Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council

The Parish Pastoral Council is a group of 11 parish members.  This council is the principal consultative body in the parish.  The number of meetings a year depends on the size and needs of the parish.  Bishop John Paul, the former bishop of La Crosse, stated that “consultation is the service we give to our pastors in the Church to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities to God and to us all.”  Bishop John Paul said that this can take place in a number of areas in parish life such as, spiritual care, faith formation, and the administration of the monies given to the parish in the form of donations – whether weekly, monthly, and yearly or in bequests, etc. in other words, all aspects of parish life.

The Finance Council is a group of 7 parish members who directs itself to sound policies of management of the parish funds mentioned in the above paragraph.  Both councils work closely together for the betterment of our parish. 

As our pastor, Fr. Al needs the help and cooperation of all whom serve on the parish pastoral council.  The consultation given is valuable in making decisions that affect all the people who consider this parish their home.  We look to Fr. Al (and Fr. Paul) for spiritual nourishment, growth in faith knowledge, and guidance in the Christian life and in turn, Fr. Al looks to the people serving on the pastoral and finance councils to be witnesses of Christian living in the secular world and for encouragement and assistance in fulfilling his responsibilities for our parish community

 

Sacred Worship

This committee is charged with the liturgical life of the parish as celebrated in the Sacraments and other rites of the Church.  There should be special attention paid to the sick and isolated (homebound) in the parish community.  Another concern of this committee is the prayer life of the parish.  This would include devotions such as, Eucharistic Adoration, special celebrations for Our Lady of Guadalupe, Stations of the Cross, etc. 

 

Family Life

The Family Life Committee should assist the parish pastoral council in fostering Christian family life in the parish.  Some of these concerns are: the central place of the family in all parish activities; hospitality and social activities such as the parish picnic, pancake breakfasts, coffee and juice after Masses, welcoming of newcomers, etc.  Other areas of concern should be pre-marriage enrichment, pastoral care of single adult Catholics, divorced and remarried Catholics along with widows and widowers.  We can’t forget about the needs of the youth of our parish and the importance of fostering vocations to the religious life and priesthood.

There are many other areas of need including recognizing and thanking families and individuals for their contributions to the parish.  These areas would include weeding and watering the gardens, cutting the grass of the parish grounds, setting up and taking down for special parish events, or helping in anyway that benefits the parish or the pastor.

 As you can see, the Family Life Committee covers a broad spectrum of parish family life. 

 

Catholic Education/Evangelization

This committee’s role is to assist the parish pastoral council in fostering the faith formation aspect of the parish’s mission.  This would include evangelization, adult faith formation, RE and R.C.I.A. programs, missionary activities and ecumenism.  Of course, there are many other activities that would be the responsibility of this committee including the support of the Catholic School System – ACS (Assumption Catholic Schools).

 

Social Justice

The Social Justice Committee assists the parish pastoral council in fostering pastoral concern and action for justice in the world, especially in all areas of parish life.  Some of the areas of concern are: promotion of the respect for all human life; the pastoral care of the sick, the needy and the imprisoned; the care of migrants and refugees.  This committee is also charge with promoting just structures in the parish along with a greater understanding of the Church’s rich tradition and teachings on social justice issues.