Parish Council

As members of the Body of Christ the clergy and laity share a responsibility to carry on the work of Christ both as individuals and as part of a community of believers. The Parish Pastoral Council is an indispensable element of parish life, by which the Pastor can effectively provide for the needs of the people entrusted to his care, through the council, guidance and participation of lay members of the Parish.

In the Diocese of Harrisburg, there are twelve norms that establish and govern the function of a Parish Pastoral Council. They are:

1. Every Parish is to have a Parish Pastoral Council that unites clergy, those in consecrated life and laity in a community of leadership and service.
2. The Parish Pastoral Council is to have a formal and visible structure with established by-laws, regular meetings with an established agenda and at least 50% of its membership elected by the Parish at large. Only Catholics in good standing are eligible for membership.
3. The Parish Pastoral Council must be concerned with the fullness of the Church’s mission, particularly the evangelization and spiritual renewal of the communities of which they are a part.
4. The Parish Pastoral Council must understand and support the relationship of the Parish to the Diocesan church.
5. The Parish Pastoral Council must provide initial information and continuous training to the council members.
6. In union with the Pastor, the Parish Pastoral Council shares responsibility for the life and welfare of the Parish.
7. The Parish Pastoral Council is preeminently responsible for the advancement of the pastoral mission of the Parish.
8. The Parish Pastoral Council must respect the day-to-day operation of the Parish which is clearly the responsibility of the Pastor and staff.
9. The Parish Pastoral Council reaches its conclusions by a process of prayerful discernment and consensus sharing while respecting the canonical authority of the Pastor.
10. As the chief coordinating and unifying structure, the Parish Pastoral Council must seek constantly to draw forth the talents, energies and insights of the parishioners and channel this “variety of gifts” for the building up of the whole Body of Christ.
11. The Parish Pastoral Council must communicate regularly with the Parish at large and the civic community of which it is a part.
12. The Parish Pastoral Council must discern the needs of the Parish and community, and advise the Pastor on parish direction by prayerful reflection and a continual process of pastoral planning.

Following the recommendation of our Diocese, the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Rose of Lima seeks to be a community of service in the following areas of mission:

1. The Mission of Evangelization - This area of mission is constantly seeking new ways to reach out to other with the message of God’s love.
2. The Mission for Education - This area of mission includes all parish activities that are directed to the formation of its members, both children and adults, such as our parish school, our faith formation program, youth ministry, adult education and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
3. The Mission for Pastoral Ministry - This area of mission fosters a sense of belonging among the members of the parish. The programs, ministries and activities strengthen and support the parish as a community of faith.
4. The Mission for Liturgy - This area of mission it to nourish and give direction to the liturgical and worship elements of the parish.
5. The Mission for Social Concerns and Outreach - This area of mission considers those issues that demand our concern in order that the dignity and rights of each person may be preserved.
6. The Mission for Ecumenism and Interfaith Concerns - This area of mission encourages unity and understanding within the Christian family, and reaches out to non-Christians who share with us a belief in God.