“Let the spiritual shepherds recognise and promote the dignity as well as the responsibility of the laity
in the Church. Let them willingly employ their prudent advice. Let them confidently assign duties to
them in the service of the Church, allowing them freedom and room for action. Further, let them
encourage lay people so that they may undertake tasks on their own initiatives. Attentively in Christ,
let them consider with fatherly love the projects, suggestions and desires proposed by the laity. “
Vatican II, in the document quoted above called Lumen Gentium, wrote that everyone in the faith
community has a role to play. The Church does not consist only of Bishops or priests but requires the
presence and action of all members of the Body of Christ to be truly the Body. It is the responsibility
of your parish priest to promote the active participation of every parishioner in the life of service and
leadership within the Church, and one of those ways is through the establishment of Parish Pastoral
Councils.
Every three years the parishes of the Archdiocese are constitutionally bound to have elections to
form the Parish Pastoral Council. The PPC is an advisory body to the parish priest. They either
represent various groups in the parish, such as the CWL, or congregations of Religious, or Catholic
Institutions within the boundaries of the parish. They are also voted onto the PPC through a process
of nomination and election. The following extract from the Statutes of PPC’s speaks to what kind of
people should be nominated to the PPC:
“The Parish Pastoral Council members are baptized and confirmed Catholics known for their good
morals and prudence, and in good standing with the Church. They are elected or appointed for their
commitment and ability to work towards the achievement of the tasks of the council and are willing
to participate in on-going formation.”
It also mentions the obligation of the PPC to lead a participatory consultative process in the parish to
form a mission focused pastoral plan for the parish, so that the people of God are renewed, and grow
in harmony and peace.
You may be wondering about the workload of a member of the PPC.
For a start, we have begun a renewal process called “Genesis Compass” which meets once a week
under the guidance of external facilitators. We have just completed the first module and will begin
the second once the ALPHA course is completed in 2 months. The whole process can take up to 3
years, with breaks of a month or two between the different components of the process. Current PPC
members are participating and my expectation is that any new PPC members elected would also
participate. Additionally, the PPC meets as PPC once a quarter. If you speak to current PPC members
I am sure they will speak about how they have been enriched by the experience, how their faith has
grown, and how much more rooted both in God and in the community they feel.
It is hard work, requiring much dedication and commitment, but the rewards are great. Possibly the
greatest reward will be the knowledge that you and your group of fellow servant leaders were
responsible for the changing of parish culture, responsible for creating a welcoming space where
people are able to become missionary disciples of Christ.
If you feel the Spirit of God leading you to this life of service, and you are able to make and keep the
promises and commitments required, please consider running for a position on the Parish Pastoral
Council. Take a nomination form, ask someone to nominate you and then give the form to me. And
then just trust in God.
