Since Vatican II, priests and people have been encouraged to work together in
a "common effort to attain fullness in unity". St Mary's Parish
Council was formed in 2005 to take on the day-to-day management of the Parish in
the absence of a resident Parish Priest, and comprises a group of people who
represent the active secular and spiritual groups working in the parish. The Parish
Council acts as a coordinating body for the parish groups, and is a central
point through which information about the running of the parish can be fed in
and out, thus providing recognised channels of communication.
Membership of the Parish Council is open to any Parishioner over 16 years
of age and elections are held on an annual basis, with half of the Council
retiring each year (the first-elected Council is, however, in place for a
two-year period before the next election). Parishioners are elected to the
positions of Chairman, vice-Chairman and Secretary, with the Treasurer being
appointed directly by the Parish Priest to ensure an independence in the
financial management of the Parish.
Individual Council members have responsibilities for coordination of and
liaison with the various parish groups and they report on their areas of
responsibility at each Parish Council meeting, feeding back to these groups
as required after each meeting. The Parish Council therefore creates a
platform for discussions, a channel through which individuals may air their
views and so the Parish Priest is helped and supported in making decisions that
are appropriate for the Parish community.
The Parish Council meets in the Parish Hall on a monthly basis, with ad hoc
meetings of sub-groups as required.
The current Parish Council members are as
follows:
Chairman:
James Hill
Vice-chairman: Paul Sleightholme
Secretary:
Tom Parker
Members: Jean
Bolton
Mary Earnshaw
Nick Fish (Finance)
Gerard Fishwick (Deacon)
Anne Holt
Peter Kitching
Brenda Rafferty
Rosemary Russell
Berny Watmough
Parish
Priest: Fr Gerry McCusker
