How is a parish pastoral council formed?

Our parish uses a four-step process to form the parish pastoral council. This process includes prayer, education, discernment and commitment.

Step 1: Prayer: Each meeting of the council begins and ends with a prayer experience as we focus on our baptismal call to build the kingdom of God. We ask everyone to pray for wisdom and openness for our parishioners and our pastor.

Step 2: Education: We educate interested parishioners in an Information Meeting for those who want to learn more about serving on the council. Anyone can come or recommend someone to come to this meeting.

Step 3: Discernment: We hold a Discernment Meeting for those who attended the Information Meeting and are open to serving on the council and have been invited by the pastor. The people in attendance consider the gifts and talents of each person and discern who is being called by the Holy Spirit to serve. Anyone wishing to attend the Discernment Meeting must attend the Information Meeting.

Step 4: Commitment: The final step to the process is the commissioning of new council members during the weekend Masses. Then the work of the council begins as members gather information about the needs and desires of the parishioners and undertake the development of immediate, short-term and long-term goals.