St.
Anne’s Rock Ferry - Parish Meeting 26th July 2008
Bob Rimmer,
Parish Pastoral Team Chairman opened the Meeting and welcomed Fr. Ray Warren, Vicar Provincial O.M.I. for the Anglo-Irish
Province.
The meeting
was convened by Fr. Ned Quinn OMI. Also
in attendance were Fr. Denis Cormican OMI, Fr. Michael Phelan OMI and Rev. John Boggan, Deacon.
Fr. Ray gave an account of the present situation and the need for change in the
Province that will include the Oblates of Mary Immaculate handing over St. Anne’s Parish to Shrewsbury Diocese in 2010.
The Anglo Irish
Province is made up of England,
Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brazil. There are Oblate Parishes all over the world and it is important for St. Anne’s
to share a wider vision. The “Partnership in Mission” Congress in 2006 were asked to consider which direction the Oblates should
take in relation to the Province.
Three options were suggested:
·
Resuscitation - trying to revive the present situation but a lack of life would mean a lack of hope
·
Death & Dignity – an inability to deal with the situation so leave completely with dignity
·
Refounding – taking the Radical Option
The Radical Option was taken as the best way forward. New Leadership begins and the Oblate Charisma will bring the Mission of Life to the people and especially
those most in need. They will continue to evangelise the poor. This would mean decisions and consequences for the people of the Province
In June 2006 and at the Annual Oblate Council in November 2006 Clergy and Laity
brought together their experiences to provide a holistic and balanced view.
Outside Consultants were employed to help the Oblates find a strategy. Their advice was that the 23 existing Parishes in the province should be reduced to 5. Our Fr. General recommended that the Oblates pull away from the long standing Communities they have served,
as an inability to provide total commitment due to overwork or illness would not produce fruitful results.
It would be a painful process involving feelings akin to bereavement where anger
and denial would turn to awareness, inevitability and facing up to the situation and finally acceptance.
Important Areas Considered
Ageing Profile of Oblates
Declining vocations
Culture of Parish Maintenance
Desire for Lay Involvement
Need for Collective Effort
Priority – Mission Maintenance
What’s Happening Now
with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate?
Oblate Youth Service
Lourdes Pilgrimage
Mission Development Office supporting Oblate missions World Wide
Continuing serving Mission
in all our Parishes
Adult Faith Formation
Planning Pastoral Areas in the five remaining Mission Centres
What is the Position Now
at St. Anne’s, Rock Ferry?
Have had Oblates in the Parish
since 1862
Holy Family Sisters
The Parish can cope and manage its own future
Strong historic Oblate “Blood” Links that must be well
maintained
Leading the way in Parish Team Development and LPA Development
PARISH PROJECT
Meetings to be held on Thursdays 2nd, 9th,
16th and 23rd October 2008, 7.30 – 9.00p.m.
Questions raised (Q), Responses given (Res) and Observations
made (Obs)
Q.
As St. Anne’s will be celebrating
its 150th Centenary in 2010 would it be possible for the Oblates to stay at St. Anne’s until that time? Bishop Brian would be pleased. It would be a wonderful occasion celebrated with greatest
joy by those engaged with the Oblate Family and everyone would come to celebrate.
Res. It
is not possible to make promises about an extension. There cannot be business as usual.
Don’t build up hopes. Work to what’s possible. The request will be taken back to the Provincial Council in September 2008.
Q.
Please could the disabled be included
in all activities? They have a great deal to offer.
Res. This
request will be recorded. Everyone has a right to a full place in our Parish
and Provincial activities.
Q.
As a member of the 70+ group I would
like to know what arrangements will be available for saying Mass, Ministering to the Sick and Elderly and giving the Last
Sacraments?
Res. The Oblates
have informed Bishop Brian and the Diocese of their intentions to leave St. Anne’s.
It is the duty of the Diocese to make provision.
The reality of the future is that one Priest may be serving four or five Parishes.
There needs to be Open Conversation with the Diocese.
The Parish Team hopes to organise a meeting with Bishop Brian to find out his
idea of the way forward. The L.P.A. are working closely with St. Anne’s
and are keen to help in any way.
Page 3
Q.
There has been mention of a “Paid
Position”. What is the Monetary Value of St. Anne’s?
What happened to the money received for the land at the back of the Church Property
that was donated to the Parishioners of St. Anne’s and has since been sold for housing development?
Res. Resources
will be made available to support with necessary expenditure.
The Property belongs to the Trusteeship of the Oblates and the monetary value
is not known at this immediate time. Money for land donated to the Parish would
have gone to the Province. Records can be checked.
The Oblates are a Religious and Charitable Trust. A Legal Contract could be drawn
up to give Trusteeship to the Diocese. It might include a caveat protecting certain
Parish interests.
Q. How
will the Parish Buildings be used? Could we Tithe Income to support the Parish?
Res. It is not
possible to answer this question today.
Obs. Glad
to hear the word “Bereavement” has been used today. There is
pain no matter what hopes we have. Feelings of hurt and anger are O.K., but we
must look forward in hope.
Q.
There is a fear of how to keep the
support of the Parish. How do we keep the Parish together?
Res. The
Parish Team must hear everyone, speak to everyone and hold regular meetings to keep everything open to the whole Community. There must be two-way communication.
Obs. The Parish Project will help in that respect. We will be able to move forward
with the help of the Diocese and Guest Speakers and begin to answer the question posed to Parishioners. i.e. How can we grow as a Parish in the light of the Oblates leaving?
Obs. The group that prayed has been referred to as the “Boiler House”. We have the Housebound Prayer Group. This
could be extended. Prayer is how we keep together.
Q.
Given the “Blood” Link
ties with the Oblates, will we get visits from O.M.I. Religious from time to time.
Res. We are Partners
in Mission. Times
will be available to share the Oblate Mission.
Q.
How long is Fr. Ned here? When should we be up and running?
Res. The Oblates leave around Summer 2010.
If the Model is suitable things should be up and running next year. St.
Anne’s Parish is a Key Player in the Diocese.
Q. Why has it taken 8
– 9 months before this occasion was arranged? If we had been given
these
answers months ago it might have eased the situation.
Res. Please accept
the Oblate’s apologies. This was an oversight and we have been caught up
with too
many things. This is a new situation
for the Oblates, but we have learned how to better respect our Communities
and deal with similar situations in the future.
Obs. An Adult
Faith Formation Group meets every Monday morning. We would like more people to
come.
Q. Is anyone shadowing Fr. Ned and Fr. Denis to get to know about
running the Parish?
Res. Fr. Denis has formed
a Finance Group. There is a Management sub-group looking at the physical
running of the Parish. It
is a massive job taken for granted.
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Obs. I don’t
have any feelings of bereavement or loss. My trust is not with people or the Council or a figurehead but with God. God won’t let us down. There is talent, ability, willingness,
love in this Parish that we have not begun to tap. I have feelings of excitement,
joy and hope. God will lead us if we allow it.
Obs. God is there
but the O.M.I.s are part of our extended family. That is why there are feelings
of upset and hurt.
Q. Will the maintenance of buildings be helped by the O.M.I?
Res. This question
will be recorded and taken back to the Provincial Council. The priority is the
people
who should have good quality facilities.
Obs. Even
if the O.M.I . only remain in a Sacramental Role until 2012, it would provide the opportunity for a Parish Year of Thanksgiving,
History and Celebration of 150 years of Oblate presence at St. Anne’s. It
would provide a sense of closure. We could then look forward to the next 150
years and the big jump as a Parish of Laity.
Q.
Has there been any mention about
schools?
Res. Not
directly to the Team – not Parish-wise. The School is a for the Parish
but it is a Diocesan School.
Q.
Have we had any dialogue with the
Diocese?
Res. The
Provincial went to see Bishop Brian in November. St. Anne’s were offered
any help that could be given. There are no more meetings planned. Discussions need to be opened between the Parish and the Diocese.
During the Diocesan Meeting at Crewe that Fr. Ned attended St. Anne’s were congratulated
by the Bishop on what is being done. Bishop Brian receives copies of the minutes
from our Parish Team Meetings.
Our LPA is well ahead of many in the Diocese.
Bob Rimmer thanked
everyone for attending the Meeting (Over 100 People were there).
Fr. Ned thanked
Fr. Ray for his work as facilitator and the honestly of his responses to questions.
He thanked Bob for
chairing the meeting and everyone present for
the role they had played
in making the day a success.
