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2 The Pastoral Council and the Apostolate of Pastors Mark F. Fischer, St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo Pastoral Council Web Site: Formation for Councillors from the San Pedro Region St. Joseph High School, Lakewood Saturday, October 18, 2008

3 In this hour you will learn : 1. the distinction between parish & pastoral councils, 2. false understandings of the distinction, 3. the confusion stemming from Vatican II, 4. the tension between planning and coordination,

4 1. The Key Distinction What is a parish council? What is a pastoral council?

5 Competing Views Some say that the “pastoral” council coordinates parish committees and commissions. Others do not. What is the Church’s intention?

6 Searching for “Pastoral” Many popular and even scholarly views do not reflect the Church’s teaching. Many popular and even scholarly views do not reflect the Church’s teaching.

7 Today’s Thesis If councils do what the Church intends, it will lend them its institutional support.

8 Strength in Unity Councils who understand their mission will not be surprised when pastors change.

9 2. What “Pastoral” Does Not Mean Pastoral does not refer to a prayerful style, a type of group process, or a spiritual subject matter.

10 Prayerful? The pastoral council is as prayerful – no more and no less – as any other parish group.

11 Discerning? The pastoral council need not follow any particular group process or parliamentary procedure.

12 A Spiritual Subject Matter? Pastors may consult their councils about any practical subject matter. Pastors may consult their councils about any practical subject matter.

13 What “Pastoral” Means It refers rather to a type of council in which members participate with the pastor in his apostolate, the pastoral apostolate of leading parishes.

14 3. Confusion from 1965 If pastoral planning is the job of the pastoral council, then how did people get the false idea that councils coordinate parish ministries?

15 Two Vatican II Documents and Two Apostolates The Decree on Bishops, n. 27. The Decree on the Laity, n. 26.

16 The Decree on Bishops, n. 27 This recommended “pastoral” councils to investigate, reflect, and recommend conclusions to pastors. But it recommended them for dioceses, not parishes.

17 The Decree on the Laity, n. 26 It recommended councils to promote the lay apostolate of being a Christian in the world. It recommended councils to promote the lay apostolate of being a Christian in the world. Such councils (in the nation, diocese, and parish) may “coordinate” lay initiatives. Such councils (in the nation, diocese, and parish) may “coordinate” lay initiatives.

18 The Misstep of Laity 26 People wrongly concluded that parish councils coordinate (that is, lead) parish ministries. People wrongly concluded that parish councils coordinate (that is, lead) parish ministries.

19 Coordinating the Lay Apostolate The lay apostolate council (Laity 26) was wrongly interpreted as a parish council that would “coordinate” parish committees or ministries.

20 4. Distinctively Pastoral The pastoral council (Bishops 27) aids the pastor’s apostolate in a threefold way. The pastoral council (Bishops 27) aids the pastor’s apostolate in a threefold way. Recommended in 1965 for dioceses, it was extended to parishes in Recommended in 1965 for dioceses, it was extended to parishes in See the Circular Letter by the Congregation for the Clergy: See the Circular Letter by the Congregation for the Clergy:

21 Canon Law The Revised Code of 1983 recommended “pastoral” councils (canon 536), not “lay apostolate” councils.

22 Ambiguities about Councils Are pastoral councils planners who make proposals to pastors, or coordinators who supervise parish ministries?

23 Rightful Mission The pastoral council plans rather than implementing or supervising. The pastoral council plans rather than implementing or supervising. When councillors implement, they do so as volunteers under the pastor’s direction. When councillors implement, they do so as volunteers under the pastor’s direction.

24 Source for Pastoral Councils The Decree on Bishops (no. 27) is the true Vatican II source of Parish Pastoral Councils, The Decree on Bishops (no. 27) is the true Vatican II source of Parish Pastoral Councils, not the Decree on the Laity (no. 26). not the Decree on the Laity (no. 26).

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26 Discussion Question, 10:30 – 11:00 “To what extent does your parish pastoral council (PPC) view its task in terms of the threefold description from Vatican II’s Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops, no. 27, ‘to investigate and consider matters relating to pastoral activity and to formulate practical conclusions concerning them’?” “To what extent does your parish pastoral council (PPC) view its task in terms of the threefold description from Vatican II’s Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops, no. 27, ‘to investigate and consider matters relating to pastoral activity and to formulate practical conclusions concerning them’?”

27 Response of the Group, 11:00 – 11:15 How does the Vatican II formula – councils investigate, reflect, and recommend – free councils to do a better job? How does the Vatican II formula – councils investigate, reflect, and recommend – free councils to do a better job? How does the Vatican II formula limit councils? How does the Vatican II formula limit councils?

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