LPA Rep. Statement – October 2008

The Shrewsbury Diocesan Local Pastoral Area system is now twelve months old. Earlier this month, the Bishop asked that the LPA Teams from around the diocese meet with him again to mark the passing of the first year and to try and glean from those present, some idea as to how things are progressing. It is not his intention that such a gathering should take place every year. However, he believed that on this, the first anniversary, it would be a welcome exercise.

Speakers from six LPA’s (one from each of the six Regional Deaneries into which LPA’s are now grouped) spoke of their experiences. What soon became clear is that some LPA’s have had real difficulties settling in to the new system. In some cases, this has even led to the unraveling of what had already been working well as a deanery. In other cases, the Local Pastoral Area has brought about fresh life and impetus as people have responded to the need to work in closer co-operation and pool their resources.

Looking back over the last year, it is evident that our own LPA has made great progress and already much has been achieved. The LPA Team works well together and has developed a relaxed, business-like atmosphere leading to open and honest discussion of issues. Before the establishment of the LPA, Runcorn and Frodsham were already a natural grouping working in close co-operation and so we find ourselves building on a foundation already in place.

Our first joint social towards the end of September was a great success and we thank Andy Keeley and all at Saint Chad’s Catholic High School for their help and support in providing the venue. We now have our own website where information and news is readily available. Do visit it from time to time. You will find the address on each of our parish newsletters, copies of which you will also find on the website. Further developments to the site are planned.

The LPA Team has established an editorial team with the purpose of publishing a regular LPA newsletter. This will be distributed through our parishes and schools and so will reach far and wide. This will also be a valuable tool in promoting awareness of the Local Pastoral Area, one of the issues raised at the diocesan gathering. The first edition is coming on well and is due to be published at the beginning of Advent.

It is a great joy to welcome our two new priests, Father Jonathan Mitchell and Father Bill Harrison and we hope and pray that they will be very happy here with us. In these days of the shortage of priests, we must surely count ourselves as very lucky to be back up to our full complement.

The next meeting of the Pastoral Area Team is on 13^th November at Saint Luke’s in Frodsham. As well as a review of the past year, the Team will be discussing aims and objectives for the year ahead. If you have issues or ideas you feel the Team should address, please pass them on to me, your elected parish representative, by the end of October.