Councils Today
Parish Pastoral Councils are a success in the USA,
where they exist in three-quarters of nearly 19,000 Catholic parishes.
To learn more about PPCs, how the U.S. bishops support them, and what
diocesan guidelines for councils have to say about them, click on
the topics to the right. |
- Successes:
- Councils are a success because Catholics have grasped the nature
of consultation.
- Mission:
- With a clear mission, councils can be well led and councillors
use their time well.
- Guidelines:
- Most dioceses publish guidelines for councils. Does yours?
- Tasks:
- What do the guidelines say that parish pastoral councils ought
to do?
- Regional Differences:
- How do councils differ throughout the U.S.?
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Starting
a Council?
If you plan to start a new or renew an old council,
you'll need a foundation document, a guideline, a solid rationale,
and sample mission statements. |
- Foundation Documents:
- Establish or renew your council by giving it a specific focus.
- The L.A. Guideline:
- The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has revised its pastoral council
guidelines.
- Pastoral Instrument:
- L.A. councils are instruments of study, reflection, & recommendation.
- Mission Statements:
- Every parish has to define its own mission, but these samples
can help.
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Inculturating
Councils
There are general rules about pastoral councils,
but each council reflects the culture of the parish, and so each is
unique.
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- Multicultural Councils:
- Immigrant parishioners should form one council, not many.
- Navajo Councils:
- Pastoral Advisory Circles in Navajoland are unique.
- Councils in Alaska:
- Alaskan councils reflect parish culture, and so should yours.
- Pastoral Planning:
- A Mexican-American parish found that planning means many things.
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