The third Parish Assembly of Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Parish, including the communities of St Andrew Kaggwa RC and Christ the King RC, was held on Saturday, October 29 at the Bishop Mendes Auditorium from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The objectives for this assembly were:

•  To understand clearly were the parish is NOW

•  To imagine and state were the parish would like to be in 2008

•  To identify the obstacles and threats to the realisation of the vision for the parish

•  To commit parishioners to make the vision a reality

All parishioners present received the working parish document, which outlined the significant developments for the past three years. Some of these were:

•  Emphasising our four watchwords – Stewardship, Communion, Eucharist and New Creation

•  Formation of Ministries – such as Men's Ministry, Sick, Family Life, Hospitality, Liturgical, Total Parish Catechesis

•  The Programmes – Coming Home to Christ & Living in Christ

•  Archdiocesan Synod Process

•  Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Christ the King Renovations

•  Leadership Development

•  Pastoral Team

Parishioners in discussion

Fr Allan Ventour

Parish priest, Fr Clyde Harvey presided over part of the day's proceedings, as did associate Fr Matthew d'Hereaux. Fr Allan Ventour, Fr Harvey's successor, was present for the morning session, and was warmly welcomed by the assembly.

Matters discussed were:

•  the development of two legs of authentic witness – Community Life & Social Justice;

•  changing of Mass times on Sunday mornings;

•  dealing with an expanding Catholic population from the new housing developments in San Fernando ;

•  a deeper focus on Stewardship in the parish;

•  development of a parish website for information, evangelisation and ministry purposes; and

•  the issue of keeping elected members for the Pastoral Council.

All the above issues were discussed, and views of parishioners were noted. Fr Ventour will be presented with all matters discussed at this parish assembly. The assembly ended with the parish flag being passed around, and spontaneous prayer being said by parishioners in the assembly.