Several members attended the presentation of “Theology of the Synod” done by Fr Joe Harris. As a result of this, a paper has been prepared for distribution to all heads of ministries for discussion among the members. The Team members will also be advised of which priority they are aligned to.

Last month the Team initiated the parish’s new stewardship thrust with the emphasis on “Vocation to be Catholic” using a skit done by the Youth Drama team. The skit was performed after each Mass and brochures prepared by the communications ministry were distributed to parishioners containing follow-up information on stewardship and the Vocation to be Catholic.

The brochures also contained parish contact information together with a list of all the ministries in the parish. There was also a form which parishioners were asked to complete and return, which will enable the compiling of a proper database for the parish.

Although the Team has not yet discussed the three pastoral priorities with the parish as a whole, some of the individual ministries have already begun to discuss them among themselves.

Additionally the team for each priority has prepared brief introductory presentations which will be delivered at the end of each weekend Mass for three consecutive weekends – one initiative per weekend – starting at the beginning of September.

However, Vera Allen, secretary to the PIT of St Charles, has a few questions. Has the SIT considered the establishment of a Synod question and answer column in the Catholic News? Questions can be submitted via e-mail and the answers published in the column.

The other question: Should we be aligning the unaligned ministries or should that be a function of the SIT? Ms Allen adds that her parish was not too clear on the implications, but believes that it is desirable to have all the ministries of the various parishes functioning under the same priority.

St Charles also had a suggestion as it related to the youth creativity competition. They believe it should be done at a parish level in the first instance and the winners at that level move on to compete in an Archdiocesan final.

The efforts of the PIT have not gone in vain since the defunct communications team has been revitalised and the floundering Social Justice team has now been clustered with the parishes of Curepe, St John’s and St Joseph and have already had three meetings to date.

Although there is no Evangelisation team, the Eternal Light Community, led by Sister Deborah de Rosia, and is within the parish, fills that gap.