All 18 Deaneries were represented at one or other of the above meetings.
The Aims of the Workshops:
- To gather and share current experiences both positive and negative of DPC’s
around the diocese to support the preparation of A Deanery Pastoral Council
Handbook.
- To assist with the formation process for Deanery Pastoral Councils to
include clarity on the relationship between the PCP’s and the DEC’s and
the DPC and the PDPC
- To look to the future. What would work to sustain and support Eucharistic
communities?
What works well in your DEC/Deanery?
DPC
Good representation, participation, sharing
Facilitates co-operation – drawing together
Positive energy
Good will and skills
Vision building > planning shared
Forum for communication and information
Communication links with parishes and PDPC
Ability to influence diocesan issues
Raises awareness for responsibility for a wider area
Sharing facts and figures
Sharing good practice (and bad)* between the parishes.
Information flow
Bishop’s vision
Mutual support
Concentrated effort when needed
Full representation, Deanery directory. Contact list by function
Sub-committee work
Last 6 months – effort made to establish DPC
Change the meeting place regularly
Change our Chair every year
Bi-monthly meeting
Deanery
Social events
Days of Recollection
Formation/training for catechists, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacramental programmes
Resources shared
Disabilities – sharing resources
CaFÉ etc.
Website info sheets
The Role of the DPC and the Deanery in the future?
DPC
Dates of PDPC meetings to co-ordinate with DPC and PPC meetings
There are real blockages in communication from PDPV, DEC’s and PCP’s that
urgently need
resolving.
Use the website as the main information source. A Newsletter straight into
Parishes?
Time is needed for real consultation for change.
Methods of consultation is the key for all
Spell it out to the parishioners. Ask them to think about the implications. Ask
for their views.
The laity have to start tasking a bigger role but they don’t understand why
yet.
People are not eager to volunteer – need to be encouraged to get involved
Presentations at the PDDC on other modals in operation like the Hexham/Northumberland
Diocese
Deanery
A renewed vision anchored in reality for the diocese first!
Any model proposed needs a programme of renewal.
Clear request from this group for a Diocesan strategic plan
Problems of crisis management; need to plan 5/10 years ahead
Leadership is needed to tell us how it is
Clear direction – more lay responsibility
Preserve the integrity of Eucharistic communities/parishes, needs one person as
the focus (Can be lay or ordained)
Centrality of the Eucharist. Good community life increases sense of vocation.
We need to pray for vocations, i.e. religious, priesthood and lay
Guernsey now one parish (several communities) 9+ Worlock original set up a team
ministry to serve island)
Learn from Missions situations, e.g. Bamenda. One leader of each community is a
catechist. PP with overall care of each community.
Netley experience: the parish woke up when the priest was unexpectedly absent.
It forced the laity into taking responsibility for their parish.
Douai experience: Four communities under care of the abbey. There is an
unwillingness to go from one to another for events.
Clarify the role of the Dean
Priests are not just sacramental machines! Large part of role is pastoral care.
Raising questions about the unique role of ordained ministry.
Are we to focused on the priest in liturgy in old-style churches?
Tridentine liturgy not creating community.
Basingstoke will not have Sunday Mass every week in August. Lay-led liturgies
bring the situation home.
Why would a priest do the accounts? Roles should be defined.
Laity refusing to take responsibility. But they do take it on in emergencies.
Are some priests blocking lay ministry?
Vitality of parishes with more than one church; greater involvement of the
laity; PP cannot do everything. Value of learning from each other. Laity need
training for new roles
Current issues: lay people cost money! Raises lots of issues for the diocese.
ALL need formation and training for new roles, new situations.
Editor's note:
