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Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines

Leaders Identified. Distinction between clergy and laity. Pre-Vatican II environment ... Spiritual Leaders. Primary Goal - Conversion and growth. Parish is the ...

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Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines

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    Slide 1:Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Committees August, 2009

    Slide 2:History - Why are we doing this?

    Early Days: Communal Life Leaders Identified Distinction between clergy and laity Pre-Vatican II environment Vatican II: 1962 - 1965 1980s: Parish Councils Today: Pastoral Councils In the days of the apostles, all who were baptized had the same responsibility - to spread the good news. As the community grew, leaders were chosen. Through the centuries, there became a clear distinction between the leaders (the clergy) and the laity. In the years before Vatican II the work of the church was seen as the work of the priests and religious…and they did it well. The Second Vatican Council sought to restore the vision of the early church where all of the faithful took an active part in the life of the community. As parish councils were established in the 1980’s, the laity found a structured way to contribute to the leadership of the church. Today, the revised guidelines build on that foundation as well as emphasize the spiritual leadership that the parish pastoral council can provide.In the days of the apostles, all who were baptized had the same responsibility - to spread the good news. As the community grew, leaders were chosen. Through the centuries, there became a clear distinction between the leaders (the clergy) and the laity. In the years before Vatican II the work of the church was seen as the work of the priests and religious…and they did it well. The Second Vatican Council sought to restore the vision of the early church where all of the faithful took an active part in the life of the community. As parish councils were established in the 1980’s, the laity found a structured way to contribute to the leadership of the church. Today, the revised guidelines build on that foundation as well as emphasize the spiritual leadership that the parish pastoral council can provide.

    Slide 3:Parish to Pastoral Councils A Change in Focus

    From “hands on”, “doers” Reviewing Reports Monthly activity focus Business Approach Program/finance driven Crisis Management To Setting Vision Activating Mission Long Range Planning Prayer & Discernment Mission Centered Pastoral Planning Our current guidelines have been in place for 25 years and they have served us well. They have enabled parish councils to establish a structure to manage the activities of the parish. Typically parish council members were “hands on doers”, people who got things done. The parish councils often focused on reviewing activities of the previous month and planning for the next month. Council meetings had a business like approach and often dealt with financial matters or handling crises. The revised guidelines describe a pastoral council that sets the long term vision for the parish/cluster. The visioning is rooted in prayer and discernment of what God wants for the parish. It is centered on “mission” and putting in place a plan for realizing that mission.Our current guidelines have been in place for 25 years and they have served us well. They have enabled parish councils to establish a structure to manage the activities of the parish. Typically parish council members were “hands on doers”, people who got things done. The parish councils often focused on reviewing activities of the previous month and planning for the next month. Council meetings had a business like approach and often dealt with financial matters or handling crises. The revised guidelines describe a pastoral council that sets the long term vision for the parish/cluster. The visioning is rooted in prayer and discernment of what God wants for the parish. It is centered on “mission” and putting in place a plan for realizing that mission.

    Slide 4:Pastoral Council as Spiritual Leaders

    Primary Goal - Conversion and growth Parish is the framework for growth Council: A prayerful group Work is not our own Prayerful discernment of God’s will Take quality time for prayer Guidance from the Holy Spirit The revised guidelines envision the pastoral council as a prayerful people that serve as spiritual leaders for the parish/cluster. They hold as their primary goal personal conversion and spiritual growth leading to salvation for all. The council sees the parish as providing the framework for growth. The council is a prayerful group that acknowledges the work they do is not their own. Through prayer, they seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to discern God’s will for their parish/cluster.The revised guidelines envision the pastoral council as a prayerful people that serve as spiritual leaders for the parish/cluster. They hold as their primary goal personal conversion and spiritual growth leading to salvation for all. The council sees the parish as providing the framework for growth. The council is a prayerful group that acknowledges the work they do is not their own. Through prayer, they seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to discern God’s will for their parish/cluster.

    Slide 5:Mission Statement of the Archdiocese of Dubuque

    Community Word of God Leadership Families Eucharist Worship Morality Faith Formation Service To know what direction the parish/cluster is headed, it is important to agree on a common mission. A parish/cluster’s mission should be consistent with and support the mission of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. It shouldn’t be identical because all faith communities are unique but it should be rooted in many of the same areas that are stated in the Archdiocese’ mission statement. Some of those key areas are listed here. A good place to begin visioning for the future is to create a mission statement if the parish/cluster doesn’t currently have one, or reflect on the existing mission statement to ensure it continues to describe the mission of the community.To know what direction the parish/cluster is headed, it is important to agree on a common mission. A parish/cluster’s mission should be consistent with and support the mission of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. It shouldn’t be identical because all faith communities are unique but it should be rooted in many of the same areas that are stated in the Archdiocese’ mission statement. Some of those key areas are listed here. A good place to begin visioning for the future is to create a mission statement if the parish/cluster doesn’t currently have one, or reflect on the existing mission statement to ensure it continues to describe the mission of the community.

    Slide 6:Committees

    From Spiritual Growth & Liturgy Education Social Concerns Parish Community Life Finance & Administration To Liturgy Faith Formation Commission Social Justice Parish Life Finance Council Stewardship There are 6 committees defined in the revised parish pastoral council guidelines. Some areas have changed slightly. Some have changed significantly. And in one area, Stewardship, a new committee is formally defined. Spiritual Growth & Liturgy is now Liturgy - I focuses specifically on liturgical concerns. Spiritual growth (or formation) becomes the responsibility of another committee. Education is now Faith Formation Commission - This commission has the responsibility to oversee all formation in the parish from birth through death. It includes responsibility for the Catholic School if there is one as well as all faith formation: religious education, RCIA, Sacramental preparation, etc. Social Concerns is now Social Justice with much of the same responsibilities. Parish Community Life is now Parish Life with much of the same responsibilities. Finance and Administration is now Finance Council with responsibility for financial as well as human resources and facility management. Stewardship is the new formally defined committee. Many parishes already have a Stewardship Committee. The new guidelines formalize the committee as a standard part of every parish/cluster.There are 6 committees defined in the revised parish pastoral council guidelines. Some areas have changed slightly. Some have changed significantly. And in one area, Stewardship, a new committee is formally defined. Spiritual Growth & Liturgy is now Liturgy - I focuses specifically on liturgical concerns. Spiritual growth (or formation) becomes the responsibility of another committee. Education is now Faith Formation Commission - This commission has the responsibility to oversee all formation in the parish from birth through death. It includes responsibility for the Catholic School if there is one as well as all faith formation: religious education, RCIA, Sacramental preparation, etc. Social Concerns is now Social Justice with much of the same responsibilities. Parish Community Life is now Parish Life with much of the same responsibilities. Finance and Administration is now Finance Council with responsibility for financial as well as human resources and facility management. Stewardship is the new formally defined committee. Many parishes already have a Stewardship Committee. The new guidelines formalize the committee as a standard part of every parish/cluster.

    Slide 7:Liturgy Committee

    Facilitate liturgical prayer Nourish & give direction to worship: Music Environment Liturgical Ministers Guidelines for baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc. Follow liturgical norms Written report or liaison to Pastoral Council See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.

    Slide 8:Faith Formation Commission

    Develop/Oversee comprehensive catechetical plan Provide for lifelong faith formation Separate Board of Education for Catholic School (if necessary) Chair is voting member of Pastoral Council Phased in approach See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.

    Slide 9:Stewardship Committee

    Promote stewardship as: An expression of gratitude to God A way of life for a Disciple of Christ Foster a sense of belonging/ownership Promote stewardship of resources Sponsor appreciation of those who offer their time, talent, and treasure Chair is voting member of Pastoral Council See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.

    Slide 10:Social Justice Committee

    Continue Jesus’ ministry through: Service to marginalized and special needs Promoting justice and charity to all Providing opportunities for service Educate and motivate members on issues Coordinate parish service programs Written report or liaison to Pastoral Council See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.

    Slide 11:Parish Life Committee

    Activities to build/strengthen community Welcome new members Plan events that foster community Offer hospitality at parish events Coordinate visitation to elderly and homebound Written report or liaison to Pastoral Council See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.

    Slide 12:Finance Council

    Advisory Body to Pastor/Pastoral Council Administration Human Resources Facilities Finances Budget Long range financial development Chair is voting member of Pastoral Council See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.See Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines Manual for more details on each committee/council/commission.

    Slide 13:Timeline

    Summer, 2009: Publication Deanery Council In-Services August: Committee Structure November: Mission/Vision February: Selecting Members April: Consensus Decision Making July 1, 2010: Implementation Total Implementation…TBD… The revised Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines were published on August 10, 2009. In-service programs will be delivered at each of the 4 Deanery Council Meetings during the 2009 - 2010 year. Deanery Council Representatives will be given materials to take back to their parishes to deliver the in-service program to their councils. Each parish and cluster will revise their constitution and bylaws based on the models in the revised guidelines. Revised constitutions and guidelines should be submitted to the Office of Leadership Development and Pastoral Planning by May 1, 2010 for approval by Archbishop Hanus. Implementation is expected by July 1, 2010. In some parishes the area of Faith Formation may require a phased in approach. These parishes will be handled on a case by case basis to determine the appropriate implementation schedule.The revised Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines were published on August 10, 2009. In-service programs will be delivered at each of the 4 Deanery Council Meetings during the 2009 - 2010 year. Deanery Council Representatives will be given materials to take back to their parishes to deliver the in-service program to their councils. Each parish and cluster will revise their constitution and bylaws based on the models in the revised guidelines. Revised constitutions and guidelines should be submitted to the Office of Leadership Development and Pastoral Planning by May 1, 2010 for approval by Archbishop Hanus. Implementation is expected by July 1, 2010. In some parishes the area of Faith Formation may require a phased in approach. These parishes will be handled on a case by case basis to determine the appropriate implementation schedule.

    Slide 14: D.Rohner@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us 563-556-2580 ext. 283

    For questions about the revised guidelines, constitutions, bylaws, and implementation, contact Dan Rohner, Director of Leadership Development and Pastoral Planning.For questions about the revised guidelines, constitutions, bylaws, and implementation, contact Dan Rohner, Director of Leadership Development and Pastoral Planning.

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