Minutes of recent meetings of the Council of the Laity
Laity Commission Minutes Sept 2017 Laity Commission Minutes May 2017
Here are some of the lay organisations to be found with Dunkeld Diocese
CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL RENEWAL - ST JOHN PAUL II PRAYER MOVEMENT
It is our aim to respond to the call for a New Evangelisation by helping to foster the Lay Faithful in discovering new depths of personal relationship with Christ through prayer, worship and the nurturing of a greater openness and response to the Holy Spirit. We also recognise and support the need for the Lay Faithful to grow in confidence, conviction and knowledge of our faith and understanding of Scripture as well as its application to our lives, formed by mature teaching and Catholic education. By so engaging in a more active approach to our faith where we can support, encourage and up-build one another we aim to provide opportunities to enable lives to be spiritually renewed so as to be transformed in Christ and therefore better prepare us to respond to the call of our Baptism to give witness and edify the Church. The St John Paul II Prayer Movement meets at the St Joseph's Convent, 24-28 Lawside Road, Dundee on Thursdays - between 7-9pm and also in St Columba's, Kirkton, on Mondays; St Fillan's, Crieff on Wednesdays and St James', Kinross on Fridays Contact - Chris McCrossan chris@wellsofpraise.com
Association Jeanne Jugan
In your presence, Lord Jesus, with your grace and through Mary`s intercession, I commit myself to the Association Jeanne Jugan of the Little Sisters of the Poor for one year. I promise to serve you in the elderly with joy and love, by following the example of humility and confidence left to us by Jeanne Jugan. This promise is made each year throughout the world by members of the Association of Jeanne Jugan including those members in Dundee. The Dundee members meet during the summer months in Lawside convent where they come together for prayer and reflection and to share in the news of the Little Sisters from the homes in Scotland and Ireland as well as updates from the Motherhouse in France. As Associates we are part of the worldwide family of the Little Sisters of the Poor, who although no longer minister in Dundee they remain very close to us. We keep in regular contact with them and are invited to join in celebrations and events in the homes in Scotland and Ireland. Each member undertakes whatever they can to follow in the footsteps of Saint Jeanne Jugan whether it be spiritually praying for the Little Sisters or carrying out works of mercy where able by following the example of Saint Jeanne Jugan. You can learn more about the Little Sisters of the Poor and an opportunity to meet some of the Little Sisters in the videos at http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/ To learn more about the Associates in Dundee you can contact Jim Galligan on 01382 665118 or email james.galligan@btinternet.com.
The Catenian Association
The Catenian Association is an international brotherhood of practising Catholic laymen who meet socially, at least once a month, in local branches, known as Circles. They give mutual support to each other and their families, based on the shared values of their Catholic belief and practice. In an increasingly secular society, the Association provides a sociable and supporting haven (an oasis of calm) for those facing challenges to their beliefs and moral values in their business, professional and family lives. Through their membership Catenians are helped to enjoy and fulfill their various vocations in life. Firstly as baptised Christians and also in their family as a husband and father; in their chosen profession or workplace; within the civil community and within the church. The Association’s name is derived from the Latin ‘Catena’ (a chain) with the Circles being the links in the chain. The emblem consists of a continuous chain of links surrounding a cross. This symbolizes that our Catholic faith is at the centre of all we do. The Association is not a fund raising agent for the Catholic Church, nor is it a Catholic action group. However, it is a group of active Catholics. On an individual basis, Catenians take an active part in the life of their parishes and many play a leading role in their dioceses and Catholic lay organisations locally and nationally. The Association is non-political though Catenians are prominent in many aspects of public life and service. Circle Name: Dundee & Perth (UK) Circle Number: 110 Inaugurated: Oct 13 1934 Meeting Times: 7:30pm Meeting Date(s): 1st Thursday of the Month Meetings at either the Invercarse Hotel (Dundee) or at the Queens Hotel (Perth)
JERICHO SOCIETY
The Mission Statement of the society is the parable of “The Good Samaritan”. The Jericho Society was formed in 1970 as part of the response of Fr James Ferguson to the plight of alcoholics living in derelict buildings in Greenock. The society now has eight different projects (Jericho Houses) meeting varying community needs. These are 2 drug addiction house, 2 homeless centres, one homeless drop in centre, one ladies refuge, one nursing home for elderly care and Jericho House Dundee an alcohol recovery service (residential). Jericho House in Dundee has been working with chronic alcoholics since 6th March 1996 in a purpose built facility opened by Bishop Vincent Logan. Men and women can come and live in the service for up to one year and follow a 12 step programme of recovery (12 step facilitation). Then following our recovery model of approach the resident’s work through the 12 steps with their support workers gaining insight and understanding of the illness of alcoholism. Once understood as an illness the service user can put down the “Big Stick” and let go of the shame, guilt and remorse of their alcoholic drinking and attendant behaviours and focus on change through this abstinence model. After their stay in Jericho residents are supported in their moving on and get ongoing support as required through continued attendance to self help groups and regular visits to the project for support from staff and participation in Jericho meetings. The 12 step recovery model is adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous literature. An added advantage of Jericho House support workers is that they have the personal experience of being in recovery from alcoholism. Support workers can share their experience of recovery with the new person and this is a great help in building trust. The service is continuing to develop within the addiction community and has baleful results of lives transformed through our recovery model. The addiction services of the society has a web page on line at - www.jericho-addictionservices.co.uk Should you require any further information then contact David McEnroy at Jericho House, Dundee (01382 223627) or jerichohouse3@yahoo.co.uk
THE LEGION OF MARY
The Legion of Mary meets weekly for the spiritual formation of members in the spirit of Our Blessed Lady and practical and spiritual help to others. The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the church’s work for souls. The first praesidium (parish group) in Scotland met on 28th April 1928 in Glasgow and soon after spread throughout various dioceses. The weekly commitment is attendance at the praesidium meeting and going out in pairs on the allocated work. This varies according to the needs of the parish – but does not include the giving of relief either in kind or money as other organisations take care of this kind of apostolate. Always the work of the Legion is done with a partner, one is never permitted to go alone on any work task. Reaching out to everyone has always been the main aim of the Legion of Mary. In order to be prepared for this members are encouraged to develop and increase their own spirituality.
SERRA INTERNATIONAL
Serra International is an organization of lay people who share a deep faith and love of the Church. It aims to promote, support and sustain Vocations to the priesthood and religious life and to encourage members to develop their understanding of their faith and fulfil their own vocations. www.serragb.org.uk
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN
Aims
- To affirm, defend and promote the existence and value of human life from the moment of conception, and to defend and protect human life generally.
- To reassert the principle laid down in the United Nations 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child that the child "needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth."
- To defend, assist and promote the life and welfare of mothers during pregnancy and of their children from the time of conception up to, during and after birth.
- To examine existing or proposed laws, legislation or regulations relating to abortion and to support or oppose such as appropriate.
SPUC lobbies members of parliament on right-to-life issues and promotes the importance of the civil right and duty to lobby elected representatives. SPUC monitors the voting records of MPs and MEPs on abortion, embryo experimentation and euthanasia, and we are able to inform the public of what the elected representatives have done on these issues. Locally we make representations, as appropriate, to councillors and to members of the European parliament and Scottish parliament. We also run letter writing campaigns through parishes as well as monitoring the press and responding to local right-to-life stories. We co-ordinate petitions through our parish pro-life rep network to support national petitions to the Scottish and Westminster parliaments. SPUC mainly works as a voluntary organisation and much of our local work is fundraising to support campaigns both on the local and national level. We have two coffee mornings, two strawberry teas, a bingo and a street collection every year.