Historical Context of Parish Pastoral Councils

While Parish Pastoral Councils emerged after the Second Vatican Council as a response to a desire that priests and laity work together, the work and the purpose of the Council have their origins in the early Church.

The earliest example of the whole Christian community working together is evident in the writings of the Acts of the Apostles and of the early Church. The writings provide examples of many small communities of Christians sharing their gifts and talents in the service of their community by supporting one another through prayer and the sharing of resources.

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. [Acts 4:32-35]^[12]

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. [1 Pet 4:10-11]^[13]

Discernment (making prayerful judgements) was always integral to community decision making. Leaders of the early Church would consult with the community and choose members (similar to today’s Councillors) from within the community who demonstrated the gifts of wisdom and discretion. The leaders of the early Church would consult with these ‘Councillors’ to receive wise advice and to hold the community together.

Then the apostles and elders, with the consent of the whole Church, decided to choose men from among their members and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers… [Acts 15:22-23]^[14]

At the heart of Parish Pastoral Councils is the call to serve the parish leadership by sharing our gifts, talents, and resources for the good of all in the community, in the example and spirit of the communities in the early Church.

• [12] – New Revised Standard Version (2006). The Harper Collins Study Bible. San Francisco. Harper Collins Publishers.
• [13] – New Revised Standard Version (2006). The Harper Collins Study Bible. Harper Collins Publishers. San Francisco. USA.
• [14] – New Revised Standard Version (2006). The Harper Collins Study Bible. Harper Collins Publishers. San Francisco. USA.

The forming of Pastoral Councils within the diocese is one of the structures strongly recommended by the Second Vatican Council [the second Ecumenical Council called by Pope John XXIII in 1962 to address relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world]. The Second Vatican Council recognised the importance of the role of the laity (the people of God, the faithful, the parishioners) in the life of the Church. Documents such as The Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes) and The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem) call on the laity to serve active roles in their Church community. ‘Their [the laity’s] activity is so necessary within Church communities that without it the apostolate of the Priest is generally unable to achieve its full effectiveness.’^[15]

It further emphasised that the laity, by virtue of their baptism and full initiation into the Church (through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist), share responsibility for the pastoral mission of the faith community, the parish. It also noted that there was a need for collaboration and cooperation between priests and parishioners.

• [15] – Second Vatican Council. Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People. Apostolicam Actuositatem, (AA). Pope Paul VI. November 18,1965. (10).

Through Baptism and full initiation into the Church (through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist), we share responsibility for the pastoral mission of the faith community, the parish.  We are all called to exercise both our rights and responsibilities to participate fully in the life and mission of the Church. Every Christian, whatever their position in the Church or level of instruction in the faith, is called to serve others in the same way Jesus served. God bestows on all members of the Church diverse gifts and talents, so that in our own way each one of us can be instruments of Christ’s presence and influence in the world. We are all called to be people of love, peace and justice, especially to those on the margins. Jesus commanded all to go into the world and proclaim the good news of creation (cf Mark 16:15). ^[16]

• [16] – New Revised Standard Version (2006). The Harper Collins Study Bible. San Francisco. Harper Collins Publishers.

The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (1965) states, ‘In dioceses, insofar as possible, there should be Councils which assist the apostolic work of the Church either in the field of evangelisation and sanctification or in the charitable, social, or other spheres, and here it is fitting that the clergy and religious should cooperate with the laity. While preserving the proper character and autonomy of each organisation, these Councils will be able to promote the mutual coordination of various lay associations and enterprises’.^[17]

The formation of Diocesan Pastoral Councils was first recommended in the document, Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops. According to this decree, the Pastoral Council has a threefold purpose. It (1) investigates pastoral matters, (2)  ponders or reflects on them, and (3) reaches conclusions regarding pastoral matters.^[18]

The Decree called for the laity to have an active part to play in the life of the Church.^[19] It called for the formation of Councils in which the laity were to serve as advisory bodies to the priest and together exercise their role of leadership in sharing their gifts, talents and resources for the good of all in the community.

• [17] – Second Vatican Council. Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People. Apostolicam Actuositatem, (AA). Pope Paul VI. November 18,1965. (26).
• [18] – Second Vatican Council. Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops. Christus Dominus. Pope Paul VI. October 28, 1965.
• [19] – AA (1965) 10.

The Code of Canon Law, revised and promulgated in 1983, reinforced the recommendation of the Second Vatican Council to establish Parish Pastoral Councils. It emphasised even more strongly the ‘pastoral’ role of the Council. It once again reaffirmed that, by virtue of baptism, the laity are empowered to participate in the mission of the Church and in the ‘pastoral activity’ of the parish.^[20]

While the Code of Canon Law stops short of mandating Pastoral Councils in every parish, it certainly encourages their establishment.

‘If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune after he has heard the Council of Priests, a pastoral Council is to be established in each parish, over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity.’

(Canon 536)

The function of a Parish Pastoral Council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by the norms established by the diocesan bishop.

(Canon 536.2)

The new Code of Canon Law shifted the focus for Councils to be more pastoral, reclaiming the pastoral tradition of the community rooted in the early Church.^[21]

• [20] – Gubish, Jenny, McGannon (2001). Revisioning the Parish Pastoral Council. A workbook. New York. Paulist Press. (p.9).
• [21] – Gubish, Jenny, McGannon (2001). Revisioning the Parish Pastoral Council. A workbook. New York. Paulist Press (p.5.)