The Pastoral Council is a consultative group that works with the pastor to develop the mission of the parish church. It is a planning council in which cooperative planning occurs using a structure of consultation and consensus. It is not a coordinating council. The Pastoral Council provides input to the decision-making process but the members serve only in an advisory capacity to the pastor, who is the decision-maker. It is the function of the Pastoral Council to “investigate everything pertaining to pastoral activities, to weigh them carefully, and to set forth practical conclusions concerning them so as to encourage conformity of the life and actions of the People of God with the Gospel” (Motu Proprio, Ecclesiae Sanctae). It is the responsibility of the Pastoral Council and the pastor to submit a parish plan according to guidelines established by the Chancery by June 30 of each year. Members are volunteers from the parish who serve 3 year terms.
Parishioners are encouraged to share any ideas for parish improvement with the council.