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ASHBOURNE/DONAGHMORE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL (PPC)
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Collins, Professor of Community and
Social Affairs, NUI Maynooth in 1999 stated:
' . . . most people feel positive about the atmosphere within the parish and believe that present
conditions are conducive to change. Consequently, people have outlined ways in which the parish
could be more accommodating and inclusive to all.'
One of the proposals stated was the establishment of a Parish Pastoral Council.
The working group accordingly conducted some research through reading, internet review, and contact with other parishes to hear and learn from their experience of pastoral councils, which proved invaluable.
In March a public awareness campaign and invitation process was begun. A leaflet was drawn up and
delivered to every household in the parish. Ms. Fainche Ryan of Kimmage Manor Institute spoke at weekend Masses about lay participation in the Church. Parishioners were invited to come forward for three evenings
of training through a process of self-selection. Training was conducted by Mr. Donal Harrington and over
forty parishioners participated. At the end of the training period parishioners were invited to consider
becoming members of the first Ashbourne/Donaghmore Parish Pastoral Council. Twenty-one parishioners
came forward, committing themselves to a period of two/three years' membership.
The first meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council took place on 4th June 2002. On-going resourcing and
training have been a feature of the Council. In Spring 2003 the Council will undertake a process of
discernment out of which will come a mission statement and objectives. The fundamental aim of the
Council, however, is to support existing initiatives in the parish and to discern needs of the parish and
consider ways of meeting these needs; in short, to fulfill the desire of the people as stated in the listening
survey to enable our parish to be ' . . . more accommodating and inclusive to all.'
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