Our Lady, Mother of the Church – Parish Pastoral Council
Minutes of Meeting held 3rd June 2025 in the Church Hall
Present – Fr Francis, Val Lawrie, Normal Mitchell, Audrey Parfinowska, Blanca Nieto Angela Allan, Andy Cooper, Kevin Higgins, Gerry Higgins
Introduction – The meeting was opened with a prayer
Status of Matters Arising from previous meeting on 4th February 2025
100 Club – £100 outstanding. Gerry McCue to check where this is and report back to Audrey.
Card Reader – Audrey looking at options for types of use. Audrey to contact Finance at the Cathedral to understand which system they use and how it works. The internet is not required to run these systems. Action – Audrey
No other outstanding issues arising and the previous minutes accepted and seconded. Val and Kevin.
PPC 3rd June 2025
Finance
Parish Accounts/Finance Committee – Audrey to check with Head of Finance at the Cathedral for items from last year that are still to go through, at present the Return is not fully accurate.
Ukranian Collection – Val informed that this collection has now gone through the Rotary Club (of Scotland).
Fabric and Maintenance
Items from last meeting – Kevin informed the PPC that all items/works listed and included in the previous Minutes had been completed to our satisfaction.
Asbestos Survey – Kevin informed that an Asbestos Survey will be carried out on those areas of the church known to be problematic. Quotation – anticipated to be in the region of £700-1100+VAT. This date has been arranged for 1 July. Action – Kevin
Extraordinary PPC Meeting – will be held on Tuesday 17th June at 7pm in the Church Hall. This will be to discuss proposed changes to the internal structure of the church.
Window Cleaning – Kevin informed that we have had the first of our twice yearly cleaning.
Health and Safety
Property Survey from the Diocese – Kevin informed that the Diocesan Property Survey Form has been researched, completed and submitted to the Diocese. No acknowledgement has yet been received.
Fire Evacuation Exercise – this was successfully completed in April, with a couple of lessons learnt. 1 –all pass-keepers to be given guidance on how to handle fire evacuation procedures in the Church. 2- high-vis vests to be stored in 2 visible areas – 1 near the front entrance and one in or near the hall entrance.
The next Fire Evacuation Exercise will be in April 26, and will be scheduled at least annually. Action – Kevin to arrange for appropriate hooks to be installed
Gate Query – Audrey asked about the exit access from the gate leading from the side door (near the altar) and round the back of the church. Kevin later showed how this could be opened. This will be included in the fire evacuation training. Action – Kevin
First Aid Box – Pat Gill (first aider), to check H&S accident sheets and First Aid Box regularly re replenishments. Another first aid box is required for the entrance to or near the Hall.
Action – Kevin has requested Pat’s advice on the size and contents required.
Safeguarding
Volunteers – Val informed the PPC that all volunteers, irrespective of whether they are involved with young people or vulnerable adults, are required to complete a form which includes references. This is a new ruling and it is not retrospective.
Val will check PVG requirements re the Sacristan role. Action – Val
Val informed that there are currently no safeguarding issues in the Parish.
New Parish Website
Parish Website – The website is almost ready to go live, and the congregation will be informed once it’s ready to launch. George Kerr (our Parish Administrator) is liaising with Fr Francis pre the launch. Action – Fr Francis with George
AOB
Groups within the Church – Val would like lists of the groups within the church, with a requirement to know their remit, and who their members are.
Action – those in attendance with knowledge of their own groups to pass this to Val
Action – Val to approach remaining groups
Pastoral events/information –
- there are no children making their First Holy Communion this year at Our Lady’s
- two children from our Parish made/are making their Confirmation this year
- Fr Francis would like to hold a ‘Healing Mass’ later in the year – no date has yet been fixed. Action – Fr Francis
- Eucharist Ministers – there are 4 people on the rota. This seems to be working well
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to be initiated in the Parish at some point in the year. Action – Fr Francis
- Fr Francis shared how the Parish is growing, with lots of new faces, and new families attending. He would like to consider the possibility of having a Saturday evening Mass in the Parish, if an Assistant Priest can be arranged from his Order. There are none available within the Diocese.
Social Events –
- Links with Heriot Watt Chaplaincy – There has been a desire expressed from Heriot Watt for community involvement within the Parish. This will be on hold until the new term starts in September. Action – Val
- 60th Anniversary of the Church (31st March 1966) – the PPC has been asked to think about a suitable social/fundraising event for this milestone anniversary. Suggestion by Angela for the Bishop to attend if possible.
- Action – all to respond with suggestions/ideas before the next PPC meeting
- Children’s Christmas Party – Audrey has said she would be happy to organise. Action – Audrey
- Thank you to our Volunteers – Fr Francis has suggested we have a special night for Volunteers – maybe with pizzas! Action – Fr Francis
Budget for Annual Works –
- Audrey to assess the last few years incomings and outgoings. Action – Audrey
- Kevin to report to Audrey the annual costs for required maintenance and fire safety checks/services in the Action – Kevin
- Fr Francis to check the amount owed to St Cuthberts for shared costs relating to the house, priests’ costs etc. Action – Fr Francis
Smart Meters – following on from Tony Allen’s initial enquiry about smart meters, it was decided to go ahead with this installation subject to any prohibitive costs of installation. Action – Kevin to liaise with Tony Allen
First Aid – Pat Gill (our First Aider) has printed and displayed in the porch a procedure for what to do in the case of someone taken ill in the church.
First Aid Training – this was decided against, – there is no Diocesan requirement for first aid training in the church.
Jim Vasey’s leaving – due to personal circumstances Jim will, sadly, be moving from the Parish. Jim has said he will continue for a while and hopefully will be able to help with the handover.
- Andy Cooper has volunteered to assist with some extra help.
Date for the next PPC Meeting – Tuesday, 21st October 2025, 7pm.
END
