- Vicar General compliments slip: "E&OE bashed out quickly. Forgot to ask what about Stan Tucker. Mac"
[E&OE - Errors and Omissions Excepted - document may contain mistakes or may not include some details] - Notes for a no-nonsense meeting with Fr Birch. Many issues to address largely to do with Fr Birch doing his own thing despite directions from the bishop, the Vicar General and the Executive Committee. Several examples given of wayward behaviour - "my position becoming intolerable as a result". Decisions and actions taken which were not within Fr Birch's remit. Peter Wilson: "did you think we were fools... ?"
Committee
249 Archive Record results for Committee
Pg3: Opening paragraph: "The Bishop , at their recent meeting, having considered it advisable to make an alteration in the mode of appointment of their central education Board called the Cathoilic School Committee, agreed to announce this change in a joint Pastoral Letter, and, at the same time, to bring before the clergy and the faithful certain deeply important considerations connected with the Committee, and with Catholic elementary education in general."
Pg13-16: Appendix: Blue Book figures & statistics, income, finances around the Archdiocese, Fuunctions of the CatholicSchool Committtee; Pupil Teachers; Technical Education and Continuation (or Night) Schools
Committee named in Shrine Council meeting on 21-10-1992 as:
Monsignor Anthony Stark
Parish Priest of King's Lynn [Fr Anthony Shryane]
Director of the Shrine [Fr Alan Williams SM]
Vicar General [Canon McBride]
Mr D Gerrard (Walsingham Association representative)
Centenary period - 19 August 1997 to September 1998
Procedures - Designs need to be accepted by Shrine Architects and Liturgy Commission
Walsingham Association - Mr Gerrard to present ideas from WA. Fr Williams to visit as many branches as possible.
Ideas - various
Centenary period - accepted by Shrine Council
Walsingham Association - proposing a National Day Pilgrimage, Federation Mass at the Cathedral, 6th Form college competition, Youth Rally
Guild of Ransom - Ransomers bring refurbished statue from chapel to Red Mount for Mass on 19th. Then to Walsingham on 20th and the Ransomers' Centenary Weekend
Pilgrim Badge - medieval style
Books - produce a Walsingham Book; give-away prayer book for pilgrims
Slipper Chapel Window - Three designs from Paul Quail; replace east window and refit it in a new position
Festival Week - Catholic Stage Guild; investigate BBC3 concert broadcasts
Exhibition - Westminster Cathedral - to book a date
AoB - video for the Archives; articles for Catholic Press; leaflets for Tourist Board
Pilgrimage Badge - designs considered; cost £1
Festival week - no response from Catholic Stage Guild
Walsingham Association - long list of ideas and WA approach
Outline Centenary Year - draft schedule of events presented by Fr Williams
Working Committee - Fr Williams to form a small working team (include Fr Rollings and Mr D Hullett)
Slipper Chapel Window - Shrine Council to see final design
Publications
AoB - additional designs presented by Monsignor Stark; Guild of Ransom prepared to meet the cost - matter held in abeyance
Pilgrim badges - samples presented; agreed on pewter/silver
Timetable - events are being pencilled in calendars
Young Adults Pilgrimage
Seminar - various suggestions for speaker
Schools competition - being organised
Flower festival - 22/25May 1998
Westminster Cathedral - discussions ongoing
Publicity - leaflets in Spanish and French to be updated
Video - well under way
Walsingham Association
AoB: Cardinal Hume to do Dowry Pilgrimage; Catholic Stage Guild not responding
Pilgrim badges - mock-up next week
Festival week - project to be given to John Jordan and Nigel Kerry
Young Adults National Pilgrimage - lot of interest
Selling Shrine items - via village outlets and repository shop
Seminar - possibly joint with Anglican shrine
Schools competition poem/verse competition
Flower Festival - in May?
Exhibition - Westminster Cathedral date to be investigated
Publicity - too expensive to use a commercial company unfamiliar with the Shrine
Video - Fr Fenton SM has experience and is currently working on a series about the Vatican. Fr Williams has had discussions with him about the video and content
Walsingham Association
Director's report - summarising practicalities associated with vesting priests and transporting Ransomers.
Walsingham Association report - 2,000 pilgrims expected; torchlight procession; good support for Young Adults Pilgrimage
Charlotte Boyd drawing competition - subject should be Walsingham instead
Pilgrim Badge - of two sizes, smaller version selected
Agreed no further meetings
page1: Circular from Angela Bird regarding the International Unit IWoman's Unit Cabinet Office): a report being collated for UN about women's human rights. WNC (Women's National Conference) papers attached:
page2: Introductory letter from Valerie Evans, Chair, WNC
page3: "What was Beijing 1995"
page4: "Background to the Project"
page5: "What has happened in the UK as a result of Beijing 1995?"
Subscriptions - Subscription to £2; Newsletter to £3
Bishop and Clergy Support - Fr McBride & Dr Heley met; Bishop will support shrine in principal but not financially; advised that the Guild look very carefully at any hire contract
AGM - general arrangements
AOB - membership drive; Walsingham Pilgrimage date; completed statue to be brought by Mr Mellamphy to the March meeting and talk about his visit to Nettuno; CTS leaflet opportunity; view the redundant churches with new committee after the AGM
Meryemana Progress Report
Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Future meetings
AOB
Notes:
Appeal Committee - working party acting as the committee. Composition: Dr Heley (Chairman), Miss Salisbury (Appeal Secretary), Mr Mellamphy (Clerk of Woks), Mr Bell (Press and Public Relations), Canon Christian (Trustee), Mr Oudkerk (Treasurer), Miss Fell (Publicity), Miss Newell (Guild Secretary), Mr Sanderson, Mr Sparkes (Appeal Consultant).
Public Launch - quiet progress, donors being contacted
Brochure - Mr Mellamphy & Mr Bell preparing the brochure
Charity concert - Miss Valerie Masterson (a vice-president) is an opera singer with an internal reputation offered to give a charity concert - must be in November
Membership scheme - rationale provided for expanding membership beyond Guild members.
Future meetings - need to move from ad hoc arrangements to a more formal programme
Purpose to establish Appeal Fund for Slipper Chapel Development. Cardinal agreed to be patron, ditto Duke of Norfolk. Appeal to be in Cardinal's name.
List of actions
Appointment of Chaplains - 1 of each: Anglican / Catholic / Free Church; Fr Sillis interested; role of chaplain
Future Plans - Ecumenical Service January 1985; Robert Mellamphy approached for statue; Ecumenical chapel in Grayfriars complex; Trust might be established
AGM - membership subscriptions; committee of 8 ready to restand
Prayer
Silver Medal of Our Lady - Mr Smith advises 2cm long at 25p; design discussed; ask members through newsletter
Fr Di Mauro - Day of recollection discussed
Fr Cleary as Chaplain - accepted the role
Ecumenical Services - thanked Fr Sillis for all his work; discussed changes
Publicity - included in library's list of events
The Statue - small clay model made by Mr Mellamphy examined; discussed cost and means of producing such models; cost for 5'6" statue (wooden thought too expensive)
Speakers
Pilgrimage Notice- 2 September at 2.30pm
AOB
Hold an AGM at the May meeting
Plaque - replacement cost £500 and might require planning permission
Guild formation - party on 22 June to commemorate
AOB - Our Lady's Clock missing from meetings; Dr Heley to bring it along next time
Prayer
Election of Officers - all re-elected; addition of Mr Bannister as Vice-Chairman
Presentation to Members of the Guild - change in constitution required
Shape of Future meetings - short service, refreshments, activity (e.g. a talk), Guild prayer
Speaker for June meeting - Fr Williams from Bury St Edmunds or Fr Lansley
AOB - why no interest from Catholic clergy in Guild? A Rival to Walsingham? Involvement of clergy in conducting services and retreats; funding; Medal of Our Lady for sale?; Display at Library completed by Mr Smith
Pilgrimage Walk
Appeal Committee - working party, need names for the donor list
Public Launch - October 25 at Novotel
Brochure - Brown & Cream in four pages with art work by Mr Mellamphy - two versions (one cheaper than the other)
Charity concert - Miss Valerie Masterson (a vice-president) is an opera singer with an internal reputation has offered to give a charity concert
Charitable Status - more delay; amendments to clauses
Membership scheme - various levels & subscriptions; membership secretary required (Mrs Stocks accepted role)
Walsingham Pilgrimage - next year in May
Future meetings
side1: Services Committee report by Margaret Richards, Chairman
side2: Standing Committee for Children's Camps report
Reservation of Blessed Sacrament in Slipper Chapel - decision required from Shrine Council
Sacrament of the Sick
Masses Timetable
New Organs - requests for use by eminent organist and to make a commercial recording
Sub-committee report - (formed by Bishop Clark to consider financial matters) - number of decisions and policies need to be made by Shrine Council & Executive Committee
Publicity - a number of decisions made by the director for which he apologies, not having realise that he should have consulted with Shrine Council
Papal mass - Listed the 20 seats decided by the Exec Committee; Fr Colven has his own invitation; insure the statue and gold crown for £10,000
Conclusion - despite the gloomy financial situation; the shrine was built through faith and hope; Walsingham embraces all walks of life, and increasingly, denominations