Parish Pastoral CouncilsParish Pastoral Councils

The Calling

The call of the first disciples:The call of the first disciples:

Matthew 4:18-19Matthew 4:18-19Mark 1:16-20Mark 1:16-20Luke 5:9-11Luke 5:9-11

John 1:35-43John 1:35-43

Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council1962-19651962-1965

Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (1965)(1965)

““Sharing in the function of Christ, priest, Sharing in the function of Christ, priest, prophet and king, the laity have an active prophet and king, the laity have an active part of their own in the life and activity of the part of their own in the life and activity of the

church.church. Their activity within the church Their activity within the church communities is so necessary that without it communities is so necessary that without it the apostolate of the pastors will frequently the apostolate of the pastors will frequently be unable to obtain its full effect.”be unable to obtain its full effect.”

In other words:In other words:

Calls us to carry out the mission of the Calls us to carry out the mission of the Church in a new way. Church in a new way.

The pastoral council can be a vehicle The pastoral council can be a vehicle to envision a future, to provide to envision a future, to provide leadership leadership to implement the vision, to implement the vision, and and to witness the to witness the unconditional love of God unconditional love of God and the healing and the healing presence of Christ in our presence of Christ in our world.world. Helping pastor in the pastoral needs of the Helping pastor in the pastoral needs of the community. community.

The Code of Canon LawThe Code of Canon Law(1983)(1983)

Canon 204Canon 204 --- --- Christ’s faithful are those who, Christ’s faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been incorporated in inasmuch as they have been incorporated in Christ through baptism, have been Christ through baptism, have been constituted as the people of God; for this constituted as the people of God; for this reason, since they have become sharers in reason, since they have become sharers in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and royal office in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and royal office in their own manner, they are called to their own manner, they are called to exercise the mission which God has exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world.entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world.

Canon 536.1 states:Canon 536.1 states:

“ “A pastoral council is to be established in each A pastoral council is to be established in each parish; the pastor presides over it, and through it parish; the pastor presides over it, and through it the Christian faithful along with those who share the Christian faithful along with those who share in the pastoral care of the parish in virtue of their in the pastoral care of the parish in virtue of their office office give their help in fostering pastoral give their help in fostering pastoral activityactivity.”.”

Canon 536.2 states:Canon 536.2 states:

“ “This pastoral council possesses a consultative This pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by norms determined vote only and is governed by norms determined by the diocesan bishop.”by the diocesan bishop.”

Through our Baptism we have been Through our Baptism we have been incorporated in Christ; constituted as incorporated in Christ; constituted as the people of God; for this reason we the people of God; for this reason we are called to exercise the mission are called to exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church which God has entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world.to fulfill in the world.

Mission of the ChurchMission of the Church

To proclaim and establish the To proclaim and establish the Kingdom of God begun by Kingdom of God begun by

Jesus Christ,Jesus Christ,

among all peoples, among all peoples,

through the Holy Spirit, through the Holy Spirit,

according to the plan of God.according to the plan of God.

The parish MThe parish Mission ission Statement gives a sense of Statement gives a sense of identity and purpose to the identity and purpose to the parish and is kept alive by parish and is kept alive by

efforts of the pastor and council efforts of the pastor and council who use it as a template who use it as a template

against which to measure all of against which to measure all of parish life.parish life.

Sacred Heart Mission Sacred Heart Mission StatementStatement

NUTS AND BOLTS

OF PASTORAL COUNCILS

MembershipMembership

Mark 10:42-45Mark 10:42-45

You know that among the Gentiles those You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them. But it is not so among you; but over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be wishes to be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of Man came servant of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.his life as a ransom for many.

Servant Leadership

Qualities of a servant leaderSelf Awareness – comfortable with who you areServe in humility Getting Dirty - Servitude is messy. If we

avoid it, we will never build trust. If we never build trust, our influence will be limited. A Service of Love -Servant leadership focuses on the needs of others, not self. True Influence – to inspire and empower others.

Leadership does not destroy Leadership does not destroy authority; it complements it, authority; it complements it, enhances it, makes it truly enhances it, makes it truly human and truly Christianhuman and truly Christian

Shared responsibility does not Shared responsibility does not mean simply the opportunity to get mean simply the opportunity to get

rid of responsibility onto the rid of responsibility onto the shoulders of others, or a ritual shoulders of others, or a ritual process to satisfy the group’s process to satisfy the group’s

demand to be heard, or consulting demand to be heard, or consulting with members of a group who have with members of a group who have come to take an authoritative style come to take an authoritative style

leadership for granted.leadership for granted.

True leadership has a quality of True leadership has a quality of openness and a quality of being openness and a quality of being able to create a climate of unity able to create a climate of unity

among people with diverse ideas, among people with diverse ideas, so that ALL will be heard.so that ALL will be heard.

PastorPastor

“ “The pastor is the proper shepherd of the The pastor is the proper shepherd of the parish entrusted to him, exercising parish entrusted to him, exercising pastoral care in the community entrusted pastoral care in the community entrusted to him…” to him…” Canon 519Canon 519

Pastoral CouncilPastoral Council

* A “leadership body” that exists to aid the * A “leadership body” that exists to aid the apostolate of the pastor.apostolate of the pastor.

* The Pastoral Council upholds the integrity * The Pastoral Council upholds the integrity of the parish Mission Statement.of the parish Mission Statement.

TermsTerms

The term of elected or appointed members The term of elected or appointed members should be limited to two or three years, should be limited to two or three years, with the option of one additional term.with the option of one additional term.

Officers usually serve for one term at a Officers usually serve for one term at a time.time.

Limiting terms ensures that different Limiting terms ensures that different perspectives are represented on the perspectives are represented on the Council over time, and that different gifts Council over time, and that different gifts can be brought to the work of the Council.can be brought to the work of the Council.

Constitution, By-LawsConstitution, By-Lawsand Rules of Procedureand Rules of Procedure

Councils are encouraged to formulate and Councils are encouraged to formulate and record general rules of procedure, for the record general rules of procedure, for the sake of good order, although formalizing a sake of good order, although formalizing a constitution is not required.constitution is not required.

The Ministry ofThe Ministry ofPastoral Council Pastoral Council

LeadershipLeadership

PurposePurpose

1) to study the life and activity of the 1) to study the life and activity of the People of God; that is to research the People of God; that is to research the needs, the ideas, the hopes of the needs, the ideas, the hopes of the people, and their actions; people, and their actions;

2) to evaluate the parish in conformity 2) to evaluate the parish in conformity with the Gospel, with the Gospel,

3) To be a vehicle of communication 3) To be a vehicle of communication between the parish and diocesan between the parish and diocesan bodies, andbodies, and

4) to recommend policies, procedures 4) to recommend policies, procedures and programs, as needed.and programs, as needed.

RoleRole

The parish pastoral council The parish pastoral council members give their help in members give their help in fostering pastoral activityfostering pastoral activity

Pastoral planningPastoral planning

* Word “pastoral” implies a need * Word “pastoral” implies a need to be concerned about one to be concerned about one

question, “What is God asking question, “What is God asking of us?”of us?”

* Pastoral planning leads to * Pastoral planning leads to planning for action thus planning for action thus

developing the parish as a developing the parish as a “living Christian community”.“living Christian community”.

* Council’s work entails a pastoral * Council’s work entails a pastoral focus, a practice of reflection, and a focus, a practice of reflection, and a

goal of planning.goal of planning.

To help you do this - review your To help you do this - review your focus on the church’s mission and focus on the church’s mission and your mission statement frequently!your mission statement frequently!

Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (10):(10):

The parish offers an obvious example of The parish offers an obvious example of the apostolate on the community level the apostolate on the community level

inasmuch as it brings together the many inasmuch as it brings together the many human differences within its boundaries human differences within its boundaries and merges them into the universality of and merges them into the universality of

the church. the church.

* No one person or small group of persons holds all the truths in its grasp.* A leadership group must bear in mind that the truth can come from anyone. Romans 12:6-11* A collaborative style of leadership is * A collaborative style of leadership is more themore the norm norm for the People of God than an for the People of God than an authoritarian style. authoritarian style. * While the Spirit of God works through many* While the Spirit of God works through many people, parish leaders should draw on the people, parish leaders should draw on the collective wisdom and expertise of collective wisdom and expertise of parishioners while seeking to implement the parishioners while seeking to implement the parish mission. parish mission.

Helpful AttitudesHelpful Attitudes

openness

honesty honesty

respect for the truth in everyonerespect for the truth in everyone

patiencepatience

enthusiastic support for outcomeenthusiastic support for outcome

Realities & ChallengesRealities & Challenges

Realities in Today’s WorldRealities in Today’s World

A decline in Mass attendanceA decline in Mass attendanceAging of the Church populationAging of the Church populationLoss of parishioners to other worship Loss of parishioners to other worship culturesculturesA decline of vocations to priesthood and A decline of vocations to priesthood and religious lifereligious lifeThe high rate of divorce and remarriageThe high rate of divorce and remarriage

↓↓

Realities in Today’s WorldRealities in Today’s World

The rejection of papal authority; e.g. The rejection of papal authority; e.g. birth control, stem cell research, birth control, stem cell research, euthanasia, etc.euthanasia, etc.

The incidents of clergy scandalsThe incidents of clergy scandals

Immigration and diverse culturesImmigration and diverse cultures

Live in a materialistic societyLive in a materialistic society

Challenges in the ParishChallenges in the Parish

Number of unchurched people in areaNumber of unchurched people in area

Number of people who live in povertyNumber of people who live in poverty

People faced with leaving their homes People faced with leaving their homes because of property loss because of property loss

Loss of incomeLoss of income

RelationshipsRelationships

Parish StaffParish Staff

Responsible for the day-to-day Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the parish, working operation of the parish, working

closely with the pastor. Parish staff closely with the pastor. Parish staff supports the parish pastoral supports the parish pastoral

council.council.

Finance CouncilFinance Council

The Finance Council normally The Finance Council normally prepares the budget for the pastor. prepares the budget for the pastor. Also provides consulting services to Also provides consulting services to the pastor and Pastoral Council on the pastor and Pastoral Council on

financial matters and helps the financial matters and helps the parish to do financial planning.parish to do financial planning.

Finance councils do not determine Finance councils do not determine parish priorities.parish priorities.

MinistriesMinistries

The parish pastoral council may use The parish pastoral council may use ministry coordinators as resource ministry coordinators as resource persons when studying a particular persons when studying a particular sector or parish ministry.sector or parish ministry.

A summary or report (pastor’s report) of A summary or report (pastor’s report) of developments in parish ministry is developments in parish ministry is usually given at each council meeting.usually given at each council meeting.

In SummaryIn Summary

Councils read the signs of the Councils read the signs of the times within the culture of a times within the culture of a particular parish: its history, particular parish: its history,

values, achievements and failures, values, achievements and failures, current dilemmas and current dilemmas and

demographics.demographics.

Pastoral Councils never stop Pastoral Councils never stop striving to find the most effective striving to find the most effective way of bringing people to God.way of bringing people to God.

Remember - The Pastoral Council Remember - The Pastoral Council is representative of the entire is representative of the entire

parish community. On a regular parish community. On a regular basis you should basis you should listen to and listen to and dialogue dialogue with parishioners at with parishioners at

various levels.various levels.

““Like the disciples on the road to Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, present day Catholics Emmaus, present day Catholics are called to know Christ in the are called to know Christ in the breaking of the bread, and with breaking of the bread, and with hearts burning with joy, to share hearts burning with joy, to share the glad tidings of new life in the glad tidings of new life in Christ. Today’s disciples are Christ. Today’s disciples are called upon to faithfully proclaim called upon to faithfully proclaim the Word in this day, in this time, the Word in this day, in this time, in this place.” in this place.” We Walk by Faith, Catholic Diocese of Richmond, 2006We Walk by Faith, Catholic Diocese of Richmond, 2006

Parish Pastoral Councils are a Parish Pastoral Councils are a critical component of growing the critical component of growing the

Church Alive!Church Alive!