“In every parish of the diocese, a Pastoral Council shall be established, if the diocesan Bishop, after consulting with the Council of Presbyters, so decides. The Parish Priest presides over the Pastoral Council. The Pastoral Council is composed of members of the congregation together with those of the parish staff who have pastoral care by reason of their office. The Pastoral Council assists in promoting pastoral action in the parish.” Canon 536 #1.
The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body, pastoral in nature, because it strives to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit among God’s people in the parish. A Parish Pastoral Council gives its help to the Parish Priest in fostering pastoral activity and, under his authority, it deliberates and leads all those things which are pastoral by nature. It is essential that Council meetings occur in the context of prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit, so that at all times the common good will prevail.
Specifically, the Parish Pastoral Council’s purpose is to enhance the process of:
- pastoral planning
- developing pastoral programs
- improving pastoral services
- evaluating the pastoral effectiveness of various programs and services
Although the Council is not a body which makes binding decisions, the recommendations of the Pastoral Council are to be taken seriously when grounded in prayer, discernment and communal wisdom.
The Parish Priest presides over the Parish Pastoral Council and is responsible for the final approval of Council recommendations concerning pastoral planning, programs, and services for the parish, as well as for their implementation. While the Parish Priest is not obliged to follow the recommendations of the Parish Pastoral Council, it is understood that he ought to do so unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. If there is such a reason, the Parish Priest should, if he can, share this with the Council.
Members
Fr. Andrew Downie – Parochial Admistrator
Greg Mearman – PPC Chair
Carol Proudlock, Tricia Whitfield, Pauline Burnside, Pat Middleton, Halina Holman, Jane Smith, William Norfolk, Katie Pearson, Doreen Jackson.