The Parish Council - What is it?

• An advisory body of the parishioners dedicated to serving the needs of our Parish. Its members are elected by the Parish at large to address the needs of the Parish and respond to them.

What are the Council's Functions and Purposes?

• To be a living sign of Christian community by witnessing through a mutual concern for each other, the Parish and the larger society in which we live.

• To continually discern the needs of the Parish by maintaining an awareness of Parish life through close contact with the parishioners.

• To promote an open forum for discussion among the priests, pastoral staff, and laity of the Parish.

• To respond to Parish needs by setting goals and priorities, by discovering talents and ministries, by engaging the entire Parish in planning and policy making, by ensuring the training of lay ministers, and by promoting the Gospel within the Parish, the community, and the Church at large.

Who are its members?

• The Parish Council is comprised of fifteen, elected, registered Parishioners who are at least eighteen years of age. The election of Council members takes place each Spring by means of a written ballot. Members are elected for a three-year term. The Pastor may appoint up to three additional members to meet specific needs; appointees serve for one year.

How does the Council Function?

• Monthly meetings are held from September through June. These meetings are open to all Parishioners. Minutes are published monthly in the Parish Bulletin.

• The Council consists of an Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Secretary, Spiritual Life Coordinator, and Communication Coordinator) and four standing Committees as follows:

1. Spiritual Life and Worship - concerned with worship and prayer life of the Parish.

2. Christian Formation - concerned with education and Catechesis.

3. Social Life and Ministries - concerned with social services within the Parish.

4. Parish and Community Life - concerned with all aspects of Parish administration and community life.

The Committees meet monthly to deal with, respond to, and make plans covering topics relative to their concern. Reports of these meetings are made at the monthly Council meeting. They are also summarized in the published Minutes.

Examples of Recent Accomplishments:

• Parish Photo Directory
• Parish Centennial Activities - (picnic, dinner dance, lecture series, journal)
• New Church vestibule renovations
• Establishment of Parish web site
• Training of Eucharistic ministers
• New Parishioners Welcoming program
• Millennium Lecture Series

  Parish Council Membership

Committees