PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL - The Parish Pastoral Council met recently and discussed:
The repair of the church wall; A sign to indicate the presence of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel; Car parking in Barrack Street Boys’ P.S.; Vehicles in church grounds; The time for Christmas Eve Mass (9.00pm to be retained); A letter of thanks to Pat O’Neill; A letter of thanks to Noel McCafferty; Evening for Maria Cutliff; Pantomime; Possibility of a monthly Dance in St. Patrick’s Hall.

If parishioners have any items that they would like to be discussed at the monthly meetings please do not hesitate to contact one of the Council members:

Fr. Declan Boland P.P., Sr. Carmel, Sr. Benedict, Carmel Gallagher, Anne Marie McMackin, Bernie McQuillan, Mary McCrossan, Catherine O’Kane, Carmel Maybin, Declan McMenamin, Stephen Kennedy, Jim Devlin, Leo McDermott, Paddy Stewart, Paul Kelly.

 

LEGION OF MARY - Legion of Mary meets each Thursday morning after Mass at 10.30am in the Church Conference Room. Work consists of Rosary promotion in the parish and visitation of residential nursing homes in Strabane. New members urgently required. Please contact Margaret Harte on 02871883159 for details.

 

SVP BARRACK STREET STRABANE
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is pleased to announce the reopening of the Barrack Street shop on Thursday 10 June at 10.00am and look forward to the reopening of Market Street in the not too distant future. We thank you for your understanding and continued support.

 

 

 

CALLING ALL SENIOR CITIZENS

Strabane Community Project based, in St. Patrick's Hall, provides a daily Luncheon Club with activities Monday - Friday. Come along and enjoy the craic, the food and the friendship. You can also have your meal delivered to you home in our new microwaveable containers. Most suitable for housebound. To find out about our services you can ring 02871883102, email strabanecommunityproject@btopenworld.com or call in to St. Patrick's Hall. Strabane Community Project is the only Eat Safe Award Luncheon Club in Northern Ireland, an Award we are proud of!

 

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL REPORT

The Pastoral Council met on Wednesday 20 May. The following members were present:- Anne Marie Mc Mackin, Carmel Maybin, Carmel Gallagher, Sr. Benedict, Sr. Carmel, Declan McMenamin, Jim Devlin, Bernie McQuillan, Stephen Kennedy, Leo Mc Dermott, Catherine O'Kane, and Fr. Boland. The Council discusses many matters concerning the parish. It was decided that an advertisement should be put in the local papers looking for a church organist, thus allowing the senior choir to flourish as before. Concerns were raised about the number of cars getting into the church grounds during weekend Masses and the paving around the church is suffering because of this. It was also decided that in the near future only those cars carrying the invalid or immobile will be allowed into the church grounds during Mass. An announcement in this regard will be made shortly. It was also proposed that, due to the great success of the Come Dancing Event in the Hall, a monthly dance should take place there on a Friday night. If there are any issues you want discussed at the Pastoral Council meetings, please contact any of the above members or Amanda at the parish office.

 

 

CAR PARKING IN CHURCH GROUNDS

At a recent meeting with the Parish Pastoral Council concern was raised about the volume of cars parked in the church grounds. It has been decided that after the weekend of 20/21 June only those vehicles carrying the sick, invalid or immobile will be allowed into the church grounds. This is necessary because the paving around the church is being damaged by the number of cars passing through. We would also ask that taxis stay at a respectable distance from the main door so as not to obstruct parishioners on their way into and out of the church entrance. The car park at Barrack Street Boys' school will be open for parking and the full extent of the avenue including the front of the parochial house is fully available. We will mention this over the next few weeks to allow people to be fully informed.

 

DERRY DIOCESAN CHILD PROTECTION ANNUAL UPDATE

A lot of work has been accomplished in the area of Child Protection in the Diocese over the past number of years due to the commitment of personnel at all levels in the diocese from the Bishop through to dedicated Parish Representatives working on the ground in all parishes.

The Diocese of Derry continues to put in place those structures, personnel, policies and procedures that will try to ensure the protection and welfare of children and young people in a manner consistent with statutory requirements and Church guidelines. In the light of the teaching of the church, Civil Legislation and Guidance, every part of the Church community must be committed to taking the necessary steps to:

*Demonstrate that the right of the child to protection from harm is paramount

*Cherish and safeguard children and young people.

*Foster better practice

*Support Church organisations and personnel in safeguarding children

*Establish safe recruitment and vetting practices - aimed at preventing those who pose a risk to children from holding positions of trust

*Maintain codes of behaviour - having clear guidelines that set out what is and what is not acceptable behaviour as an essential part of keeping children safe

The Diocese now has a Child Protection Committee, Diocesan Co-ordinator, 2 Diocesan Trainers and a network of Parish Representatives.

The trainers deliver information on "best practice" and raise awareness of child protection issues; they also provide support to parishes within the Diocese. In turn the Parish Representatives will pass on this information and raise awareness within their local parish communities. This is done though information evenings that have been and continue to be held throughout the Diocese.

Notices are displayed in our churches which include the Diocesan Policy Statement, contact numbers for statutory authorities of anyone with a concern in relation to child protection or who wish to make an allegation as well as the names and contact numbers of the diocesan delegates.