Parish Pastoral Council
Meetings of the Pastoral Council take place monthly. Attendance is limited to Council members, and others by invitation only.
You may raise issues for discussion by emailing them at least 1-week in advance to the Council Secretary. Please state clearly what the issue is and what you would like the Council to do.
Members of the Parish Pastoral Council
The election for the new Parish Pastoral Council took place in May 2007. Nominations were received for 5 members and the Priest appointed 5 additional members. An election was therefore not needed. The new Parish Council was presented for approval at the Parish Annual Meeting on June 24, 2007.
Dates of Pastoral Council Meetings in 2008
Meetings are now approximately bi-monthly and normally take place at 7 pm at the Priest's House in Priory Street unless otherwise notified.
January 25, 2008
February 24, 2008 [ Parish Open Meeting ]
April 18, 2008
July 22, 2008
October 18, 2008 [ Parish Council Awayday ]
December 1,2008
December 6,2008 [ Parish Council Awayday ]
Standing Agenda for Pastoral Council Meetings
This agenda may change depending on priorities for each meeting.
1900 Opening prayer
1905 Approve minutes of the last meeting
1910 Matters arising from minutes of last meeting
1930 Evangelisation
2000 Items raised by the Parish priest
2015 Items raised by members of the Pastoral Council
2030 Items raised by members of the Parish
2050 Other Business
2100 Concluding prayer
Report of Parish Annual Meeting - June 24, 2007
The report will be put here shortly.
Report of Parish Open Meeting - October 29, 2006
Minutes of Recent Pastoral Council Meetings
Published Guidance on the role of Parish Pastoral Councils
Article from The Tablet: Usefulness of Partnership
Pastoral Council Objectives
The Parish Pastoral Council supports our Parish Priests in their ministry. It consists of 10 members, 5 co-opted by the Parish Priest plus 5 elected by the Parish Community.
The terms of reference for the Parish Pastoral Council are documented in our new (draft) Constitution. If you have any comments on this draft constitution, please email the Council Secretary.
In summary, members serve for 3-years and cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms. A person is eligible for selection after 1-year absence.
The current members of the Parish Council are:-
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President
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Father Joseph Whisstock Father Joseph was brought up in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. He studied for the Priesthood at Ushaw College, near Durham and was ordained on 26th October 1991. He was Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead; November 1991 to October 1995. Then Parish Priest at St. Teresa of The Child Jesus, Rochford; November 1995 to September 1999. Then the Blessed Sacrament, Chelmsford; October 1999 to September 2005. He was appointed Parish Priest for St. James the Less and St. Helen in October 2005.
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Chair
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Mark Lee Mark is a father of 4 (Abby, Imogen, Nathanael and Angharad). He is a Eucharistic Minister. Mark is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and gained a Masters Degree from The Open University. He is a Colcestrian by birth and spent his early Christian life as an Anglican. He was received into the Catholic Church in this Parish in 1987, subsequently serving as a School Governor for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, and later as Vice Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council at St Teresa's Colchester. Mark can usually be found at Masses at Priory Street on Sunday 6:30 pm and Saturday 6:15 pm.
Mark serves as chair of the council.
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Vice-Chair
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Olive Newland
Olive was born and brought up in Scotland, attended
university in London, lived in Oxfordshire and is now a resident of
Mersea Island. Her daughter Keziah shares her appreciation of travel and
has recently moved to West London. Olive has worked in education
throughout her career. Her varied career path has included teaching in
secondary schools, the design and delivery of school support services
and consultancy work. Olive now works for Essex Local Authority as a
senior manager in the Schools, Children and Families Directorate. She is
also a volunteer Crisis Support Worker for the Essex Crisis Support Team
and a Fellow of the RSA. As a Eucharistic Minister she enjoys the
opportunity to get involved in the parish life on Mersea and is parish
secretary for St Cedd and St Gregory. Olive is a Mercy Associate and
values the strong and prayerful support from the Colchester group. Olive
can be found at the Sunday 8.30am Mass at St Cedd and St Gregory in West
Mersea. |
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Secretary
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Donald Clarke Donald was received into the Catholic Church in this Parish in 2005. He was born and has lived all his life in Colchester. He has a BSc. degree in Computer Systems from the University of Essex and is a Chartered Engineer. He is married to Stephanie who has 3 grown-up children living in the United States. Donald and Stephanie are normally to be found at the Saturday 6:15 Mass at Priory Street. They are involved in the Ministry of Welcome and the Soup Run and are particularly interested in the plight of the elderly.
Donald serves as Secretary of the council.
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Fidel Catantan Fidel's biography will be put here shortly.
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Michael Firmin Michael was born in Colchester and has at various times lived and worshiped in the parishes of Mile End and Lexden.
For the past 20 years he has attended mass at Monkwick where for most of this time he has served on the committee there.
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Pauline Rook Pauline is married and has lived in Colchester for 37 years. She attends the 8.00am Mass at Priory Street and through the week. Pauline is a volunteer at Tradersfair fairtrade at Colchester Library. |
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Michael James Irvine
Michael
has
lived in Braiswick-Colchester for the past 6 years after moving from
Romford where he was born. Except for 25 years spent overseas he has
lived in Essex all his life.
He has
been married to Ann for 37 years and they have 4 children the
youngest being 15. Michael is a Chartered Engineer and for the last
5 years has worked on the new Channel Tunnel Railway Terminal at St.
Pancras station.
His
interests in the Parish outside of the Pastoral Council are the
Knights of St Columba which he serves as Secretary to Council 270,
and as a Eucharistic Minister.
Michael represents St. Joseph-Mile End Mass centre. |
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Andrew Johnson Andrew was born in Altrincham Cheshire and is married to Elspeth who is a Eucharistic minister. They have 2 sons. He is Master of Ceremonies for the Parish. He currently works as a Science Teacher at Alec Hunter Humanities College in Braintree, and is a Chartered Biologist. In his spare time he is an active member of the Scout Movement recent appointments being as Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts in Colchester East and a member of the Jamboree Organizing Team for the World Jamboree 2007 to be held at Hylands Park in Chelmsford. Recently he joined the Catenian Association. He moved to the parish with his wife Elspeth and sons George and Alexander in May 2004, and has been very active in parish life. He can be found at the 10:30 am Mass at Priory Street and most parish activities when he is not Scouting. |
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Teresa Sales Teresa was brought up in Felixstowe, educated in Ipswich, and very nearly became a nun, but qualified as a nurse instead, followed by marriage and the raising of two children. A traumatic 'crisis of Faith' in the early 1980s resulted in a prolonged absence from the Church until, thanks to the influence of her daughter, and the patient guidance of the parish clergy, she returned in 2001. Teresa is a member of Colchester Choral Society, Colchester Theatre Group, and the Colne Endeavour Music Club where disabled and able-bodied members make music together. She believes that parishioners, young or old, should be kept informed about matters which concern them. She usually attends the Friday morning and Sunday evening Masses, carrying out one or other of the various lay ministries, and is currently helping to re-establish the parish Justice and Peace group.
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Lenore Sykes Lenore was born in Trinidad West Indies. She trained and worked as a nurse, midwife and health visitor. She came to England and married husband Roger whose work as a paediatrician took them to Nigeria with their three young sons. She ran a small nursery before going back to work in the Nutrition, Education and Rehabilitation Unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. She was a catechist at St. Albert's Catholic Church and also found time to work with local girl guides at nearby secondary schools. Returning from Nigeria to London she went back to work as a midwife and nurse. In London she taught catechism to children with learning difficulties, worked at the night shelter and assisted with serving food to homeless people in Islington. She was a member of the Union of Catholic Mothers and the Justice and Peace Group as well as a Eucharistic Minister. Moving to Colchester in 2006 she continues in the Eucharistic Ministry and was invited to serve as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council at St. James the Less and St. Helen. Lenore has four grandchildren and usually attends 10:30 am Sunday Mass and often attends evening Masses on Saturday and Sunday at Priory Street.
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