Pastoral Council

Father Del needs your help as a consultant and advisor!

If you would like to be involved in the inner workings of the Parish to help advise and consult Father Del in important decisions for our parish, this is your chance to make a difference.

More Information

The Pastoral Council is made up of a group of parishioners who advise and consult with the pastor in making decisions for St. Mary’s Parish. The Council highlights and realizes the centrality of the People of God as the subject of the evangelizing mission of the parish. The Council should be aware of the fact that every member of the faithful has received the gifts of the Spirit through Baptism and Confirmation. The divine life of Baptism is the first step to receiving these gifts. The next step is conducting ourselves as children of God, namely, by conforming ourselves to Christ who works in Holy Church, letting ourselves be involved in her mission in the world.

According to St. Paul VI, “It is the function of the pastoral council to investigate everything pertaining to pastoral activities, to weigh them carefully and to set forth practical conclusions concerning them so as to promote conformity of the life and actions of the People of God with the Gospel." Further, Pope Francis said the purpose of such a Council “should not be ecclesiastical organization but rather the missionary aspiration of reaching everyone.”

The Pastoral Council members should be participating members of the parish, have a working knowledge of parish and diocesan life, and have a vision of the church as people of God; have the ability to listen to needs of parishioners and have a desire for spiritual growth; have an eagerness to carry out the parish mission and availability of time and energy.

The Council “possesses a consultative vote only” with the pastor (under his direction) in the sense that its proposals must be accepted favorably by the pastor to become operation. The pastor is then bound to consider the indications of the Pastoral Council attentively, especially if they express themselves unanimously, in a process of common discernment.

Any parishioner of St. Mary’s Church may attend Pastoral Council meetings. Regular meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, excluding July and December. If a parishioner has any concerns about St. Mary’s you would like to bring to the Council, you are welcome to do so by contacting the Pastoral Council President and request that your item be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

We invite you to take part in a meaningful ministry that serves the people of the parish.

Details

Meetings: 4th Tuesday of each month (except in July & December)

For additional information, please contact the parish offices.

News

The Pastoral Council has been working with St. Mary’s other ministries to host Fellowship Sunday after the Sunday 8:00am and 10:00am Masses on a monthly basis. Ministries interested in hosting can contact the Pastoral Council using the information below to get on the schedule.