DOCSLIB.ORG

One Who Serves Diocese of Harrisburg Norms and Guidelines for Parish Pastoral Councils

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
One Who Serves Diocese of Harrisburg Norms and Guidelines for Parish Pastoral Councils e s i h s c e • t a H C o s • p i n t a o i l s n & r t e i c O t n a o u y t C r m l e • r a a i c o c L h o F e S • a • • d E s e c y c r u i g s l m r h o i u h e p t t n i • a i L s C m D • e i v • y s i c r t i F t c p s i i a l n r e n s a E i t h n n i v I p c a M ia n l o • l g ra t S A el o h t d iz st ac ew m at a e a i io P tr on r n n • on • u si ds istr Educati • O er hi atio lity nv p • n • Spiritua Co Ma ife • rriage & Family L One Who Serves Diocese of Harrisburg Norms and Guidelines for Parish Pastoral Councils Bishop of Harrisburg April 29, 2013 Dear Friends in Christ, Parish Pastoral Councils are an essential element of parish life and an invaluable resource to pastors in providing good pastoral leadership for the overall life of the parish. This revised version of One Who Serves is provided to assist you in establishing, educating and maintaining an active parish Pastoral Council. It also serves as an effective tool in the mission of evangelization. Originally promulgated in 2005 by my predecessor, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, this manual has been updated in light of canonical standards and diocesan policies and the call to direct our efforts toward a New Evangelization. Every parish is blessed with enthusiastic parishioners who possess gifts of time, treasure, and talent and a deep desire to serve the Church. As Bishop of Harrisburg, I reaffirm these twelve norms as particular law for our diocese to ensure common pastoral practices among all Parish Pastoral Councils and mandate that each pastor or parish administrator establish and maintain a Parish Pastoral Council according to these diocesan norms. Please review this material and share it with your staff and Pastoral Council so they may function more cohesively and effectively. The ministry of evangelization and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is shared by all of us. May we continue to work together to strengthen parish life and our service to the people of God. Sincerely yours in Jesus, Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden Bishop of Harrisburg 4800 Union Deposit Road • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111-3710 (717) 657-4804 • FAX (717) 657-1370 Bishop'[email protected] • www.hbgdiocese.org One Who Serves DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG Diocesan Norms and Guidelines for a Parish Pastoral Council e s i h s c e • t a H C o s • p i n t a o i l s n & r t e i c O t n a o u y t C r m l e • r a a i c o c L h o F e S • a • • d E s e c y c r u i g s l m r h o i u h e p t t n i • a i L s C m D • e i v • y s i c r t i F t c p s i i a l n r e n s a E i t h n v n i M I p c a i n l o • a g a t l e r h ©Diocese of Harrisburg, 2005 S A li to c te d za as a Revised 2013 w m tio P tre n a in n • u io rd is • Education O rs Photo Credits: Chris Heisey sh tra • ve i ti ty n p • on • Spirituali Co For additional information contact: M e • Office of the Vicar General arri Lif 4800 Union Deposit Road age & Family Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710 717-657-4804 ext. 325 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Effective Leadership The Parish Pastoral Council .............................................................................................................8 The Pastor........................................................................................................................................8 The Parish Pastoral Staff ..................................................................................................................9 Diocesan Norms for Parish Pastoral Councils ................................................................................10 Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines ................................................................................................14 Listing of Parishes by County with map ..........................................................................15 The Parish Vision ............................................................................................................16 Mission Statement ..........................................................................................................16 Pastoral Planning ............................................................................................................18 The Steering Committee .................................................................................................19 Eligibility for a Parish Pastoral Council ............................................................................20 Guidelines for the Structure of a Parish Pastoral Council ...............................................21 Constitution and By-Laws ...............................................................................................25 Pastoral Council Meetings ..............................................................................................26 Areas of Mission .............................................................................................................27 Advancing the Mission ..................................................................................................................36 II. Supportive Material Installation of Parish Pastoral Council Members ...........................................................................38 Parish Pastoral Council Checklist ...................................................................................................38 Time and Talent Sign-up Form .......................................................................................................39 Parish Profile Questionnaire ..........................................................................................................40 Communicating with Parish Committees and Organizations ........................................................41 Coming to Consensus ....................................................................................................................42 Becoming an Evangelizing Parish ...................................................................................................43 Parish Evangelizing Committee......................................................................................................45 Creating a System For Successful Volunteers ................................................................................45 Volunteer Interview Form .............................................................................................................46 Parish Finance Council Norms .......................................................................................................47 Additional Resources .....................................................................................................................49 III. Disciples Called to Witness The New Evangelization United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, 2012 ...............................................................51 Effective Leadership Effective Leadership The Parish Pastoral Council The Pastor We are the Church: clergy, those in “In each local assembly of the faithful, they consecrated life and laity. Because we have (the pastors) represent the bishop with whom been baptized into the one Body of Christ they are associated in all trust and generosity; and confirmed by the Holy Spirit, we share in part they take upon themselves his duties the responsibility to carry on the work of and solicitude and in their daily toils discharge Christ both as individuals and as part of a them.” (Lumen Gentium 28,2) community of believers. While the role of the Bishop is to be the The Parish Pastoral Council provides an chief shepherd of a portion of the Body essential framework through which this of Christ called a diocese, it is the Pastor’s responsibility can be shared. Parish Pastoral role to accept his appointment to shepherd Councils are potentially the most effective an even smaller segment within a defined means of joining together the People of God community of the faithful called a parish. This to fulfill the mission of the Church. appointment carries with it the responsibility of the sacramental life of that parish assigned The Parish Pastoral Council is a community of to him, the pastoral care of the parishioners, service. and the administration of its facilities. “� have come among as one ”. �ou who ser�es(Matthew 20:28) 8 One Who Serves Effective Leadership The Parish Pastoral Staff To assist the pastor to carry out his associates, secretaries, maintenance responsibilities, he relies on salaried or personnel and directors of liturgy, music and volunteer staff to assist him with the day- religious education, to name a few. The pastor to-day administration of the parish. This is the administrator of the parish and is the staff may include parochial vicars, deacons, ultimate supervisor of all the pastoral staff. women religious, business managers, pastoral Parish Dialogue: Who’s talking to whom? BISHOP OF HARRISBURG DEAN PASTOR PARISH ADMINISTRATION PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL AREAS OF MISSION PASTORAL CLERGY STAFF PARISH COMMITTEES/ORGANIZATIONS System of Dialogue • Effective Meetings. • Good use of meeting time. • Clear and organized agendas. • Inviting all groups into the discussion. One Who Serves 9 Effective Leadership DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG parochial councils. They are to be considered The Parish Pastoral Council invalid, and hence null and void, any Diocesan Norms deliberation entered into, (or decisions taken), by a parochial council which has not been presided over by the Parish Priest or which has The Diocese of Harrisburg has issued
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Theological Foundations for Diocesan Pastoral Councils: a Latin Perspective by Rev
    Theological Foundations for Diocesan Pastoral Councils: A Latin Perspective By Rev. James H. Provost 1999 The ultimate basis for diocesan pastoral councils is not some political or managerial theory; as for any consultative body in the Church, the basis is theological, in keeping with the nature of the Church itself. The Church is the people of God built up by the Holy Spirit into a communion of believers, at once local and universal. Within that communion, certain principles based on the Church's own reality guide the working together of pastors and the rest of the people to form a more effective light to the nations. A. Work of the Spirit Those who have been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit are formed into the one people of God, in whose hearts the Spirit dwells as in a temple.1 The presence of the Spirit is assured the Church by Christ's promise. This is the Advocate whom Christ has sent to be with us, the Spirit of truth who remains with us and is within us, and who instructs us (cf. Jn 14: 17, 26). The Spirit is in our midst in many ways. Through the sacrament of orders, the Spirit is assured to those who have by office the charism of truth,2 and whose function it is to judge the nature and use of the gifts that the Spirit gives to God's people. Through the sacraments of initiation, the Spirit is dwelling in all the faithful, and through charisms – which the Church professes to be distributed widely among the people of God3 – the same Spirit is working in the world today.
    [Show full text]
  • Diocesan/Eparchial Pastoral Councils: Historical Development, Canon Law, and Practical Considerations by the Very Reverend John A
    Diocesan/Eparchial Pastoral Councils: Historical Development, Canon Law, and Practical Considerations By The Very Reverend John A. Renken 2002 Introduction In his apostolic letter Novo millennio ineunte1, Pope John Paul II invites the Church at the beginning of the third Christian millennium to "put out into the deep" (Luke 5:4): "Duc in altum!" He recalls that the program guiding the Church already exists: "It is the plan found in the Gospel and in the living Tradition, it is the same as ever." Yet, he adds, this program "must be translated into pastoral initiatives adapted to the circumstances of each community." (NMI, 29) He explains further: With its universal and indispensable provisions, the program of the Gospel must continue to take root, as it has always done, in the life of the Church everywhere. It is in the local churches that the specific features of a detailed pastoral plan can be identified--goals and methods, formation and enrichment of the people involved, the search for the necessary resources--which will enable the proclamation of Christ to reach people, mold communities, and have a deep and incisive influence in bringing Gospel values to bear in society and culture. I therefore earnestly exhort the pastors of the particular churches, with the help of all sectors of God’s people, confidently to plan the stages of the journey ahead, harmonizing the choices of each diocesan community with those of neighboring churches and of the universal Church. (NMI, 29) Pope John Paul II is calling every diocese/eparchy to develop a detailed pastoral plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Why We Are Traditional Catholics
    WHY WE ARE TRADITIONAL CATHOLICS As your parents we have a responsibility and duty to transmit to you the truth of our Traditional Catholic beliefs. We are not a “new” religion in conflict with the Catholic faith. We belong to a relatively small group of faithful whose purpose is to worship according to ancient liturgies and preserve for future generations the immemorial Tridentine Mass. Because you were raised in the shadow of Vatican II, a Council called by Pope John XXIII and continued by Pope Paul VI, which ended in 1965, some of the words we have already used are not familiar to you. It is our hope and prayer that after reading this, you will have, at least, a brief outline of the events that led to the Catholic Church as you know it and will plant a seed for future exploration. THE NOVUS ORDO (NEW ORDER) MASS ---WHERE DID IT COME FROM? When Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council in l960, almost every bishop in the world was very puzzled. Vatican Councils historically are only called when the Church is in some desperate need or is fighting a very serious heresy (a widespread attack on a dogma of faith, i.e., Mary was not the Mother of God). This was a time when the Catholic Church was in Her full glory. We had an abundance of priests and nuns. Seminaries were full. Catholic schools were overflowing. It was not uncommon that Attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation was standing room only. Almost every Saturday, there were lines for Confession.
    [Show full text]
  • Parish Pastoral Council Discernment Process
    PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD November 7, 2020 Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, 1559 Brunswick St., Suite 101, Halifax, NS www.halifaxyarmouth.org OUTLINE • Church Teaching on Parish Pastoral Councils • Ecclesiology Underlying Parish Pastoral Councils • Reflection on Consultation • The Role of the Parish Pastoral Council • Membership of the Parish Pastoral Council GATHERING OF EXPERIENCE A. What words describe your most positive experiences of parish pastoral councils? B. What words describe your most challenging experiences of parish pastoral councils? Church Teaching on Parish Pastoral Councils CHURCH TEACHING ON PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILS • Second Vatican Council: references to diocesan pastoral councils • The Second Vatican Council makes references to pastoral councils in dioceses: CD, no. 27, AG, no. 30 and PO, no. 7 (in a footnote referring back to CD, no. 27). • Christus Dominus, Decree on the Pastoral Office on Bishops in the Church: “It is greatly desired that in each diocese a pastoral council will be established over which the diocesan bishop himself will preside and in which specially chosen clergy, religious and lay people will participate. The duty of this council will be to investigate and weigh pastoral undertakings and to formulate practical conclusions regarding them” (no. 27). CHURCH TEACHING ON PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILS • Second Vatican Council: references to diocesan pastoral councils • Ad Gentes, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity: “It is the bishop's role, as the ruler and center of unity in the diocesan apostolate, to promote missionary activity, to direct it and to coordinate it but always in such a way that the zeal and spontaneity of those who share in the work may be preserved and fostered.
    [Show full text]
  • September 2017
    Society of St. Pius X Church of the Transfiguration 11 Aldgate Avenue Toronto, ON, M8Y 3L4 416-503-8854 or 416-251-0499 Holy Face of Jesus Church 181 Lake Street St. Catharines, ON 905-704-0038 or 416-251-0499 Church of the Canadian Martyrs 364 Regent Street Orillia, ON 705-730-6730 or 416-251-0499 St. Peter’s Church 144 Huron Street New Hamburg, ON 519-634-4932 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy 2483 Bleams Road East Southern Ontario New Hamburg, ON, N3A 3J2 519-634-4932 Served by the priests from St. Philomena Mission St. Michael’s Priory Lexington Hotel, 50 Brady St. Sudbury, ON & 705-524-2243 or 416-251-0499 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy www.sspx.ca September 2017 Catholic Education Dear Faithful, According to a recent survey in the US, teenagers (unbelievably) consume on average seven hours and thirty-eight minutes of entertainment per day! (Kaiser Family Foundation: “Generation M2: Media in the lives of 8-18-year olds.) This is problematic on two levels. Firstly, even if all this entertainment is “good,” the amount is wildly disproportionate. The period of adolescence is one of preparation for and transference into adulthood. The correct formation is not more and more entertainment, but more and more responsibility so that they can learn to be correctly functioning responsible adults – not the juvenile type of adult that is more and more common. The correct thing that teenagers should be saying is not: “here I am, now entertain me” but “here I am, what is my duty?” Secondly, the entertainment being consumed is very often not good.
    [Show full text]
  • Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family
    Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family 1305 Lourdes Avenue, De Pere, WI 54115 Sunday, August 1, 2021 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Pastoral Team: Fr. Peter Ambting, O. Praem. Pastor Deacon Michael Vander Bloomen Deacon Shaun Johnson Deacon Bob Summers Carol Gibson, Parish Business Manager Jody Strnad, Director of Music & Liturgy Parish Office: 1307 Lourdes Avenue De Pere, WI 54115 (920) 336-4033 Summer Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Closed Friday School: 920-336-3091 Religious Education: 920-337-0443 Parish Website: www.lourdesdepere.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: @ololdp Instagram: ololdepere Weekend Mass: Saturday 4:30 PM ● Sunday 8:15 AM ● Sunday 10:15 AM Daily Mass: Monday 7:30 AM Word Service ● Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday 7:30 AM Confessions: Friday 8:00-9:00 AM ● Saturday 3:30-4:15 PM ● By appointment Adoration: Friday 8:00-9:00 AM Norbertine Fathers OLOL Vision: “A thriving parish, where all are needed, welcomed, and excited by engaging ourselves in the life of the parish, following the example of the First Christians, giving witness to the Gospel of Christ.” OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH FAMILY DE PERE, WISCONSIN Mass Intentions At rest in the Lord +++ Monday, August 2 St. Eusebius of Vercelli + Ernest Laurent, 72, a charter member of the 7:30 a.m. St. Peter Julian Eymard parish and husband of parishioner Lynn Laurent Word Service and brother-in-law of parishioner Joe Maar, Tuesday, August 3 passed away on July 21, and was accorded 7:30 a.m.
    [Show full text]