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Parish
Pastoral Council
A Parish Pastoral
Council consists of the Pastor together with a group of parishioners
chosen by the parish community. They share the responsibility for
building a vital Christian community, focused on living and promoting
God’s values of love, justice and peace.
Why is “Pastoral” in the
name?
The use of the word
“Pastoral” emphasizes that the focus of the council is the
people.
Its role is primarily
“pastoral” and not administrative, managerial or financial.
The Parish Pastoral
Council is an advisory body for the Parish Priest.
Parish Finance Council
Of all the groups that
may be found in parishes, this is the only group which is mandatory
according to the law of the Church.
Can
537 In each parish there is to be a
finance committee to help the parish priest in the administration of
the goods of the parish, without prejudice to Can.532. it is ruled by
the universal law and by the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop,
and it is comprised of members of Christ’s faithful selected
according to these norms.
Care and Concern
Visitation Team
The stated Mission of the Parish Care and
Concern Group was:
·
To provide help by way of transport,
visitation, and/or family meals to
members of the community who
are in urgent need;
The
aim is now:
·
To provide a voluntary interim
(short term) service to members of the
community.
For some time, the Parish
Care and Concern Group has ceased to function. and it’s
connection with the pastoral care of the parish to be redefined.
The mission
is: To provide help by way of visitation, and/or assistance to the
members of our community who are sick or housebound, or to their
carers.
Visitation
covers a multitude of different activities. Included in this is the
Ministering of Holy Communion to the Sick, House Sitting to allow the
carer to have a bit of space, go and do some shopping, watch a movie,
go to a show etc. these are very worthwhile visits.
The work of
St Vincent de Paul conferences is part of the care and Concern activity
of the Church and as such, there needs to be dialogue, so that a
referral system can be instituted to avoid duplication of efforts.
Social Justice
Group.
Synod Priority No 4. That Catholics recognize and value the impact of their everyday
Christian living on building a better world.
Synod Priority No 9. That a
deep awareness of and commitment to social justice and social welfare are
characteristic of Catholics throughout the Archdiocese.
Aim of the Group:
·
To help members of the Parish
to be aware of Social Justice Issues
which affect the lives of our
brothers and sisters.
·
To communicate issues to the
Parish.
·
To present Deanery and diocesan
Campaigns to the Parish.
e.g. Social
Justice Sunday
World Day of Prayer for Peace.
Mental Health Week
·
To create and maintain
resources which can be accessed by the Parish.
Meetings:
The groups
would meet monthly to begin with.
The meeting
format would include the following three elements:
Prayer
Study or Education
The planning or
implementation of some action for the parish.
Adult Faith
Education
Synod Priority No 2. That Catholics
embrace the person and vision of Jesus Christ
Synod Priority No 8. That
parishes accept, value and use the initiative of small groups to
nurture and support people on their faith journey.
Aim of the Group:
·
To offer to the parish
opportunities which will feed and enrich the faith of
parishioners.
·
To coordinate the Adult faith
education Groups and Activities in the
Parish
e.g. CaFE
Catholics Returning Home
Advent or Lent Groups.
Other Adult Education Talks.
·
To encourage parishioners to be
involved in deanery and Diocesan Talks and Events.
The Group could meet monthly
with meetings open to all members of the parish.
A small coordinating group
would be required to set up talks and
provide advertisements etc.
Children and Young People
Synod Priority No 5. That
young people are helped by a set of faith development opportunities to
integrate their faith with everyday experience.
The heading suggests that two
groups of people come under this Synod Priority.
Children would be those who are
from the Prep year in School to the last year of Primary school.
Young People of Youth Groups
would be from the last year of Primary through to the age of
twenty-five.
As anyone who has and training
in teaching or experience of bringing up children, would know the two
age groups cover a wide spectrum of development. This raises a
challenge to those providing a service and entails a range of different
activities with a range of
abilities.
Two Parish Groups would be
required to meet the needs of children and young people.
In keeping with other groups,
it would be beneficial. If the three elements of Prayer, education and
action or activity were present in all meetings.
Meetings for Children
Once each month. Apart
from regular Sunday children’s Liturgy.
Meeting for Young People.
Once per month.
All activities for children and
young people would be subject to the Guidelines for Child Safety within
the Archdiocese.
The Parish Pastoral council and Parish Finance
Council are active and valuable groups at the present time. The other
groups mentioned should be implemented during 2007. If anyone would
like more information or are interested in joining a group please
contact the Parish Office.
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