The work of both the Pastoral Council and Finance Council is informed and inspired by the vision of the Church itself, especially as set forth in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The Pastoral and Finance Councils are closely related to one another, yet are distinct bodies “by virtue of their distinct purposes, their distinct responsibilities, and the distinct qualifications for membership on each” (Bishop John J. Paul, Pastoral Letter On Consultation in the Parish and Deanery, p. 21).

The Parish Pastoral Council is “a consultative body by which the Christian faithful of a parish, together with those who have pastoral authority, give their help in fostering pastoral activity . . . The ways by which it fulfills its shared responsibility are: the spiritual enrichment and growth of its members; the study of the Christian life of the People of God with special attention to their Christian vision, needs, and hopes; the discernment of the relationship of the pastoral activity of the parish to the legitimate needs and hopes of the parish community; establishment of priorities among the various aspects of the pastoral activity of the parish; and the formation of policy and the development of programs of pastoral activity” (p. 21).

In other words, the “basic task of such a Council is to serve, at the institutional level, the orderly collaboration of the faithful in the development of pastoral activity which is proper to priests. The Pastoral Council is thus a consultative organ in which the faithful, expressing their baptismal responsibility, can assist the parish priest, who presides at the Council, by offering their advice on pastoral matters” (Congregation for the Clergy, Instruction on the Priest: Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community, 26).

More concretely, the purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council is to investigate pastoral matters, to consider them thoroughly, and to propose practical conclusions about them. The Pastoral Council’s task is, first of all, to study those matters brought to its attention and shed light on them. Its second task is to reflect on them thoroughly, to discern their true nature, to evaluate and to ponder them. Its final task is to draw sound conclusions. The Pastoral Council presents these conclusions to the Pastor in the form of recommendations.

In sum, the Pastoral Council has responsibility to give counsel to the Pastor regarding the pastoral activity in the parish. The Pastoral Council meets approximately six times a year. In order to assist the Parish Pastoral Council in fulfilling its responsibilities, there are ordinarily four working groups or permanent committees: Marriage and Family Life, Sacred Worship (formerly Liturgy), Catechesis and Evangelization (formerly Catholic Education), and Social Concerns (formerly Justice and Peace). These committees direct themselves to four fundamental areas of pastoral life in the parish. This list of committees is not exhaustive as other committees may be formed according to specific needs of the parish.