 Background
In 2003 Bishop McAreavey asked that all the parishes in the diocese would hold ‘Listening Meetings’ at which parishioners were invited to give their views about Church life. Following these meetings the Bishop further requested that each parish would establish a Core Group to seek new ways of involving more people to meet the ever increasing and varied needs of the parish. A Parish Core Group exist's for both Saint Paul's and Saint Peter's church. The membership of the Core Group consists of the priests and lay parishioners who volunteered their services. Each Core Group meets regularly to pray and reflect, to discern and plan.
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 The primary function of the parish council is to assist and advise the parish priest in accordance with Canon 536 of the revised Codex iuris canonicia (Code of Canon Law 1983).
Each parish is to have a pastoral council which is regulated by universal law as well as by the norms issued by the diocesan bishop: in this council the Christain faithful aid the parish priest in the pastoral care of the parish with due regard for the prescription of canon 532: (the priest represents the parish in all juridical affairs) The Parish Council is the parish priest’s advisory body. It is composed of practising Catholics who worship at the Church every Sunday and are dedicated to the work of the parish. The members form a representative cross-section of the parish; they do not represent the parish, as this is function of the parish priest in Canon Law. The members, seeking the good of the parish and mission of the Church, support the priest and in collaboration with him, propose, initiate and lead various religious and social activities in the life of the parish. While the members will not be the only people taking up leadership roles in the parish, they should assist the priest in identifying the gifts present in the priesthood of all believers, so that new ways of proclaiming the Good News and sanctifying the world might be found. They should always be eager to help their brothers and sisters to deepen their faith and feel integrated into the parish family. It is intended to establish a Parish Council in St Peter's to continue the good work of the Core Group and to constantly seek new and meaningful ways of assisting in the Pastoral needs of the Parish. |
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Membership of the Parish Council |
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 The Parish Priest establishes the Parish Council comprising the eleven persons who enjoy a consultative voice. Appointment to and duration of membership of the parish council is at the discretion of the parish priest. Its members, not including the parish priest, constitute the parish pastoral council.
Simultaneous membership of the finance council and the parish pastoral council is not permitted. Accordingly, the parish council is constituted from October 20th 2004 for a period of twelve months renewable. No restrictions apply concerning the duration of membership. |
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