Pastoral Council

In support of the pastor's mission , the Council is guided by it's underlying role "to investigate , consider and conclude"

What is the Pastoral Council?

The Pastoral Council is a group of both elected and appointed members of the parish who come together on a regular monthly basis to help Msgr. Clay in his pastoral mission for the St. Ann Parish.

The Pastoral Council to put it quite simply, is to give counsel to the pastor in order for him to make a more informed decision regarding matters of pastoral activity. The heart of their role is described in the key words of the quote above: investigate, consider, and conclude.

The Pastoral Council's emphasis is on thinking, listening, reflecting, discussing and reaching conclusions on matters of pastoral activities in order to provide our pastor with the best possible input for his decisions.

The Pastoral Council is made up of no more than sixteen members. Twelve that will are elected from the parish at large and the pastor appoint up to four of the members to insure balance on the council and to see that all segments of the parish are represented. These elected and appointed members will have a vote on the council for those decisions that require it. The Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month.

The aim of the Council is clear. Their role is to serve the Pastor as he works to serve the faith needs of a growing parish of over 1000 families.

FAQ

Why has the name changed?
The Parish Council has served the St. Ann Parish very well for many years. Like any other organization or person, over time we grow into new roles that sometimes call for change. In this spirit of growth and deeper understanding of mission, the Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church, a document from Vatican II, states that a pastoral council is "to investigate and consider matters relating to pastoral activity and to formulate practical conclusions concerning them." Accepting this role more fully has led the Parish Council to change its name to Pastoral Council better describe its new view on its mission.

What is the new Mission of Pastoral Council?
The Pastoral Council, to put it quite simply, is to give counsel to the pastor in order for him to make a more informed decision regarding matters of pastoral activity. The heart of this new perspective is described in the key words of the quote above: investigate, consider, and conclude. The Pastoral Council will increase its emphasis on thinking, listening, reflecting, discussing and reaching conclusions on matters of pastoral activities in order to provide our pastor with the best possible input for his decisions. The Council's role is to serve the Pastor as he works to serve the faith needs of the parish.

What will the Pastoral Council not be?
The role of a Pastoral Council is not to take issues to the pastor in order to drive the direction of the parish. It is not designed to be a representative body that voices the desires of the lay members in competition with the pastor's view on growth of the parish. Understanding the parish's desires and needs is still important, but not in a manner that can be viewed as achieving an agenda.

How does this relate to the Pastoral Council elections?
Since the Pastoral Council does not necessarily serve the function of a "representative body of the parish", then it only makes sense that elections of its members does not resemble the democratic election process we are used to in this country. Our new approach to Pastoral Council elections will serve to enhance the mission of the Pastoral Council in its charge to "investigate, consider, and conclude."

How will the Pastoral Council elections differ from the former Parish Council elections?
The new Pastoral Council elections will focus on the candidates' desire and ability to meet the mission of the Pastoral Council. The candidates will nominate themselves as a voice of their desire to serve. The candidates will make public their desire and abilities to the rest of the Parish. The Parish will elect members based on an educated understanding of the candidate's desire and abilities to help ensure the Council will be suited to meet its mission.

How do I go about getting elected to the 2007 Pastoral Council?
The new council whose first meeting is in January, is elected in the Fall of each year with ballot results being announced in December . The nomination process will be illustrated on our nomination procedures page . The nomination process is open to all parishioners who meet the basic requirements and who are willing to share their talents with the parish. We encourage both old and new parishioners , and both young and seniors to participate in this important organization in the parish.

Contact: Shane Nolan