken to Peter who had asked if J&P knew of an overseas school that could be approached. None were known to any members. It was suggested that Peter should attend the next meeting and bring specific details of his initiative for discussion. However, it was felt generally that J&P had taken on numerous commitments and only limited assistance would be possible.
3. CAFOD Harvest Fast Day
Geoff Ford had given RW a breakdown of the offerings made at the CAFOD collection. The amount that CAFOD could expect to receive after recovering gift aid would be £1,957. This is slightly above the average of the last 10 years for Harvest Fast Days. RW would ask the local office if they could say how many “Hands On” direct debits had been received.
4. Calendar for the “J&P Year”
RW and MM had been working on the prototype version of a parish-wide online diary in conjunction with the Parish Office. All the J&P dates discussed previously had been entered into that diary which MM would be taking forward.
5. Parish Project
The main fund-raising event had been scheduled in the parish diary for Saturday 22nd April 2017. Fr David had suggested a curry night to be organised in conjunction with parishioners of Asian heritage. DB proposed that this could be widened into an international evening with buffet of food contributed by all nationalities. It was agreed that entertainment as well as food would be needed, with ideas such as quick-fire fun quiz, national dancing, music, etc. suggested. MM would raise speak to Fr David about this proposal.
The discussion led to questions about the legal limit on hall capacity. All parish event organisers should be provided with rules to work with.
OC and DB had refreshed the information about St Helen’s on the display board. It was agreed that the photos of the new chapel gave a splendid impression and some people had been seen looking at the display.
The third special collection for St Helen’s would be on the weekend of 3rd-4th December. OC would ask for a note in to be published in Briefly nearer the time.
6. Bromley Borough Foodbank
Since the last meeting Fr David had agreed that St James’ could pledge £500 to help keep the food bank at Cotmandene Crescent from closing when the lease expires next April. RW had emailed Robin Ware, the Foodbank chair of trustees, with this news. A date for a special collection would be agreed with Fr David.
RW gave a brief summary of the email conversation with Robin Ware.
Bromley Foodbank will separate from the long-standing sponsorship and assistance of the Oak Church to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) on 21st November. As regular supporters of the Foodbank, St James’ would be entitled to send a delegate to the launch that day at 7.30pm. It would be held at Bromley URC church. They seemed to be well supported in terms of trustees but at the time of the conversation were looking for another trustee, perhaps to cover H&S / Safeguarding. It was interesting to note that the constitution only allows those of Christian faith in regular worship at their church, which must be part of Churches Together, to be nominated as trustees. No one at the J&P meeting expressed an interest in becoming a trustee but all committed their continued support in the ways St James’ had helped in the past.
RW had asked Robin if he knew where the baskets typically found in supermarkets for food bank contributions could be purchased. One of these would be needed to increase interest in parishioners’ donations. Foodbank also run a 200 club and had left leaflets at the parish office but the Group didn’t believe there was space in the parish’s extensive activities to promote such a scheme.
The rota for deliveries to the Foodbank was agreed as follows:
November RW; December DB; January MM
7. Manna Centre
MM had spoken to Barbara Bridle to discuss the possibility of the CWL taking over the coordination of Manna Centre collections from the J&P Group. It made sense for this to happen because CWL member Madeleine Howell has close contact with the centre, working there regularly as a volunteer. Barbara was due to put the proposal to the CWL committee and woud then report back to MM.
8. Traidcraft
The next stall would be held on 12-13th November and the rota was agreed as follows:
6.00pm MM and RW 9.15am PL and GT 11.00am OC and DB
DB reported that the Traidcraft Trade Justice Campaign petition had attracted just short of 20 signatures on the hard copy version and a few people had agreed to sign online. Nationally over 10,000 signatures had been obtained.
9. Laudato Si' seminar
RW reported that Susy Brouard of CAFOD had agreed to introduce the encyclical on 11th February 2017. A small organising group would consist of RW, OC, DB, Joe Falzon and Bruno Cotta. The first meeting would be held soon. All sorts of assistance would be need from the Group’s members nearer the date of the event.
RW had attended an event on the subject of Laudato Si' at Our Lady of Victories in Kensington on Saturday 15th October. It was not the same structure as envisaged for St James’ but was indirectly useful. The emphasis of presentations and breakout sessions was on the effects of climate change and how Christians should respond in their daily lives. Our seminar would be a more general introduction, using the central theme of the encyclical on the observations of consumption and its inevitable repercussions.
10. Any other business
Mass for International Day of Peace
RW had submitted a Mass intention request for 21st September 2017 to pray especially for peace on this internationally recognised day. Due to a misunderstanding this Mass had been celebrated on Wednesday 12th October. Members contributed towards the Mass requested for 2017. DB had also requested a Mass intention for all those suffering through war but the date was currently unknown.
Letter to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
PL had received a reply to the letter he wrote in June/July suggesting that the FCO might alleviate the problems of refugees victimised by traffickers. He proposed that British embassies should provide temporary visas allowing refugees to enter the UK so they could be vetted properly rather than making dangerous and illegal attempts at entering the country. The FCO was polite and comprehensive but essentially repeating the mantra that international convention should be adhered to. That is for refugees to seek asylum in the first safe country they arrive at. PL was complimented for having made a good attempt to influence FCO policy.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.10pm.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 23rd November 2016 at 7.45pm.