Why have a Parish Pastoral Council ?
At the beginning of 2004 the Pope John Paul spoke about Pastoral Councils. He said:-
"Pastors have the responsibility to form, sustain, and sanctify the People of God while lay faithful, together with them, play an active part in the Church's mission in a constant synergy of effort and respecting the specific vocations and charisms.
This helpful collaboration of the laity is found also within the various Councils at the Diocesan and parochial levels.
These are participatory organisms which offer their co-operation for the good of the Church!”
(John Paul II 10 January 2004 )
As the Pope states, all the baptised have a part to play in the mission of the Church.
What do Pastoral Councils do?
- The Pastoral Council is one way of facilitating the active participation of all the baptised in the mission of the Church.
- It is the Diocesan policy that there should be a Pastoral Council in each Deanery and Parish.
- There should be a separate finance committee and a separate maintenance committee in each Parish.
- Parish Pastoral Councils remain in existence during a change of parish priest and help facilitate the transition.
The Parish Pastoral Council Core Group at St. Patrick's
The Core Group meets for an hour one evening every two months or so. It considers how the parish is getting along overall, what else needs to be done and how best to do it. In doing so, it seeks to reflect the views of Parishioners and to assist Fr John. Council members will, on occasion, take on particular tasks such as the parish project. Council members traditionally serve for three years.
Minutes of the last meeting. (DOC - 26Kb)