Next meeting: tuesday 2 september 2025

Parish of St. Mary Magdalene 

Pastoral Council Minutes

Wednesday 15 July 2025 7pm

St. Paul’s House

Present: Father Philip, Liz Gronkowski, Jane Miezitis, Sally McElroy, Tony Ward.

Welcome and reflection: John 17:11b-19 

Apologies: Craig Doidge, Jacqueline Crawford, Lijosh Joseph

1. Points following last meeting.

2. Review of Syro Mirabar Mass and information evening.

This was a very successful evening which was very well attended. It was very interesting and uplifting to participate in the celebration of the Mass and in particular the participation of the children was very uplifting.

As a follow-up it was suggested we could perhaps make contact with the Coptic Orthodox Faith community in Kirkcaldy.

3. Adult formation.

a) Review of points from Volunteers’ Evening:

1) Rather than add to the existing supplementary hymn booklet from Chapel Royal, it was agreed that it would be easier to produce  sheets as and when required for those who have difficulty seeing the screen in St. Paul’s. The sheets can then be stored for future use. Initially those parishioners will be asked to use a hymn book and the numbers will be displayed. In this way the number of sheets required can be gauged. A notice will be in the newsletter and pass keepers will be informed. 

2) Our Social Justice Group is concentrating on areas where they see a need that our parish can support.  Hopefully they can help with some of the suggestions from the Volunteers” evening. 

3) Suggestion boxes are now ready and will be available periodically, beginning with the month of September. 

4) Series 5 of “The Chosen” will commence on Wednesday 8thOctober. This series portrays the period from the Last Supper leading to The Passion which will be dramatized in series 6 , so people can come along and view it without necessarily having seen the previous series.

5) The Robert Barron dvds “Catholicism” will be studied during the daytime sessions in Advent and Lent.

b) RCIA

1) There has been some interest in this year’s RCIA.

2) Hopefully we can liaise with the school in the new session to organise a one-off meeting for parents who would like to know more about our faith.

c) Baptism

The formation of a parish team will be considered and Baptism Sundays will commence in the New Year.

4. Holy Year

a) The Hour of Prayer will continue at Carmelite Convent Hot Pot Wynd, Dysart on the last Sunday of every month.

b) A parish event will be combined with our Mass for the feast of St. Mary Magdalene next Tuesday 22nd July at St. Mary’s, followed by a buffet in Romero House. All parish musicians will be involved. 

c) Staged walking of the Fife Pilgrim Way will commence on Saturday 30thAugust. Details are to follow and those who wish to participate will be asked to sign up. 

d) A  Deanery Gathering for the Autumn has still to be organised.

5. Glenrothes Churches Together

The AGM took place on June 11th with a speaker from Christian Aid.

a) An ecumenical approach regarding working with care homes in the local area is being planned. The aim is to have a Christian service in every care home where it is desired.

b) There will be an ecumenical service to commemorate the St. Margaret Declaration which will take place on Sunday 16th November.

6. Safeguarding

No items

7. Report from the fabric and Finance Committee

Various initiatives for improving income are being considered.

8. A.O.B.

Fr. Philip distributed information regarding the publication of “Pathways for the Implementation Phase of The Synod. This will be discussed more fully at our next meeting.

9. Date of next meeting

Tuesday 2nd September at 7pm in St. Paul’s House.