Pastoral Council
The parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body consisting of people who represent the parish community. It forms a united body with the pastor in discerning how the parish can best carry out the ministry of the church.
What does Pastoral Council do?
- We pray and work together to discern the will of God on how best to serve the parish.
- We take time to learn and study about its role, the parish and its needs, church and diocesan documents, and the skills utilized in its deliberations; e.g., listening, dialogue, consensus, etc.
- We prepare for meetings by studying the agenda sent in advance, or by reading any commission or parish staff reports and other materials pertinent to any agenda item.
- We engage in pastoral planning, developing pastoral priorities and goals that carry out the ministry of the parish.
- We consult and know the parish community so we can be the “voice” of the people; e.g., taking time at a council meeting to discuss the results of a phone poll taken before the meeting, or bringing to the attention of the pastor concerns raised by parishioners.
Purpose
- The purpose of the St. Columban Pastoral Council is to constitute the primary consultative voice of the parish community. The voice is based on the collective knowledge and experience of the parishioners.
- To offer the Pastor practical advice consistent with the parish mission, by means of ongoing communication, planning, and evaluation.
- To make recommendations for the improvement of the quality of the parish life and the effectiveness of the parish services and policies.