Parish Pastoral Council - A Video Resource

Parish Pastoral Council A Video Resource

PARISH RENEWAL TEAM

“Parish pastoral councils are gathered by various means and in various forms in Catholic parishes throughout Australia. They all have a single purpose of ensuring that the local church community, from among which they are called, has every opportunity to carry forward the mission of Jesus Christ. Thus, the nature and function of the parish pastoral council are drawn from the nature and mission of the Church, and the role of the parish community is to make present the ‘servant leadership’ of Christ in collaboration with the overall pastoral leadership of the parish priest.”

Constitution for Parish Pastoral Councils. 2018.

Archdiocese of Perth

The Parish Pastoral Council

Parish priests know that they themselves were not meant by Christ to shoulder the entire saving mission of the Church toward the world. 1

The parish pastoral council is one of the key catalysts for the life of the parish to grow to its full potential. It exercises its pastoral ministry by caring for the life of the parish, with a focus on healing, reconciling, guiding and sustaining. The role of the Council is a consultative role that is to advise and guide the priest. Parish pastoral councils don’t have administrative or executive authority.

It is important that each member of the parish pastoral council, is aware of the nature and role of the council in the life of the parish as outlined in the Archdiocese of Perth Constitution for Parish Pastoral Councils (2018).

1 Pope Paul VI. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen Gentium. (LG). November 21, 1964. (30).

About this Resource

This resource has been designed specifically for parish pastoral councils to assist in growing their understanding of their vital work in the parish. It is a useful tool for pastoral councils to revisit the nature and role of their ministry and it is also an ideal tool to induct new councillors on the pastoral council.

What does the resource contain?

Three short videos. Each video is broken up into smaller segments.

1. The parish pastoral council (5 mins, 19 sec)

Segment 1 What is a parish? (1 min, 33 sec)

Segment 2 Membership of the parish pastoral council (23 sec)

Segment 3 The nature and role of the parish pastoral council (1 min, 46 sec)

Segment 4 The first task of the parish pastoral council (1 min, 37 sec)

2. The primary task of the parish pastoral council (3 mins,50 sec)

Segment 1 Operational Tasks (58 sec)

Segment 2 Strategic Tasks (1 min, 14 sec)

Segment 3 The distinction between the role of the parish pastoral council and the parish finance council (1 min, 16 sec)

3. Parish Hubs – A collaborative pastoral model (4 mins, 28 sec)

Segment 1 What is a collaborative pastoral model? (2 mins, 7 secs)

Segment 2

Creating a parish hub (55 secs)

Segment 3 Benefits of working in parish hubs (1 min, 12 sec)

Guiding questions are provided at the end of each segment to help stimulate discussion.

Reflection questions are provided as an evaluating tool.

A call to action is included at the end of each segment for parish pastoral councils to consider.

How to use this resource

While there are no expectations that all parishes will use this resource in a uniform way, the following ideas may be useful in getting started.

For the resource to become an effective tool, it is highly recommended that all members of the parish pastoral council, especially those newly elected to the council, work though this series of videos as the content lays the foundation for the understanding of the nature and role of the council in the life of the parish

Some suggestions for working with the resource:

• Use a segment of the video at the beginning of the parish pastoral council meetings as part of the ongoing formation of council members.

• Use the guiding questions at the end of each segment as a catalyst for discussion.

• Use segments in the resource as a tool for reflection as various needs arise in the parish.

• Select segments of the resource for inclusion as part of an annual Retreat Day or Day of Reflection.

VIDEO O NE

W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

Parish priests, with their parish pastoral councils, all have the single purpose of calling and empowering the parish community to carry forth the mission of Jesus Christ, in this time and place.

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

S EGMENT 1 W HAT IS A P ARISH ?

In Summary

• In the words of Pope Francis, a parish is the place where the Church lives.

• Everything a parish does should be for its people.

• Parishes are communities of faith, of action, of hope.

• The parish is where the Gospel is proclaimed and celebrated.

• The parish is where believers are formed and sent to carry out the mission of Jesus.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the understanding of ‘parish’:

 How would we describe our parish? Is it “a place where the Church lives”?

 As a parish pastoral council how do we demonstrate to our parish community that everything we do is for them?

 Are we proactive in collaborating with the other ministries within the parish?

 As a parish pastoral council how do we help to build a community in which our parishioners are formed and strengthened to carry out the mission of Jesus in the world?

Call to Action

What is one action that we, as a parish pastoral council, can do to further enhance the understanding of the parish in our community?

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

S EGMENT 2 M EMBERSHIP OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL

In Summary

• The parish pastoral council is made up of people selected from the parish.

• The members of the council assist the parish priest in his responsibility of overseeing the pastoral life of the parish.

• The members of the council assist the parish priest to discern the pastoral needs of the community.

• The parish pastoral council make recommendations to the parish priest.

• The parish pastoral council plan the pastoral activities for the parish community.

Reflection

Invite each member of the parish pastoral council to reflect on their contribution to the life of the parish:

 How did you become a member of the parish pastoral council?

 What does it mean to you to be a member of the council?

 What contribution do you make to the work of the council?

 What gifts and talents do you bring in building a faith community that is welcoming and vibrant?

 How do you promote pastoral activities in the parish?

 As a member of the parish pastoral council, what gives you life and sustains you to carry on in this role?

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the membership of the parish pastoral council:

 Are we as a parish pastoral council fully aware of our role?

 As a parish pastoral council do we see our role as essential to the life of the parish? Why?

 How effective are we as a parish pastoral council?

 How do we as a council assist our parish priest in his responsibility of overseeing the pastoral life of the parish? How can we better support him?

 Is the pastoral life of the parish the core business of our council?

 Do we take the time necessary to discern the needs of the community? How can we better discern the needs of the community?

 What pastoral activities have we promoted to address the needs of the parish?

Call to Action

What is one action we as a parish pastoral council can implement to better understand our role in the life of the parish?

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

S EGMENT 3 T HE NATURE AND R OLE OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

In Summary

• The parish priest is responsible for serving and challenging the parish community.

• The role of the parish pastoral council is to provide support to parishioners in their efforts to live as followers of Christ.

• The council strives to find the most effective ways to serve the people of the parish.

• The parish pastoral council plan the pastoral activities for the parish community.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the nature and role of the parish pastoral council:

 How do we serve and challenge our parishioners in their efforts to live as followers of Christ? How can we do this more effectively?

 How can we become more proactive in sharing the responsibility for the ongoing development of the faith in the parish?

 With whom do we need to collaborate more closely when planning the pastoral activities of the parish?

Call to Action

What is one action we as a parish pastoral council could do to better support our parishioners in their efforts to live as followers of Christ?

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

S EGMENT 4 T HE P RIMARY F UNCTION OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

In Summary

The primary function of the parish pastoral council is to work in collaboration with the parish priest to set short and long-term pastoral goals for the parish.

• The Council does so by:

studying parish issues and concerns.

proposing practical strategies to the parish priest in meeting the needs of the parish.

assessing and promoting the pastoral activity of the parish.

stimulating in the parish a Christian response in the areas of social justice.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the primary function of the parish pastoral council:

 What is the value of a parish pastoral council developing long and short goals for the life of the parish?

 What long and short-term goals have been set for our parish?

 Do these goals adequately reflect the current needs, challenges and successes facing this parish? Do they need modifying?

 How are these goals being achieved/promoted in the parish?

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

S E GMENT 5 T HE PRIMARY TASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

In Summary

The first task of the parish pastoral council is to promote and oversee the development of a pastoral plan.

1. Identify the needs and challenges of the parish.

2. Carefully analyse the information gathered. These findings become the framework for the parish pastoral plan.

3. Develop a pastoral plan that reflects the needs of the parish.

• The parish pastoral council cannot work in isolation; the council needs to work closely with other ministries within the parish.

• The parish pastoral council needs to share resources with neighbouring parishes and call on Church agencies for help to reach out to those that need support within and beyond the parish boundary.

Guiding Questions

Use the questions below as a tool for evaluating your current pastoral plan. **

 As a parish pastoral council have you developed a pastoral plan?

 When was the last time the plan was visited?

 In developing the parish pastoral plan were the following considered:

Were all the ministries within the parish asked to contribute?

Did all parishioners have an opportunity to give feedback?

** see Appendix on pages 28-35 for notes on parish pastoral planning

V IDEO O NE – W HAT IS A P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL ?

S EGMENT 5 T HE PRIMARY TASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

Reflection

As a parish pastoral council, reflect on the following statement:

Collaboration is key to building not only a strong and vibrant parish but a strong and vibrant diocese as well.

 What does collaboration mean is this context?

 How does the parish contribute to the building of a strong and vibrant diocese?

 How is this reflected in the parish pastoral plan?

 What further considerations need to be taken into account so that the parish can collaborate more effectively in building a strong and vibrant diocese?

Call to Action

Create a working party to revisit the parish pastoral plan noting any modifications that may be necessary to better reflect the needs and challenges currently facing the parish.

VIDEO T WO

T HE P RIMARY T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL C OUNCIL

There are two major tasks necessary for a parish to grow and flourish

operational tasks and strategic tasks. These are different in nature, but complementary and essential in parish life.

V IDEO T WO – T HE T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

S EGMENT 1 O PERATIONAL AND S TRATEGIC T ASKS

In Summary

Two major tasks necessary for a parish to grow and flourish are operational tasks and strategic tasks. These are different in nature but complementary and essential to Parish life.

• People involved in operational tasks of parish life are the doers.

• Their main aim is to keep the parish moving. Such people include members of the parish finance council, members of the various parish ministry groups.

• Strategic tasks of parish life are about creating the big picture story of the parish.

• The primary task of the parish pastoral council is strategic. It is the think tank of the parish.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the strategic nature of the parish pastoral council:

 What did we hear?

 As a parish pastoral council are we primarily strategic or operational in our tasks?

 If our function has become operational, what changes do we need to make to shift to a strategic mind-set?

 Are we comfortable letting go of operational tasks and passing them onto the various ministries and groups within the parish who have the operational task of caring for the parish?

Call to Action

What is one approach that we as a parish pastoral council can adopt to ensure that the task of the council is strategic?

V IDEO T WO – T HE T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

S EGMENT 2 S TRATEGIC T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

In Summary

• The strategic task of the parish pastoral council is to foster the whole pastoral life of the parish.

• The parish pastoral council, together with the parish priest, listen and explore the hopes, needs and challenges of the community, and reflect on these in the light of the Gospel.

• The next task of the parish pastoral council is to devise a pastoral plan to help address the needs and challenges the parish is facing.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the strategic task of the Parish Pastoral Council:

 Are we open to listening to the needs of the parish, or do we make all the decisions for the parish in isolation?

 How serious are we about addressing the needs and challenges facing our parish?

 How will we gather information from the people in our parish that will inform us of the needs and challenges of the parish?

 Have we developed our parish pastoral plan based on these needs and challenges?

 How will use the gifts and talents of people within our parish to help us enhance the life of the parish?

V IDEO T WO – T HE T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

S EGMENT 2 S TRATEGIC T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

Reflection

As a parish pastoral council reflect on the following questions posed in the video to raise the aware of the parish pastoral council of the needs and challenges within the parish:

 How are the people in our parish being served?

 Who are we not reaching?

 How can we serve better in this area?

 What should we be doing or not doing?

 Who is in our neighbourhood?

How do we serve them?

How can we share resources with those around us?

V IDEO T WO – T HE T ASK OF THE P ARISH P ASTORAL COUNCIL

S EGMENT 3 T HE D ISTINCTION BETWEEN T HE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL AND THE PARISH F INANCE COUNCIL

In Summary

• The distinction between the parish pastoral council and the parish finance council can become blurred.

• The pastoral council and the finance council have distinct roles: one is strategic and one is operational.

• The primary task of the parish pastoral council is to foster the whole pastoral life of the parish – it is a strategic task.

• The parish pastoral council and the parish finance council are encouraged to work closely in addressing the needs of the parish.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion:

 Are the roles of the parish pastoral council and the finance council blurred in the parish?

 If so, what measures can be taken to ensure that each council works more efficiently and effectively to enhance the life of the parish?

 What are some of the ways in which the two councils can work together in building a stronger parish community?

Call to Action

What is one action that we as a parish pastoral council can take to ensure that each council works on their specific task, while at the same time working closely in addressing the needs of the parish?

Working in hubs reflects the challenge of Pope Francis as he calls upon the Church to be more collaborative in its ministry, not building walls but “breaking them down.”

This is at the heart of the Pope’s call for ‘synodality.’

V IDEO T HREE – P ARISH H UBS . A C OLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL M ODEL

S EGMENT 1 W HAT IS A COLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL MODEL ?

Part 1

In Summary

• A collaborative pastoral model

promotes a change of mindset.

calls parishes to look beyond their parish boundary.

calls parishes to work on common initiatives and become a source of encouragement for each other.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on a collaborative pastoral model:

 What is the change of mindset this model encourages?

 What advantages can this model bring to the life of the parish?

 How can this model help to enhance our work as a parish pastoral council?

 What are some of the challenges we can foresee in adopting such a model?

 Who are the main stakeholders with whom/which we as a parish pastoral council need to bring to a conversation?

Call to Action

As a parish pastoral council what is the first step we will take to encourage this model of collaboration?

V IDEO T HREE – P ARISH H UBS . A C OLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL M ODEL

S EGMENT 1 W HAT IS A COLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL MODEL ?

Part 2

In Summary

• The key to a collaborative pastoral model is collaboration for discernment.

• A collaborative pastoral model calls parishes to ask:

What is God asking of this community?

How can this community respond together with other communities to build and strengthen the larger faith community, the diocese?

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the importance of discernment:

 How do we as a parish pastoral council, discern what God is asking of this community?

 As a parish pastoral council how do we promote working together as a parish, forming one united community that lives out the mission of Jesus?

 As a parish pastoral council, how do we prepare ourselves to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Do we include meaningful prayer moments in our meeting time?

 As a parish pastoral council are we open to responding together with other communities to build and strengthen the larger faith community, the diocese.

Call to Action

As a parish pastoral council what is one measure that we will include in our meetings to ensure we make room for prayerful discernment?

V IDEO T HREE – P ARISH H UBS . A C OLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL M ODEL

S EGMENT 1 W HAT IS A COLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL MODEL ?

Part 3

In Summary

• A parish that works collaboratively with other parishes, diocesan agencies and organisations, builds not only a parish, but an Archdiocese in which all people recognise their mission to live the Gospel, to realise in their midst the mission of Jesus.

• This collaborative pastoral model works best in parish hubs.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the concept of a parish hub:

 As a parish pastoral council what steps have we put into place that allows us to look beyond our parish boundary in serving others as Jesus taught?

 Does our parish pastoral plan reflect a collaborative pastoral model? If not, what are the things that need to be considered?

 As a parish pastoral council how are we going to promote and encourage collaboration with our neighbouring parishes?

Call to Action

Revisit the parish pastoral plan to identify pastoral activities that would be more effective by working in collaboration with other ministries in the parish.

Put into action how the parish pastoral council will initiate this collaboration?

V IDEO T HREE – P ARISH H UBS . A C OLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL M ODEL

S EGMENT 2 C REAT ING A P ARISH H UB

In Summary

What is a hub?

• A hub is a group of 3-5 parishes that come together, with diocesan agencies and organisations to work on common initiatives identified in the parish’s pastoral plan.

How is a hub formed?

• A hub can be formed with a group of parishes that:

share common boundaries.

wish to work together on common initiatives.

or are interested in sharing resources.

A process for creating a hub

• A hub can be initiated by anyone who wishes to work in collaboration with others. For example:

the parish priest

the parish pastoral council in consultation with the parish priest

A diocesan agency, for example, the Office of Christian Initiation wanting to create RCIA parish hubs.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on creating a hub:

 Who are the parishes around us that could form a hub?

 What activities could the parish pastoral council share with our neighbouring parishes?

 What initiative can we take to begin discussions with these parishes?

V IDEO T HREE – P ARISH H UBS . A C OLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL M ODEL

S EGMENT 3 B ENEFITS OF W ORKING IN P ARISH H UBS

In Summary

• Hubs encourage the sharing of resources and expertise of parishes across the Archdiocese.

• The wisdom and knowledge shared by working in hubs will strengthen and enhance the work of each parish.

• Parish hubs promote a more holistic approach in carrying out the ministry of the wider Church.

• Working in a hub enables parishes to:

plan and share pastoral activities.

learn from one another.

grow in knowledge and confidence.

avoid duplication of time, costs and resources

work on initiatives that may otherwise not be possible for one parish alone.

share the workload lessening burn out.

care for one another.

Guiding Questions

Use one or more of the following questions to stimulate discussion on the benefits of working in hubs:

 As a parish, what resources can we share with parishes around us? How can we make this known?

 What is one resource that would benefit our parish that has been initiated in a nearby parish?

 What is an initiative that we cannot carry out alone? Which parish/es can we invite to share the cost and people power?

V IDEO T HREE – P ARISH H UBS . A C OLLABORATIVE P ASTORAL M ODEL

Call to Action

 In consultation with the parish priest, arrange a meeting of pastoral council executives to share the pastoral activities of each parish.

 Identify the opportunities for collaboration on one of the activities across parishes.

 Set up a process for collaboration of this activity.

APPENDICES

PARISH PASTORAL PLAN

What is a parish pastoral plan?

Pastoral planning is a process by which a faith community seeks to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of people within, and beyond, the community.

Pastoral planning is an ongoing parish activity.

The benefits of pastoral planning

Pastoral planning enables a parish to become ever more fully a portion of the people of God, sharing in the mission of Christ, and developing the structures necessary for supporting its community life and carrying out its mission.

Pastoral planning

• increases clarity about the mission and priorities of the parish

• provides a framework for examining how the parish is living out the mission of Christ

• enhances the quality of parish life and promotes parish vitality

• encourages the participation and support of the parish members

• affects the way in which the resources of the parish are used

A TOOL FOR GATHERING AND ANALYSING INFORMATION

The following is a guide to assist parish pastoral councils in developing a pastoral plan using a SWOT analysis.

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (Challenges). It provides stimulating strategic thinking to clarify the long-term effectiveness of the life of the parish. This is accomplished by identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (challenges) of the parish. A SWOT analysis can be useful to the parish pastoral council, as a tool for reflecting and producing practical strategies to help a parish community plan. A SWOT may be used as an analysis tool to help explore areas for change and growth in the parish. By taking the time to conduct a SWOT, the parish pastoral council will have the information to be able to develop an effective long-term strategic perspective of where God is leading the faith community.

Interpretating a SWOT analysis

Strengths

These are the unique characteristics, qualities, capabilities, and competencies that enable a parish to successfully accomplish its mission and vision. These might include leadership competencies, facilities, equipment, financial resources, spiritual resources, reputation, location, services, programs etc.

Questions which may be helpful in discerning the strengths of the parish include:

1. What does our parish do well?

2. What are we most proud of?

3. What unique knowledge, talent or resources do we have?

4. What do other people say we do well?

5. What resources do we have available?

6. What is our greatest achievement?

Weaknesses

These are the qualities that prevent the parish from accomplishing its mission and vision and reaching its full potential. Weaknesses might include factors that don’t meet certain standards, governance, inefficient systems, ineffective processes, not enough leaders, a lack of prayer.

Questions which may be helpful in discerning the weaknesses of the parish include:

1. What could we improve?

2. What knowledge, talent, skills and/or resources are we lacking?

3. What disadvantages do we have?

4. In what areas do we need more training?

5. What do other people say we don’t do well?

7. What should we avoid doing?

8. What factors cause us to lose members of the parish?

9. What complaints have we had about the parish?

10. What is holding the parish back from accomplishing the things we want and/or need to accomplish?

Opportunities

These are the conditions inside and outside the parish that impact the parish’s mission and vision. Sources for opportunities might include changes in parish or community demographics, new industries, local events, new technology, changes in government, social change, a new campus, new church members, a new pastor etc.

Questions which may be helpful in discerning the opportunities of the parish include:

1. What internal opportunities are we not taking advantage of?

2. What external opportunities are we not taking advantage of?

3. What changes have occurred recently in the parish and in the community?

4. How can we take advantage of these changes?

5. Who could we support? How could we support them?

6. Is there a need in our parish that has not been met?

7. What could we do today that isn’t being done?

8. How can we turn our strengths into opportunities?

9. How can we turn our weaknesses into opportunities?

10. How can we apply our existing strengths in new and/or innovative ways?

11. Where do we see God working?

Threats (Challenges)

These are challenges that arise in the environment that challenge the stability and potentially the survival of the parish. These might include changing internal or external demographics, changing technology, the economy, legislation, safety and security, oppressive debt, large capital needs, aging facilities, unwillingness to change, a sense of member entitlement, spiritual immaturity etc.

Questions which may be helpful in discerning the challenges facing the parish include:

1. What obstacles does our parish face?

2. Could any of our weaknesses prevent the parish from meeting our goals?

3. What is changing in our community?

4. Who and/or what might cause us problems in the future? How?

5. Are there changes in the parish that could threaten our success?

Advantages of a SWOT analysis

 Simple to understand and use.

 Identifies key internal and external factors affecting the Church.

 Produces valuable strategies and goals that align with the parish’s mission and vision.

 Explores a variety of new solutions.

 Can identify and overcome barriers to success.

Weaknesses of a SWOT analysis

 Doesn’t distinguish or prioritise.

 May focus too much on the present and not enough on the future.

 Factors may be opinions rather than facts.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Jamie O’Brien and Michelle Tan of the Archdiocesan Communications Office for producing these videos. We are grateful for all their hard work.

Our Parish Renewal Team can be contacted via:

Email: parishrenewal@perthcatholic.org.au

Phone: 6104 3699

Office: 450 Hay Street, Perth

Parish Field Workers:

Northern Region:

Alan Wedd

Mobile: 0413 820 007

Email: alan.wedd@perthcatholic.org.au

Southern Region:

Nigel Hayward

Mobile: 0466068619

Email: nigel.hayward@perthcatholic.org.au

The content of this series of videos is taken from the Parish Pastoral Council eHandbook Guidelines and Resources for Building Effective Parish Pastoral Councils – Archdiocese of Perth and Parish Pastoral Planning Booklet available online @ parishrenewal.com.au