Our Lady of Victories Catholic Parish Horsley Park Celebrating Community

Other Committees have been established to help in the running of the Parish:
The Finance Committee; The Liturgy Committee; Children's Mass Group; Parish Catechists; Parish Sacramenatal Programme Committee; The Function Committee; Hospitality Group; The Social Group and Friends; Crafts Group; Ladies' Faith and Support group; The Good Friday Committee; The Parish Feast Committee; The Raffle Committee.

The parish also enjoys the services of two Acolytes, a number of Ministers of Communion, Ministers who visit the sick, Carers, Ministers of the Word (readers), Altar Servers, Children's Liturgy leaders, Ushers / counters, Church cleaners and musicians.

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History of our Parish Pastoral Council. (established May 1999)

Every modern parish realizes the need to involve lay people in its day to day running. The Second Vatican Council, in 1964, taught that all Christians, through their Baptism, share in Christ's priesthood, prophetic ministry and kingship. Hence, what was believed to be only the prerogative of ordained ministers and clergy, now could be shared by all Christians.

One of the ways this could be done, the Vatican Council suggests, is by involving Christian Laity into the governing of the Parish. Decisions which used to be taken by priests alone, had now to be shared with Christian Laity - they too belong to the parish, they too have a share in this responsibility.

In our parish at Horsley Park, we have decided it was time to move in this direction too. We had to discuss how to get going and how to choose our first Parish Pastoral Council. For some weeks, in our Weekly Bulletin, and during our Sunday liturgies, we tried to help our Christian Laity understand their role in the governing of their own parish.

From this we passed on to asking for nominations for the new Parish Pastoral Council.

The weekend of Saturday April 17 and Sunday April 18, 1999 was the time chosen for the parish to vote for its first Parish Council. Eighteen parishioners were nominated, from which eight had to be chosen to sit on the Parish Council for a period of two years.

The elected members were: Mr Frank Arena (Chairperson), Mrs Violet Menolotto (Secretary), Mrs Mary Bartolo, Mr Angelo Basso, Mr Manuel Borg, Mr Michael Joseph Borg, Mr Joe Fenech and Mr Joe Vella.

The newly elected Parish Pastoral Council was introduced to the parish community on Saturday May 15, 1999, during a liturgy where the Council members were commissioned for this new ministry they were asked to perform.

The Council met for the first time on Monday May 31, 1999. During this meeting its Chairperson and Secretary were chosen.

2001

It has been decided that, in order to give our Parish Pastoral Council continuity, and at the same time have new blood coming in regularly, the term of each councillor was for two years. Every year four councillors would resign and be replaced by four new members. In November 2000, it had been decided that Manuel Borg, Michael Joseph Borg, Joe Fenech and Joe Vella, should make way for four new faces.

The second elections for the Parish Pastoral Council were held on March 3 and 4, 2001. Seven candidates were nominated, four to be chosen. The elected members were: Charlie Barone, Fred Borg, Michelle Favotto and Arthur Zadro.

Each year, before Pentecost, elections are held to choose four new members.

On April 21, 2005, the Parish Pastoral Council decided to extend the term of council members from two years to three years. Members elected in May 2005 will be the first to sit for three years.

From the Parish Council Other Committees are formed to help in the running of the Parish.

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List of past members of the Parish Pastoral Council and years they served:
Frank Arena (May 1999 - May 2002) Chairperson May 1999 - May 2001, Charlie Barone (January 2001 - May 2003) Chairperson May 2001 - July 2003, Louise Bartolo (May 2003 - May 2005), Mary Bartolo (May 1999 - May 2002), Angelo Basso (May 1999 - May 2002), Emlyn Beale (May 2005 - May 2008), Charlie Borg (May 2003 - May 2005), Damien Borg (May 2002 - May 2004), Emanuel Borg (May 1999 - January 2001), Fred Borg (January 2001 - May 2003), Michael Joseph Borg (May 1999 - January 2001), Michael Borg (May 2003 - December 2004), Rita Cauchi (May 2004 - May 2006), Christine Craig-Colusso (May 2006 - May 2010), Mary Farrell (May 2003 - May 2005) Chairperson August 2004 - July 2005, Michelle Favotto (January 2001 - May 2003), Joe Fenech (May 1999 - January 2001), Lou Foggiato (May 2006 - May 2010), Anna Forcella (May 2002 - May 2004) Chairperson July 2003 - August 2004, Francine Grima (May 2004 - May 2006), Catherine Kilpatrick (May 2002 - May 2004), Kevin Kilpatrick (May 2004 - May 2006), Delma Marshall (May 2002 - May 2004), Romeo Menegazzi (May 2006 - May 2010) Chairperson August 2007 - June 2010, Violet Menolotto (May 1999 - May 2002; May 2005 - May 2008), Doris Mifsud (February 2007 - May 2010), Michael Mifsud (May - November 2006), John Muscat, (May 2005 - May 2008), Paula Sultana (May 2004 - May 2006), Joe Vella (May 1999 - January 2001), Arthur Zadro (January 2001 - May 2003; May 2005 - May 2008) Chairperson July 2005 - August 2007.

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