Parish Open Meeting

Twenty or so parishioners attended an open meeting at the invitation of Bishop Malcolm and organised by our Pastoral Council on Thursday 7th March at 7pm. There was a twenty minute presentation based on the information put before the priests of the diocese by Bishop Malcolm in the Cathedral Hall in Nottingham on Monday 18th February. The presentation was tailored to the circumstances of our parish in Oadby but our discussions which followed it took into account proposals from the Consultation "You are living stones" from around the City of Leicester.
During the coffee break and forty-five minute discussion period, five questions were put to us by Bishop Malcolm concerning his proposals for Oadby. We discussed the possible future link with our neighbouring parish of St Thomas More in Knighton, and felt it was a good match, although there were concerns about the dissimilarity of sizes between the two parishes. Parishoners felt it vital that we keep and indeed strengthen our identity as a parish community and enter into any link as full partners with another parish.

 We looked in detail about possible consequences of the two linked parishes having to be cared for by one priest. This would have immediate consequences for the schedule of Masses in both parishes. While it would be possible to maintain our current schedule of FIVE Masses over the weekend, it would necessitate changes to the timing of all services to ensure that the priest could travel safely between the churches and still have some time to see parishioners. We also considered ways of working together more closely within the Leicester East Deanery.
All agreed that the process could only go forward with more participation by lay people in the parish to work with the parish clergy in all areas of parish life.
Over to you now....