The Role of the Pastoral Council is as follows:

The Pastoral Council will respond to the calls and questions of the pastor to reflect on spiritual and secular issues and to offer the best consultation at its command.  The pastoral Council represents and serves the Catholic community within its determined geographic boundaries.  All council recommendations and pronouncements will be developed by consensus. 

The Purpose of the Pastoral Council is varied.  Born out of need for co-responsible leadership, the Pastoral Council is the focus for the effective participation and partnership of the clergy and laity in the total mission of the parish as called for in Vatican II.  (Code of Canon Law 431)

There are 5 components that make up the purpose of the Pastoral Council:

• The first component of the council is to pray that with the grace of God they may discern the voice of the Holy Spirit and try to be one with Christ to acknowledge His presence in their midst and witness to the parish community.
• The second component of the council is conversion to a sense of community.  The Pastoral Council can serve as a vehicle of dialogue and communication between the pastor and the parish community and ministries.
• The third of component of the council is for growth, maturity, the need to change, and to accept the importance of change and to work in cooperation.
• The fourth component is in making recommendations about the pastoral priorities and goals for the parish through pastoral planning, i.e. statements of parish mission, goal setting, and objectives.
• The fifth component is to establish a means to evaluate the effectiveness of mission and ministry goals and objectives in serving the Christian community.  (Code of Canon Law 431-432)

Membership Eligibility:

All membership requirements are subject to the pastor’s discretion.  Council members should:

• Be registered members of the parish.
• Have demonstrated a commitment to the parish community.
• Be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
• Be 18 years of age or older, having completed Confirmation or be in the process of preparation for and completion of Confirmation and committed to spiritual growth.
• Commit themselves to attending and participating in Christian formation as part of the Christian leadership process to further their understanding the pastoral role of the laity.
• Be willing to commit the necessary time and energy to offer effective consultation through their stewardship of time, talent and treasure.
• Be determined and discerned by the parish community.
• Serve on the Pastoral Council only and not simultaneously on the Finance Council, Stewardship Council, Liturgy Commission or Education Council.
• Serve only on the Pastoral Council and not be an employee of the Church or Catholic School. 

Composition and Duties of the Pastoral Council:

• The Pastoral Council will be composed of the Pastor and 12 members who have been either elected or appointed, and who have recognized the call to serve the parish community.

• All members will serve staggered three (3) year terms with four new members being discerned each year and four members rotating off council each year.

• Members who have served a 3-year term may accept appointment or reelection to serve an additional 3-year term, but no member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

• The council membership will appoint a chairperson and vice-chairperson and recording secretary.

• The Pastoral Council meets on a monthly basis, except July and August, as well as when called by the pastor. 

• Regular meetings of the council shall be held at times and places scheduled by the council with the pastor’s approval.

• The chairperson will contact any council member who has had unexcused absences from two (2) consecutive meetings in a calendar year.  A third unexcused absence will necessitate a review by the chairperson and council members to evaluate the non-attendants continued potential for participation on the council.

• All council decisions shall be made by consensus, with concerns noted and recorded.

• Meetings shall be open to all registered parish members.

• Special meetings may be called at any time that the pastor, chairperson and three (3) council members determine that such a meeting is warranted.

• A quorum for a meeting shall constitute four members plus the pastor or
• chairperson/vice-chairperson for the purpose of conducting business.

• Workshops/seminars occasionally are presented for the council, but should not be construed or presented as replacement for any of the regular council business meetings.

Transition to a New Pastor:

When a change in pastors occurs (through death, retirement, transfer, etc) all activity of the Pastoral Council ceases until the new pastor reconvenes the council.  There are two approaches new pastors take to retaining Pastoral Council operations.  The first possibility is that the new pastor can request that the existing council stay in place for another year.  The second possibility is that the pastor can choose to disband the council of the previous pastor and discern his own council after his arrival in the parish.