Pastoral Council

The parish pastoral council is the principal consultative body in the parish. Two methods are used for choosing members: election by the whole parish, and appointment by the pastor. The reason for the dual system is to insure the fullest possible representation of the parish on the pastoral council. The maximum number of members is set at twelve in order to guarantee the possibility of effective communication of all members on the pastoral council.

The pastor has the responsibility of presidency of the pastoral council. The responsibilities of the pastoral council extend to all aspects of pastoral life in the parish. Pastoral authority rests with the pastor as head of the Christian community. Policy formation is the responsibility of the pastoral council in the consultative process. Administration is the responsibility of those, employed and volunteer, who carry out in practice the pastoral polices and programs of the parish.

The parish pastoral and finance councils are related to one another closely because an important ingredient in the pastoral life of the parish is the right use of the Church's temporal goods, its money, buildings, and grounds. The parish finance council directs itself to sound policies of management of the parish funds and property.

The pastoral committee structure is meant to provide the necessary work groups to assist the parish pastoral council in its many concerns. The four standing committees - Family Life, Sacred Worship, Catholic Education, and Social Concerns - direct their work to each of the four fundamental areas of pastoral life in the parish.

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