Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines
"Parish Pastoral Council Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council is to foster full participation of the entire parish in the life and mission of Christ who was sent ".... to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release of prisoners...." (Luke 4.18)
a. The Parish Pastoral Council is solely a consultative body with the role of advising and assisting the Priest in areas of pastoral concerns.
b. The Parish Pastoral Council will develop and recommend parish pastoral plans and directions through a consensus process and prayerful reflection.
c. The Parish Pastoral Council in its membership will be representative of the entire parish, as far as is possible, and will recognise and reflect the parish's rich diversity.
d. The Parish Pastoral Council will cooperate with parish committees which address worship, spirituality, community, evangelisation, education and service.
e. The priest will convoke the the Parish Pastoral Council and will work with the chairperson and secretary, together with other members of the Council, to determine issues to be treated.
f. In the event of the death or resignation of the Priest, Parish Pastoral Council will continue to function until another Priest can be appointed.
g. The new Priest will determine whether the current Council will continue to function or not.
h. The Parish Pastoral Council will consist of at least six members who will serve a 3 year term. Council members will serve a maximum of 6 years.
i. The Priest may co-opt a person representing youth or a broad cultural perspective.
j. A member of the School Board of Trustees will attend the first part of the meeting to enhance school parish liaison.
Job description for members of the
Parish Pastoral Council
As member of the Parish Pastoral Council I agree to undertake the following responsibilities:
a. To attend all meetings and in exceptional circumstances to offer an apology to the chairperson or the secretary. To contact either the chairperson or the secretary to clarify items on the Council meeting minutes.
b. To prepare for Council meetings by:
- reading the minutes of previous meetings and bringing them along to the meeting together with the current agenda;
- ensuring that you can report back on the initiatives that you are involved with;
- by reading the gospel for reflection and praying for the meeting.
c. To participate in faith sharing at the beginning of the meeting.
d. To contribute to discussions in order that recommendations and decisions can be made.
e. To pray regularly for the Parish Council together with the initiatives undertaken by the Council.
f. To take a proactive interest in Parish groups in order to better represent parishioners.
g. To contribute time and talents to all Council initiatives.
Essential Characteristics of a
Parish Pastoral Council
A Parish Pastoral Council is PRAYERFUL.
The parish council strives to provide sufficient time to reflect on the gospel so they more clearly understand Christ's ministry in order to bring that ministry into the life of the Parish. Prayer is crucial to the work of the Parish Pastoral Council and a considerable portion of each Parish Council meeting should be set aside for prayer and formation. The Parish Council must strive to pay attention to the active presence of the Holy Spirit. The best methods to secure that attention revolve around prayer and other ways of formation which take place within the Parish Council meeting and at retreats and days of reflection.
A Parish Pastoral Council is PASTORAL
Through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, all Christians are called to serve the people of God. The ministries of word, worship, service and administration are basic to the practice of being pastoral in the community. Parish councils strive to find the best resources and methods to serve the people of the parish as they fulfil the mission of the church in this time and place.
A Parish Pastoral Council is REPRESENTATIVE
Each Parish Council member needs to listen to parishioners and then faithfully present those expressed concerns, ideas and questions to the Parish Council, thus representing the tenor of the community. The Parish Council is a representative body rather than a body of representatives. The group strives to represent all aspects of the parish so that the faith needs of the parish are met.
A Parish Pastoral Council is DISCERNING
The Parish Council makes decisions in an atmosphere of prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit. It is guided by a firm, faith-oriented value system, which is flexible and open. The Parish Council works to determine how the mission of the church is accomplished in its own community, moulding its actions in response to that mission.
A Parish Pastoral Council is PROPHETIC
The Parish Council needs to have the courage and foresight to set the direction of the parish community, challenging the parish to grow in response to the gospel. This task will involve patience as the prophetic voice of the Holy Spirit calls for growth within the community. This prophetic work is not predicting the future but interpreting the path that the parish is to follow on its current faith journey in response to the gospel.
A Parish Pastoral Council is EMPOWERING
The Parish council solicits the contribution of expertise and talents of parish members to foster the faith growth of the individual, the parish and the broader community. This growth in faith means learning more about people in the parish as well as calling and affirming them in living out the mission of the church in their daily lives.
A Parish Pastoral Council is COLLABORATIVE
The Parish Council challenges itself as well as individual members, the staff, committees, organisations and other groups in the parish to work together. A clear, common understanding of the parish's mission fosters collaboration. The parish will strive to seek ways to collaborate with other parishes, community organisations and congregations to foster the common good of the broader community. In society and in the church, the demands of the future will stretch limited resources. Collaboration is an effective way to meet those needs and to utilise the resources.
For more information logon to
www.catholicnh.org/media/files/parish-life/7-30-02%20GUIDELINES%20FOR%20PARISH%20PASTORAL%20COUNCILS.pdf