Canon Law gives the Pastor primary responsibility for the Parish and so
the Pastor makes the final decision about matters relating to Parish
Life. The Pastor has to answer for what goes on in the community
as a Parish. Yet, in the spirit of Vatican II, the Pastor shares
responsibility for the life and mission of the Parish with a Pastoral
Council. The Council has a consultative relationship with
the Pastor. Within the Parish community, the Pastor
officially represents the Archbishop and the Archdiocese and has the
ultimate responsibility for the pastoral care and administration of the
Parish. A true spirit of respect, mutuality, and collaboration
ought to characterize the relationship between Pastor and Council in
order to carry our the Parish's Mission and Ministries.
Regular meetings are normally held on the first
Tuesday of each month September-June at 7:00
p.m., unless otherwise noted, in the First Portable.
The Council’s purpose is to help in
building the Parish identity by working jointly in an advisory, consultative
capacity with the Pastor to address all aspects of Parish life as they
relate to the realization of God’s kingdom as proclaimed by Jesus Christ.
In carrying out this mission, it is the
function of the Council to: identify Parish needs, concerns and problem
areas; provide a forum for deliberation and dialogue working toward a
consensus of opinion in the process of submitting advice to the Pastor;
encourage and support pastoral activities; evaluate the quality and
effectiveness of Parish activities as they relate to the continual growth
and development of the Parish as a Christian community; and implement
Council activities primarily through the Standing Committees of the Council.
The Standing Committees of the Council
are: Black Family Life (Subcommittees: Vocations and Lazarus Bereavement
Ministry); Calendar; Education; Evangelization; Facilities Management
(Subcommittee: Panorama Room); Liturgy; Social Concerns (Subcommittee:
Pro-Life); and Stewardship.
To learn more about our Standing
Committee of the Pastoral Council, please click
here.
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