The pastoral council is the leadership body of a parish and seeks to grow a flourishing, authentic community of missionary disciples in the parish community.
A pastoral council consists of the priest together with a group of parishioners chosen by the parish community. The council exists to ‘help the priest to foster the pastoral and missionary action of the parish’ (Canon 536).
Together, council members lead the parish in following Jesus’s instruction to his disciples to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you,” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Why have a pastoral council?
Pastoral Councils are one of the structures which were strongly recommended by the bishops of the Second Vatican Council.
The Catholic Church recognises the value of co-responsibility in leadership and a pastoral council is a practical way that clergy and laity can lead their local community together.
Pastoral councils are part of the Vatican II movement towards shared responsibility and shared ministry.
What does a pastoral council do?
Pastoral councils seek to:
- listen to the hopes, dreams, challenges and concerns of parishioners
- create a pastoral / mission plan with input from the whole community
- identify new ways in which the community can become more mission-oriented
- contribute to building a health culture across the parish.
- encourage the Catholic social teaching of subsidiarity by delegating responsibilities to other parishioners and
- identify potential leaders in the parish and find opportunities for them to exercise their leadership.
Establishing a pastoral council
The process of establishing a pastoral council varies according to the characteristics and circumstances of each parish community.
Some of the steps in establishing a council might include:
- forming a preparation group
- communicating with parishioners
- preparing council guidelines
- inviting members of the parish to recommend possible members
- providing an information meeting for recommended members
- organising a prayerful selection meeting
- commissioning the new pastoral council and
- arranging an initial formation and orientation session.
Evangelisation Brisbane can provide more information on the support available to establish and maintain your parish pastoral council.