St. Bernadette Parish

1. Introduction

The documents of the Second Vatican Council recommended the establishment of parish pastoral councils to enable parishioners to express their ideas on what pertains to the good of the Church. Pastors should willingly consult their people, say the documents, and use their prudent advice. By establishing a Parish Pastoral Council, the Pastor acknowledges the wisdom of his parishioners and expresses his desire to share with them his responsibility for guiding the direction of the parish.

2. Purpose

The purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council (also known as Parish Council) is pastoral planning—that is, to investigate pastoral matters, to consider them thoroughly, and to propose practical conclusions about them. The Council presents these conclusions to the Pastor in the form of recommendations. After the Pastor has accepted the recommendations of the Council, he directs their implementation. Council members may assist him, but implementation is the responsibility of the Pastor, not the Council.

3. Scope

The scope of the Council is pastoral matters. These may include everything that pertains to the Pastor's ministries of proclaiming God's word, celebrating the sacraments, caring for the faithful, promoting the mission of the Church to the world, and being a good steward of parish resources. The scope includes all the practical matters of parish life. There is, in short, nothing about which the Pastor may not consult the Council, apart from faith, orthodoxy, moral principles or laws of the universal Church.

4. Criteria for Membership

Parish Pastoral Council members are chosen, above all, for their ability to accomplish the main task of the council - the work of investigating, considering, and recommending practical conclusions to the Pastor. They are baptized Catholics, in good standing with the Church, who reflect the parish's various demographics, social groups, and ministries. Finally, they are parishioners noted for their faith, good morals, and prudence.

5. Membership and Selection of Members

The Parish Pastoral Council’s administrative board is composed of twelve parishioners, selected for a term of three years. Additional Council positions can be added at the discretion of the Pastor and the Council. Four Council members are regularly selected each year. Parishioners are asked to nominate candidates for Council positions in March, through announcements in the parish bulletin, at parish organization meetings, and from the pulpit. Nomination forms are available through the Parish Office. In May, the Council selects, in an atmosphere of prayer and discernment, new members from among those nominated. New members join the Council as of the June meeting. A three-month transition period can be added after a member’s final year, to aid the orientation of new members. Council members may be renewed for one additional term, but renewed members are selected through the nomination and selection process outlined above.

When a member cannot complete his or her term, the Council shall select a replacement from among those interested in the work of the Council, who meet the criteria established above.

6. Officers

The Pastor presides at every meeting of the council. He consults, accepts or rejects recommendations, and develops the agenda with the Council officers. The Pastor and Council annually select four officers from among their number. They are the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary. With the Pastor, they develop the Council agenda. The Chairperson facilitates Council discussions, making sure that everyone speaks and is heard. The Chairperson also monitors the work of the Council members between regular meetings. The Vice-Chairperson assists the chairperson, and facilitates meetings in the Chairperson's absence. The Recording Secretary keeps the minutes of Council meetings. He or she ensures that they are sent, along with the agenda and supporting documents, to each Council member at least one week before every meeting. The Corresponding Secretary prepares and distributes Council communications to parish groups and individuals outside the Council.

7. Operation

The Parish Pastoral Council maintains a regular planning cycle, from three to five years in duration. The Pastor, with input from Council, defines the theme of the planning cycle. Council members facilitate the instruments and assemblies needed to elicit the advice of parishioners and ministries, and to report on the Council's progress. The Council’s main task is the creation of the Parish Pastoral Plan, which is published for the benefit of all parishioners and ministries.

8. Meetings

The Parish Council’s administrative board meets monthly, from September through June. Meetings are expected to be about two hours in length. Between the monthly meetings, council members are expected to follow up the previous meeting and prepare for the next. This often entails work on ad-hoc committees. These ad-hoc committees shall perform certain delimited tasks relating to the work of the Council on an “as-needed” basis. An extended Council board, consisting of the administrative board and one representative from each parish ministry, meets semi-annually, normally in October and in April.

9. Agenda for Council Meetings

The Pastor develops the Council agenda with the Council officers. The agenda states the goals for each meeting, the means and group process for reaching the goals, and the materials needed to accomplish them. The agenda guides the meeting. It opens with prayer and a review of the minutes of the previous meeting, and concludes with a brief evaluation and closing prayer. If the Pastor is satisfied with the consultation, he formally accepts the council's recommendations. He may then ask the parish staff, Council members, or other parishioners to implement the recommendations. If he is dissatisfied with the consultation, he expresses his reservations and asks the council to clarify whatever is unclear.

10. Council Recommendations

The role of the Parish Council is consultative in nature, and, as such, recommendations will ideally be made via consensus, through prayer and discernment. For those matters in which a vote is taken, a majority of the members of the Council’s administrative board (including the Pastor or Pastor’s designee) shall constitute a quorum. Council recommendations become effective upon the approval of the Pastor.

11. Relation to the Parish Staff, Finance Committee, and Parish Ministries

The Pastor consults others besides the Parish Council about parish governance. He relies upon the Parish Staff for their expertise, and consults them daily about the management of parish operations. He may occasionally ask Parish Staff members to attend Council meetings, in order to put their knowledge at the service of the Council. The Pastor relies on the Finance Committee to develop, monitor, and report on the financial concerns of the parish, according to the guidelines issued by the Diocese. Finance Committee members are chosen for their knowledge, skill and expertise in the areas of finance and accounting. The Pastoral Council, by contrast, offers general, practical advice, proposing conclusions that will bring life and vitality to the parish. Parish Council does not monitor or supervise other parish ministries.

12. Operation in the Absence of a Pastor

In the absence of a Pastor due to illness, death or leave of absence, Council may continue to meet to discuss issues and needs during the time of transition. However, final decisions cannot be made in the absence of a Pastor. With the arrival of a new Pastor, the Council shall remain in operation for three months. The new Pastor will decide whether to continue with the Council in its present form.

13. Amendments

Amendments to these Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines may be made on an as-needed basis. Proposed amendments shall be documented, and must be approved by two-thirds of the full membership of the Council’s administrative board to take effect.