History
The Communications Committee was formed from the original Newsletter Committee in August 2005. The Newsletter Committee was responsible for the publication of the Parish Voice on a weekly basis. The Parish Voice developed out of the Vision of our Parish Priest, Father Garth Eversley O.Carm, who wanted a newsletter with a difference. The first issue was published 15 August 2004 on the weekend of St. Mary’s feast day, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
At this time the Committee comprised of five (5) members with Father Garth Eversley, O.Carm as the Editor-in-Chief, Ingrid Ragoonanan, Editor, Debra Beharry, Secretary and Camille Durham as Designer and two other members.
As the demands grew it became difficult to continue publishing with a Committee of this size and structure. In July 2005, a notice went out to the Parish Community appealing for persons with different talents to join this Committee. This resulted in the Communications Committee being formed.
The persons on this Committee are:
- Fr Gerard Tang Choon O'Carm - Editor in Chief
- Denise Labadie - Secreatary
- Camille Durham - Graphic Artist
- Ginnel Seale - Editor/Graphic Artist
- Gillena Cox - Editor/Writer
- Hillary Ann Browne - Writer
- Paul Lewis - Writer
- Julie Sylvester - Photographer/Writer
- Anthony Aqui - Photographer
- Carlton Carmino - Photographer
- Alcina Blenman - Assistant
The Parish Voice is now published fortnightly with Announcement Sheets being printed on weekends when there is no newsletter.
Vision
The Parish Voice offers its readers dependable information and opinions as a joyful servant of God's pilgrim church.
We hope to always be able to provide a voice for the people. To raise awareness of important issues, events and resources. To improve the perception of the Catholic Church by highlighting our positive attributes, such as our rich diversity, spirituality and down-to-earth, hard-working populace.
To provide the highest quality information to our readers. Our editorial brothers and sisters make sure that our product is not only entertaining and attractive, but that it is also sensitive to the concerns of our community. We are dedicated to providing the best customer service, and as such we utilize modern technological options for media distribution, and promotion.
Mission
The Parish Voice seeks to co-operate in the activity of God’s Spirit in history. We are committed in our publishing efforts to the Roman Catholic tradition and people. We identify with those trying to live by Christ’s life-affirming teachings of justice and compassion.
Our spirit is independent, our vision ecumenical. We attempt to contribute to the Catholic community by supporting freedom, honesty, and openness and shared responsibility within the community, the communities in which we live, in the church and by promoting the vision of a pilgrim church intimately linked with humanity and its history.
Our various publishing efforts foster an active, engaged spirituality in support of human dignity, social justice, environmental responsibility and peace. These tasks require of us integrity, sensitivity and dialogue in addressing the Catholic community and beyond.
We try, in all our management and publishing decisions, to evaluate carefully the well being of our community and the needs of the faith community we serve and to respond effectively to those needs.