PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL

The primary responsibility of the council is pastoral planning. This process envisions, addresses and evaluates the needs and goals of the parish community in light of Church teaching and the mission of the local and larger Church. This responsibility calls forth the gifts of planning, visioning, empowering and evaluating and requires a belief in the concept of shared leadership among the clergy and the laity.

The purpose of the council is to (as stated before):

explore the pastoral reality, including its relationship with the neighboring parishes and

the Local Catholic Community;

reflect upon it; and

make a recommendation to the pastor or PLD.

The specific purposes of the pastoral council are:

to develop a common vision and purpose, actively advocate for the poor and the powerless, and to extend Christian commitment to the surrounding neighborhoods and communities;

to orchestrate under the leadership of the pastor or PLD a statement of mission for the parish community and become the reference point for activity in the parish;

to provide recommendations as requested by the pastor or PLD for parish priorities, directions and policies through pastoral planning for worship, evangelization, outreach,

stewardship, etc. and

to promote communication, understanding, and collaboration between the parish, the bishop, the diocese and the universal Church.

Pastoral leadership is a ministry of service. Pastoral leadership and authority cannot be separated from the action of service which builds up community and empowers its members to reach their full individual stature. The pastor or PLD consults, not because they wish to surrender responsibility for the parish, but because he/she wants to exercise it wisely.