Review of Activities of Blessington Parish Pastoral Council (P.P.C.) December 2008- November 2009

Introduction:
We had our 4th AGM / End of Year Gathering last year on the 1st of December, this meeting was well attended and various matters were discussed. The gathering was addressed by:
Welcome by Fr. Tim
Chairperson Lisa Charles
Secretary Mary Young
2 dCaf volunteers
Parish Finance Committee Report
Following the meeting there was a mulled wine reception in the school.  An illustration of the proposed new extension to the Church and Parish Centre was on display. 
The Parish Pastoral Council
The majority of the members of the P.P.C. have been in place for three years and they are: Fr. Tim, Fr. Kevin, Teresa Ball, Lisa Charles, Ann Creighton, Liam Fay, Fidelma Hogan, Sally Joyce, Hugo Magee, Lorcan McMahon, Betty Murphy, Declan Naughton, Eileen O’Donnell, Carmel O’Donovan, Muriel O’Neill, Gerry Staines, Eugene Tyrell, Mary Young.
Synopsis of Work during 2009

Lenten Talks
Fr. John Byrne facilitated Scripture evenings on Wednesdays during Lent.
A Parish day Retreat took place in Orlagh Retreat Centre on 7th March
.
Sacramental Preparation
Betty Murphy (Parish Youth Worker) co-ordinates the “Do this in Memory” program for 1st Holy Communion children and their parents and the Confirmation programme for the children and their parents.
The PPC took on the project of reading the ‘Confirmation Scrapbook.’ Each child preparing for Confirmation completed a scrapbook. This culminated in the presentation of these scrapbooks to the children by the PPC at their Graduation Service on 25th June. For the coming year the PPC designed the scrapbook and presented each child with one to complete during the year in the preparation for their Confirmation in 2010.

Communication with local Parishes
During the course of the year the Parish Councils of Eadestown, Manor Kilbride,Valleymount/Lacken and Blessington met together on three different occasions. These meetings are very valuable, both to discuss emerging issues, in addition to providing mutual support. One of these meetings also included the PPC’s from Saggart, Rathcoole, Newcastle and Brittas. This particular meeting was addressed by Fr. Kieran O’ Carroll from the office of Evangelisation. Bishop Eamonn Walsh was also in attendance. This was a pleasant enthusiastic discourse.

West Wicklow Adult Religious Education Centre

This year saw the emergence of the West Wicklow Adult Religious Education Centre under the directorship of Fr. Joe Cullen. The first pilot course for the West Wicklow region took place in September/ October in the Parish Centre. This was extremely well attended and many of the participants received certificates of completion on the closing night.

Other matters which were addressed during the year

• Liaison with Parish Groups and schools within the Parish.
• The change in both the number of Masses and Mass times being celebrated at the weekend.
• The extension and progress of dCaf.
• Members of the PPC met with the Child Protection group to update the guidelines.

Invited speakers at P.P.C. meetings/and Parish talks
Seamus McCormack, Business Development Executive for ‘The Irish Catholic,’ addressed the PPC to promote the sales of the paper in the Blessington area.
Fr. Kieran O Carroll addressed the PCC about the year of Evangelisation proposing various ideas he had for this particular year.
Team work/Support for P.P.C. Members/Spiritual formation.

• Interaction with PPC’s of local Parishes.
• As part of each P.P.C. meeting, the following week’s Gospel is reviewed and discussed.
  
  The PPC meet 10 times a year and the minutes may be viewed on the parish website
  www.blessington.info
  
  

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and every good wish for the New Year