Parish Team

The Parish Team met for the first time on 15th January 2002 and continues to meet on a weekly basis, usually on Thursday evenings. Initially the meetings were facilitated by Donal Harrington. Later Gay Byrne agreed to take on the role of Chairperson. All aspects of parish life are discussed such as Mass times, special liturgies, car parking, parish web site, church notices, usage of parish finances, office equipment, Novena of Grace, youth issues etc. Suggestions put forward at Parish Forum meetings are examined and further action agreed where necessary.

The Team Members : Fr Jimmy Murray PP, Fr Michael Morrissey, Fr Sean MacGiollarnath, Fr Martin Parokk, Maretta Byrne, Sean Malone, Robert Smyth, Teresa Hennessy, Gerry Pounch, (Chair).

For those of you who are new to the parish or who may not be familiar with how the Parish Team and Parish Forum came to be, we provide below a brief history. These articles first appreared in the Knocklyon News as events were unfolding.

The Evolution of the Parish Team and Parish Forum Model

Teamwork – The Way Forward For Knocklyon Parish?

BACKGROUND
Some months ago our Parish Council (an advisory/consultative body within the Parish) began to discuss and examine possible ways to modify existing organisational structures at parish level to provide better services to parishioners, and more effective leadership of parish activity. This discussion was very much informed by Vatican II documents, which emphasise the role of priests in a Christian community to discern and encourage the charisms of the laity in the community. In the dialogue between priests and a small group of lay people, that continued over the summer months, it was agreed that the model, which should underlie the exercise of all authority within the parish, was one based on “a spirit of humble service”, drawing on the inspiration of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper.

REASONS FOR CHANGE
You will be all too aware of the rapid growth, which our parish has experienced over its 26 year history. Growth which required ongoing establishment of groups and services to meet the needs of a very large population, covering a wide age span from infants to pensioners. Co-ordinating, supporting and developing these groups and activities is clearly a monumental workload for the small group of full-time ordained personnel in the parish. Thankfully, the many services established continue to operate effectively at present with the voluntary efforts of amazingly hundreds of people every week. However, the ‘Council’, in looking to the future, feel it necessary to provide for the reality of fewer priests and the need to allow their smaller number concentrate on the work for which they have been specifically trained. Hence the concept of a ‘Parish Team’ is now being proposed to provide a structure for ordained and lay partnership in ministry at parish level.

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COMPOSITION OF TEAM
Discussions referred to earlier resulted in a ‘blue-print’ for the Parish Team as follows. It is envisaged that the team would begin with a small number of lay members in addition the Parish Priest and curates. A mix of male and female members varying, if possible, in age and experience of the parish and its activities is also envisaged.

HOW THE TEAM MIGHT WORK
It is proposed that this team would meet weekly (or as agreed by members) to discuss relevant aspects of Parish life and take responsibility, collectively and individually, to carry out decisions made and undertake work required. It would operate as a partnership of priests and lay members, all of whom would have a strong commitment to Faith; their personal faith development; and the overall service and development of the parish. Decisions taken by the team would be accepted as team decisions with all members having parity of esteem in the decision-making process. The “good of all in the Knocklyon community and beyond” from a Gospel perspective, would inform all discussions and decisions.

In order to serve the parish in a sensitive and effective way it is envisaged that the team will harness support and draw upon existing structures, groups and skills already evident and active here, always respecting their appropriate autonomy. It would aim, where necessary, to offer support and guidance, foster greater communication between groups, give practical assistance, energise and motivate. There will be no attempt made to “fix” anything that isn’t broken, but the team would work to facilitate

the strengthening where necessary of existing groups/services;
the implementation of parish policy;
the operation and practical running of parish infrastructure and properties;
the undertaking by parishioners of parish/community activities;
the further development of our parish as a Catholic and Christian community.

THE NEXT STEP
At Masses parishioners received information about this new development and were invited to contribute their opinions on parish life by means of a questionnaire that was completed at Masses on 6th/7th October, 2001. The response from these questionnaires were carefully examined and were to form the basis for discussion at a Parish Assembly on Sat. October 20th ,2001, to which all were invited to share their views and, hopefully, lend support to developing a plan for the parish for the next few years.

(Published in the Knocklyon News Sept/Oct 2001)

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PARISH ASSEMBLY
Over fifty people attended our Parish Assembly on October 20, 2001. The assembly was called to communicate more fully the concept of a proposed new ‘Parish Team’ and to convey and discuss the results of the questionnaire completed by parishioners at Masses on 6th/7th October.

The morning session was facilitated by Donal Harrington (who has written extensively on Parish development). He reported that 91% of those surveyed were in favour of the Parish Team concept, 7% were undecided and 2% were not in favour. Donal encouraged a very full discussion on how the proposed team might operate. The positive elements identified by those present were explored, as were the fears and concerns expressed. It was agreed that the advantages of the concept far outweighed the concerns, but that these concerns nonetheless needed to be addressed. Possible methods of selection were also debated and a draft document intended for circulation throughout the parish was examined. Some amendments were suggested and the revised leaflet was enclosed with the Knocklyon Newsletter.

(Published in the Knocklyon News November 2001)

UPDATE ON PARISH TEAM AND PARISH FORUM
In November 2001, a leaflet was inserted in the Knocklyon News informing readers of the functions of the proposed new Parish Team and Parish Forum. Contained in this leaflet was an invitation to parishioners, interested in becoming a member of either the Team or the Forum, to nominate themselves and/or any other person(s) whom they considered suitable and willing. Since then, we are pleased to report that nineteen new people have come forward to be part of the new Parish Forum which held its inaugural meeting on Monday 21st January, 2002. These men and women have joined the previously existing Parish Council members, to form a Forum group that is very representative of the parish as a whole in terms of age, experience, skills and geographic distribution. This inaugural meeting, facilitated by Donal Harrington (who chaired the Parish Assembly last October), sought to familiarise newcomers with parish activities, and the role that the Forum could play in the future development and life of the parish. It is proposed that the Forum will meet again in one month’s time under the direction of Donal for further familiarisation and planning – after which it will continue to meet at two monthly intervals with its own Chairperson and Secretary

The nominations received for the Parish Team (i.e. the new Executive Group in the parish) resulted in the selection of seven people (3 men and 4 women) who will work alongside the priests of the parish in the day-to-day running of parish activity. The team members, who were introduced to the Forum on 21st January, will be introduced to the parish shortly. Ongoing communication between the Team and the Forum will take place, with Team members attending Forum meetings to hear first hand its feedback, receive suggestions and report on activities of the Team as appropriate.

In this New Year, we welcome the establishment of these two necessary groups and trust that parishioners will support them in their efforts to serve the parish as effectively and efficiently as possible in a spirit of “humble service”.

(Published in the Knocklyon News January 2002)

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