Reports to be discussed at a meeting of the PPC and PDP2 Group Leaders on Saturday, February 20th, are available on the following pages:

Group 1: Understanding Our Faith

Group 2: Deepening our Faith

Group 3: Expressing Our Faith

"At the meeting of the PPC, PDP Group Leaders and Fr James on February 20th, it was felt that the Present Situation Reports did reflect the true state of our parish at present, with one or two omissions, notably the great need for adult catechesis which is not at present met; but that the section concerned with our media - the website, In Touch and P2 - could have given a false impression. Although they were commended, the detailed list of their perceived shortcomings might leave the reader feeling that they were not greatly valued by our parish, which they indeed are". Father James

Parish Development Plan Blog

Report on Consultation Research Amongst Parishioners, November - December 2009

PDP 2 Research Report: Appendix: Full Listing of Verbatim Comments

Graphics summary of Parish Survey Report by Mike Agius


Presentation of PDP2 Process by Father James at the Annual Parish Meeting, Sunday October 18th 2009

Five years since PDP1.  There were many good outcomes to the first Parish Development Plan, among them House Groups, the Saturday Evening Mass, a Parish Events Group and an African Friendship Project. That is not say other things didn't happen besides but the Plan gave a direction and a spurt to our development. It was a plan for five years and now is a good time for a similar plan for the next five years. We are looking for a bold plan showing that we are 'a parish which lives its faith fully'.

All the parish will be involved. It will start with a full parish meeting on Saturday January 9th 2010 and give plenty of opportunity for all in the parish who want to be part of the process to contribute at an early stage. There will be frequent reports back to the parish. There will be a dedicated e-mail address to which parishioners can send any suggestions in addition to a Suggestions Box in the Narthex for the less computer literate.

Once a draft plan has been formulated by March the whole parish will come together again to comment on it and suggest revisions. The final report will be presented to the parish on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd followed by a celebratory parish lunch organised by PEG.

Who will to be generating the ideas and creating PDP2?

Three teams will work with the vision that we are 'a parish which lives its faith fully'. One group will evaluate how well we are doing as a parish which understands the faith it professes and passes it on. In the light of that evaluation it will suggest the way forward for us in faith formation. A second group will evaluate how we deepen our faith, how life-giving it is and on the basis of its findings propose plans for future spiritual growth. The third group will look at how well we express our faith in Christian action and evangelisation and formulate effective ways to develop discipleship and mission.

Who will be leading the Groups?

I have invited Chris Dobson to handle Understanding Our Faith, Mike Keenan to examine Deepening Our Faith and Robin Williamson to look at Expressing Our Faith. And before I get the questiojn of why three men, I felt they were the most suitable people to do the job required. If there had been three women whom I considered the most suitable I would have appointed three women. These three excellent leaders will be supported by six or seven parishioners who will have been chosen by me in consultation with the group leaders. A spread of gender, age and interests will be taken into account.

Who will be the Guiding Hand of the Three Groups?

At several stages in the process the PPC will consider how the groups are working. One meeting will be a full day gathering.

What will be the Outcome?

I want to encourage us all in this process to think the unthinkable about how we develop as a parish. I don't want us to think about financial constraints, monastic constraints or just be in awe of change. In other words we have to think what sort of parish do I want to live in, be fed and encouraged by in the future?

And let us not be afraid to change. Love drives out all fear and if we are lovingly responding to God's Word to us then we won't be afraid.

We have something very good in this parish and I would like to see us build on it so that we all may become fully alive in our own faith and willing to share it generously
with others.