The Council no longer placed the focus of this call only on the ordained, but on the laity as well.  As Pastoral Councils continued to define themselves, the   theology of shared responsibility and collaboration that flows from the Vatican II documents began to take hold in the 90s.  The focus shifted from the temporal activities to the pastoral activities of the parish.  This focus by the Pastoral   Council on the pastoral activity of the parish embraces the mission and ministry of the Church:  worship and prayer, proclaiming the Gospel and teaching, social action, care of the poor, the sick and dying and bringing God’s healing power to everyone.  Pastoral activity is reflected in the parish by the way the Pastoral Council responds to:  

How do we welcome people to our parish?

Are the Liturgies vibrant and prayerful?  How can we pray better?

How do we minister to young families?  To senior citizens? To the physically and mentally impaired?

How do we minister to the sick, the homebound, those who have experienced loss?

How can we bring friendship and unity to our parish and neighborhood?

How do we invite the parishioners to share their gifts?

The Pastoral Council is an effective structure for promoting and supporting parish life, worship and service, as well as, helping to accomplish the mission of the parish.  It is the principal form of collaborative leadership on the parish level.  This collaborative body enable clergy and laity to cooperate effectively in bringing about the spiritual renewal of the parish, through visioning and planning, and reaching decisions through the prayerful process of discernment.  Collaborative ministry is based on the belief that all baptized persons are gifted and called to Mission.  It reflects the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  No one person has all of the wisdom.  Those who participate in collaborative ministry recognize and believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church.  If the baptized are to make inroads in the critical issues that affect the lives of their families, and the community and the world in which they live, then it will require the utilization of the gifts of all the people - people of diverse cultures and race, lay and ordained, women and men, working together collaboratively to proclaim the Good News and extending the kingdom.  Effective collaboration requires work, not just thinking or talking about it.  It involves breaking down barriers and boundaries and finding creative solutions to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people.  Collaboration is more than just a nice idea—it is the vision of the Church articulated in Vatican II.

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Membership on the Pastoral Council should reflect the cultural and racial make-up of the parish.  It should also reflect gender and age diversity.  If youth are to serve on the Council, then their contribution must be respected at the same level as an adult member.  A Deacon may serve at the discretion of the pastor.  Staff members should not serve on the Pastoral Council, nor should the pastor appoint lay members to the Council.  The term of a Pastoral Council member should be three years.  No member should serve more than two terms.  Each year four members should rotate off the Council.  A member whose first term has expired would be eligible to serve a second term, however, they must participate in the parish selection process.  The members of the Pastoral Council discern the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the Secretary.  It is suggested that each of these positions be a two year term.  Recognizing and understanding the members of the Pastoral Council have specific roles is important.  Conflict is often the result of the confusion of roles.

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The pastor presides over the parish community, and thus over the Pastoral Council.  He draws the Council into communion, calling the members to abide in Christ and one another.

The pastor collaborating with the Pastoral Council, keeps it focused on the mission of the Church, and aides them in pursuing the truth.

The pastor assists in formulating the agenda and is at all the Pastoral Council meetings.

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Facilitates the Pastoral Council meetings and   convenes the Agenda Committee.

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Serves in the absence of the Chairperson; succeeds them in case of a resignation.

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Maintain a written record of the meetings; keep a current membership roster.

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·          A Pastoral Council is prayerful.  Its members are to  be persons of prayer, who are open to personal growth in holiness.  The Council must spend time in prayer.

·          A Pastoral Council is pastoral.  It strives to discern the   movement of the Holy Spirit among God’s people.   The Council must determine what actions and programs are needed to help the people on their spiritual journey.

·          A Pastoral Council is visionary.  As a result of hearing and experiencing God’s Word, it brings a broader, more challenging vision to parish life.  The Council sees the bigger picture.

·          A Pastoral Council is representative.  It represents the whole parish, not one group.  The Council should reflect the diversity of the parish - age, gender, race and culture.

·          The Pastoral Council makes decisions through consensus.  Through prayerful discernment the gifts, the experience, the insights and the expertise of the Council members are called upon to provide vision and direction.

·          The Pastoral Council is collaborative.  The Council collaborates with the pastor, the Commissions, and the parishioners.  In addition the Council is to collaborate with other parishes and diocesan offices.

·          The Pastoral Council is a consultative group working with the pastor.  The pastor seeks the  wisdom and guidance of those gathered.

The Pastoral Council is enabling.  The Council works to  promote diversity and unity by enabling people to think, pray, work and play together.  It strives to be a  Stewardship Parish by acknowledging the gifts of all the people, and enabling each person’s unique giftedness to surface and be shared with the faith community.

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·          A person who practices their faith and is a good example to the community.

·          A person who is willing to pray personally and with others.

·          A person who offers their gifts for the good of the parish and not for power.

·          A person who is a good listener and can be an agent of change.

·          A person who is approachable and able to empower others.

·          A person who invites the gifts of all the parishioners for the good of the parish.

A person who can collaborate with the pastor, the council members, commission members and the parishioners.

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“We, the baptized believers of St. Patrick Parish, will: make the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy and the Word the foundation of all parish activities; strive to be a welcoming community celebrating our cultural diversity;  foster harmony and reconciliation among parishioners and the community;  encourage the use of the gifts the Spirit has given to serve our parishioners’ needs and the needs of the community at large.”

 “Nosotros los creyentes bautizados de San Patricio, nos comprometemos a: hacer de la celebración de la liturgia eucarística y de la Palabra el  fundamento de todas las actividades de la parroquia; trabajar para hacer de nuestra parroquia una comunidad acogedora que celebra la diversidad cultural de sus miembros; fomentar la armonía y  reconciliación entre los feligreses y en la comunidad; fomentar el uso de los dones que el Espíritu Santo ha dado a sus fieles para el servicio de los miembros y de la comunidad.”