I would like to take some time discussing Parish Pastoral Councils.  For the first 37 of my 38 months here as pastor, there has been almost no interest in Pastoral Council by the general parish community.  In December of 2021, we announced the formation of a pastoral council.  From the approximately 1700 families registered in the parish, 6 people offered their names for membership.  We began the process of then discerning others to participate (there are no parish wide elections for pastoral council).  Shortly after this, the priests of the diocese were informed that a revision of pastoral councils would be undertaken by the diocese.  This was completed sometime in late 2023.  We again sought to form a council.  This council, to the misunderstanding of some, exists and has existed.  You will have an opportunity to meet them at the socials on October 12th and 13th.  I am herein including the sole canon in Canon Law that governs Parish Pastoral Councils, and a brief description presented by the diocese in their recent revisions of a council.

 

According to diocesan policy, each individual parish is required to have its own parish pastoral council. The nature of the council is envisioned by canon law: 

 

“Can. 536 §1. If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune after he has heard the presbyteral council, a pastoral council is to be established in each parish, over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity. §2. A pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed 

 

The parish pastoral council is presided over by the pastor, who must take the responsibility of leading the council through the work of pastoral planning. The purpose of the council is specifically to foster pastoral activity—to open the parish to the shepherding work of Christ. Therefore, the council’s work must always be done on the plane of faith, resisting the temptation to become merely an administrative or executive committee. Finally, the council possesses only a consultative vote, since the duty of decision-making lies with the pastor. 

 

The Church’s mission is evangelization. Our goal is given to us, but how do we arrive at that goal? Answering this question requires planning and goal setting. The parish pastoral council exists for this work, assisting the priest in his leadership of the parish to form a common vision of pastoral life at the service of mission. The parish pastoral council exists for the sake of pastoral planning, not administrative decisions, or oversight of parish finances. Administrative decisions dealing with the day-to-day operation of the parish are generally the responsibility of the pastor and his staff, while parish finances are overseen by the pastor with the assistance of the parish finance council, as described in canon law.  A parish pastoral council that becomes involved in administration loses its focus and its energy for the important work of pastoral planning. The council’s role is unique and necessary: it deals with complex problems and forms long-term goals that will have a wider effect on the parish.”  Diocese of Youngstown Guidelines for Pastoral Councils - ©2023

 

I want to also make clear that there has been a Parish Finance Council in existence since my arrival and beyond.  I arrived on July 1, 2021    , and had my first Finance Council meeting on July 7th.  Over these three years, I have worked closely with members of the Finance Council to address the physical and fiscal matters of the parish.

 

Let me be blunt – very little interest was shown in the Pastoral or Finance Council here at Saint Michael until the removal of the trees.  It appears that the sudden interest is connected to the misconception that they “run the parish”.  I am aware that this one phase of a variety of exterior projects has created a variety of discussions.  I look forward to working with our Pastoral Council to create a vision of evangelization for the future, and with the Finance Council to make sure the structures in place also ensure a strong and vibrant future.  As with any project, there have been negative and positive comments, and a vast majority of silence. It is time to move on.  Over the coming months, I look forward to the completion of the parish residence, continued work on the exterior of the Church and Hall, and a strong spirit of worship, catechesis and service here in our parish.  Please note that the cost of many of our projects has been defrayed by generous sponsors.  I thank them for their generosity and commitment to the parish.  As we prepare for our parish feast day, may we seek to come together in love and service of our God. 

 

“On Wings we Rise",

Father Lavelle