Pastoral Council

Guidelines (Adopted at the Leadership Night of May 10, 2007 )

•  Purpose: The Parish Pastoral Council is consultative in nature, responding to the needs of parishioners by proposing pastoral initiatives, policies, and programs, or themes in cooperation and consultation with the Pastor, pastoral staff and relevant archdiocesan resources and ministries.

•  Determine priorities for ministry and parish life. These priorities will inform the pastoral staff in preparing programs and initiatives in the coming year(s). While creating the annual parish budget is the prerogative of the Parish Finance Committee with the Pastor, these pastoral priorities will be used to guide and inform the budgeting process.

•  Meet twice a year, jointly with Parish Finance Committee, to review financial condition of the parish and consult regarding the annual budget.

•  Communicate with the parishioners to keep them informed and to hear their concerns, needs, and initiatives.

•  To consult, respond, or recommend on behalf of the parish to questions or propositions put forward by the Pastor, Deanery, or Archbishop.

•  When requested by the Pastor, to represent Most Holy Redeemer Parish on the Deanery, Archdiocesan, city or regional level.

•  Establish committees and/or sub-committees to take responsibility and planning for specific parish need. Pastoral Council members are expected to serve on at least one committee or sub-committee.

•  Membership: Nine members with staggered terms not to exceed 3 years per term, renewable once. Committees and sub-committees will select three council members; the parish will elect three councilors-at-large; and the Pastor to appoint three councilors with a view toward balance. At the initial meeting of the Pastoral Council, the councilors will determine 1/3 of membership to serve for one year, 1/3 to serve two years, and 1/3 to serve three years. Thereafter, terms will be of three years duration.

•  Pastor and parochial vicar(s) are ex-officio, non-voting members of the Pastoral Council. Pastoral Staff members may not serve on the Pastoral Council, but may serve as resources to the Council. All members of the Council must be active members of the parish.

•  Officers will include a Chair, a Secretary, and a Parliamentarian. The Chair will preside at meetings of the Pastoral Council. The Secretary will keep accurate notes of Council meetings and prepare regular summaries for the bulletin and web site. The Parliamentarian, in consultation with the other officers and the Pastor, will draw up the agenda for Council meetings, publish the agenda to councilors and the parish, and act as time keeper at council meetings.

•  Parish Pastoral Council will meet on a fixed day of the month or by other arrangement every second month. Special meetings of the council can be convened by the Pastor. All Council meetings are open to anyone wanting to observe except when the Council is discussing personnel matters.

Meetings : 8pm , First Tuesday of the Month

Activities : Communicate with groups and ministries, Monthly Meeting of the Groups and Ministries, Semi-Annual Meeting with the Finance Council

Canon 536 of the Code of Canon Law sets the foundation for a Pastoral Council.

The Archdiocese of San Francisco requires parishes to have a Pastoral Council.

For further information email the Pastoral Council.