Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)

Our Mission

Our mission as a parish council is “bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church“. We wish to serve Sacred Heart Church and its people by acting acting as your voice to bring about positive change within the parish and grow our Catholic Community.

Do take a look at our new page which documents all of the PPC Meeting agendas, minutes and plans.

Latest Updates from the PPC

Our Commitment

1. The willingness to accept the responsibility of being a member of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) for the next two years.
2. To strive to be sensitive to the vision and ideas of others so that we can truly represent the parish community.
3. To speak with justice and integrity so that the voices of this community can be heard, both in the Church and beyond.
4. Lead by word and example in the Christian way.

Contact us

To make a general request to the parish council please email ppc@sacredhearthook.org.

Parish Council Members 2022

Fr Paul Leonard
Sacred Heart Priest

Dear friends – As a parish I feel that we have reached something of a cross roads. We have been blessed in recent years with a growth in numbers and fruitfulness. To consolidate and continue this growth I felt that it would be beneficial to form a Parish Pastoral Council.

The council would comprise a representative cross section of the people of the parish and would be approximately twelve in number. Together we would look to see what our pastoral priorities are in the short and long term.

These are exciting times for our parish. Not only is the village of Hook growing, with its housing developments, but so is our parish. We look forward with hope that God in Christ will continue to guide us as a parish community as we strive to become a beacon of His love to our village and beyond.

You can learn a little bit more about me here.

Since 2019 we have had a Parish pastoral Council who have made great strides within our Parish. We have now changed the Parish Council members to allow others to serve and below you will find the new Parish Council Members.

I live in Hook with my wife Sarah and 4 children Matilda, Noah, Edith and Alma. The Sacred Heart has been a home to us since we moved here in 2007. I work for a very old fine wine merchant, so I have an unsurprising interest in wine and spirits but I also enjoy listening to many types of music and watching sport, all quite normal things! I am a trustee of the Hook Schools Community Association and enjoy running fundraising events for the local community to the benefit of the village schools. Before the pandemic I was one of the Children’s Liturgy team at Church and miss all of the insightful questions from the little ones on Sunday; to understand faith I think it helps to listen to children!On the PPC I have an interest in the children and youth elements of the Parish, community events and an arms-open approach to Evangelism. 

I moved to Hartley Wintney in 2011 from Camberley which is where my parents still live and it was a miracle I found the Sacred Heart Church, 5 years ago. I love being in this Parish and joining the services, talks, workshops, and prayer groups, where everyone is so friendly and welcoming.  Fr Paul is very uplifting and guides me in my daily life and has helped enrich my faith.  In my previous parish I was a Eucharistic minister and a Street Angel. My family comprising of my younger brother and parents are extremely important to me.   I live with my 2 gorgeous Snowshoe cats and in my spare time, enjoy walking, cycling and have just taken up fly-fishing.   

I hope I can contribute and make a slight difference whilst serving on the Pastoral Council.

Hi, my name’s John, I live in Headley (between Newbury and Basingstoke), with my wife Kelly.  I’ve been attending Sacred Heart with my Mum, Angela, since 2012.
Since being part of Sacred Heart parish,  it is evident that it’s a parish with community and inclusion at it’s heart, which is why I find it so special.  I have become a reader and previously volunteered on the Winter Shelter project.
In my free time I enjoy cooking, tennis and fitness, and a little gardening. It’s my hope I can assist the group with the great work the previous council has made.

I’m Shanthi Fernando and I’m originally from Sri Lanka. We came to live in Old Basing 5 years ago from Wokingham, Berkshire. I live with my husband Felix, my mum and our dog called Jesse. We have three grown up children and three grandchildren.

I studied maths and worked at the University of Reading and in a secondary school in Wokingham.
In my spare time I enjoy doing botanical art, reading, going for walks with family and spending time with my grandchildren. I also like entertaining people of all walks of life and having a great time using my culinary skills.

I wish to serve the Sacred Heart Parish by listening and living a Christ centred life in our community.

My name is Gill Byrne and I have been part of the Sacred Heart Hook parish for nearly twenty years!  Some of you may know me through Children’s Liturgy and through coffees in the church hall, pre Covid.
I am a mother of two young men, a retired teacher and SENCO and one of three daughters to my elderly mother who has memory problems.
I am also incredibly fortunate to spend part of the year in a beautiful part of France called the Limousin  renovating a barn that will never be finished!!
Recently I have become involved in our SHARE team who focus on how we can make a difference to benefit our beautiful planet.
I’m usually at Sunday Mass – Hope to see you there!

Please pray for us

Heavenly Father, you have chosen us to be your people
And have gathered us to live in this parish.
Be pleased with all our efforts to love you and serve you
In word, worship and work.
Give your blessing to these parishioners
Who will serve as members of our Parish Pastoral Council.
Guide their activities by the light of your Holy Spirit,
And help them to work for your honour and glory
And for the benefit of all your people.
We ask this through Christ , our Lord.
Amen