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Revisioning
A step by step plan for action!the Parish Pastoral Council
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which a parish characterizes itself as a particular community of faith by
developing its own Parish Mission Statement; assessing its
strengths/resources, limitations/needs; making recommendations to the
pastor concerning establishment of priorities and goals and devising ways
to accomplish its mission. Parish Pastoral Planning helps to answer the
questions: Who are we as a parish? What are we called to do? How are
we best going to do it?
All of us are called to participate fully in the life and mission of the Church.
This mission of the Church is rooted in the mission of Christ who
commanded everyone clergy, religious and laity to "Go into the whole
world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15).
From its earliest days the Church has responded to this mission in various
ways depending upon the times and circumstances. The Archdiocesan
Mission Statement, provides the focus for our ongoing parish renewal
efforts. It challenges us to commit ourselves to be a Church that:
- Worships God in spirit and truth;
- Creates and nourishes Christian Community;
- Proclaims in word and deed the Good News of Jesus Christ;
- Teaches the saving message of Christ;
- Serves all our sisters and brothers, particularly the poor and needy.
for reflection by the parishes as they seek to respond more fully to what
Jesus is asking of them in contemporary circumstances. It gives parishes a
framework for examining how they are living out the mission of Christ.
Within each parish, the Parish Pastoral Council is a structure which can
foster the full participation of the entire parish in the life and mission of the
Church. One of the chief ways that a Pastoral Council functions is by
pastoral planning. The members of the Parish Pastoral Council need to be
rooted in prayer, open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, committed to
patient listening and study, and working to recommend to the pastor the
plans and directions which will enhance the quality of parish life and
promote parish vitality. The pastor consults with the Parish Pastoral Council through a consensus process in an atmosphere of prayerful
reflection.
Pastoral Planning is essential to the development of a parish. It encourages
the fullest collaboration of clergy, religious and laity. Pastoral planning
enables a parish to become ever more fully a portion of the people of
God sharing in the mission of Christ, and developing the structures
necessary for supporting its community life and carrying out its mission.
Pastoral planning increases clarity about the mission and priorities of the
parish, affects the way in which the resources of the parish are used, and
encourages the participation and support of the parish members.
Pastoral planning is an ongoing activity within each
parish. Once the
pastor has considered the Council's recommendations and adopted a
parish plan, he is responsible for leading the parish in the
implementing of
the plan and revising it as circumstances require. He
does this through the
parish pastoral staff, parish organizations
and/or other persons designated
by him.