WHY A PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL?
Parish Pastoral Councils, born out of the Second Vatican Council are a means of implementing the Church’s renewed concept of shared responsibility among laity, religious and clergy. In the Archdiocese of Chicago the Pastoral Council in many parishes has helped to develop unity within the parish and to nourish a spiritual vision of the Church in the modern world.
Drawing on the successes and learning from the problems faced by many parishes in creating and sustaining such councils, it now seems opportune to regularize the status of these pastoral councils in the Archdiocese. This is especially true now that the Archdiocese has its own Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Therefore, after consultation with the Presbyteral Senate and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, it is now Archdiocesan Policy that every parish should have a Parish Pastoral Council by September of 1990.
PURPOSE
The Parish Pastoral Council exercises shared responsibility for the pastoral life of the parish under the leadership of the pastor. In this context the purpose of the council is to prayerfully engage the people and the pastor in common reflection about the parish’s mission and the ministry, to plan, and to evaluate in light of the Gospel and church teaching. It therefore has four basic responsibilities:
a. To research the needs, the ideas and the hopes of the faith community;
b. To encourage and support existing ministries;
c. To evaluate the quality of life of the parish faith community;
d. To plan for the parish’s future by recommending policies, procedures, and programs that will implement its values and fulfill the Church’s mission.
Members of Parish Council
Harriet Siller – Parish Council Chair
Melvin Adalin
Sabina Ferrara Mullin
Krzysztof Gieron
Margaret Jarmola
Eileen Sheu
If you have any questions or comments you may contact Parish Council through a new email: sthelenparishcouncil@gmail.com
Please click the link below to see Notes from the last meeting.
03- 12-15 Parish Pastoral Council Notes
Notes from the PP meeting on May 13th
12-3-15 St. Helen Parish Pastoral Council Meeting Notes
02-04-16 Parish Pastoral Council Notes