Dear
Members of our Parish Community
As you
are aware, we are 1 of 11 Parishes in the Dioceses
who have set up a Parish Pastoral Council. The
Parish Council is a PASTORAL council of 12 members
plus the priests. Its primary aim is to help,
support and renew the Christian life of everyone
in the parish. It will NOT have a managerial
role, for example, in finance or building but
has a Pastoral role only.
The
questions we would ask are:
What
does it take to make the church continue and
flourish in our parish?
Do you
want the church to flourish in our parish?
Who is
responsible for ensuring that the church will
continue and flourish in our parish?
To fulfil
that aim we will work for the EMPOWERMENT of
ALL the members of the parish in living their
Christian lives. We believe that we cannot leave
everything to the priests or to the Parish Pastoral
Council and so we will work for the involvement
of all in the life of the parish. A number of
objectives seem to have arisen from the Parish
survey and we propose to address these as a
Pastoral Council.
Being
and building a Christian community where people
will have a sense of belonging to the Church.
A renewal of PERSONAL PRAYER (private prayer,
scriptural prayer, retreats, devotions etc.).
A
fuller participation in all the sacraments of
the Church especially the Eucharist (the Mass).
A
reaching out to one another especially those
suffering among us. This will include a commitment
to help solve issues in the wider world e.g.
addiction, suicide, destruction of the environment,
injustice, poverty.
Working
to support and improve marriage and family life.
Support
and help for children and young people to grow
and flourish into responsible and loving adults.
‘Welcome
for the stranger’ an outreach in an ecumenical
spirit to people of other faiths and none, ‘that
all may be one’ as Christ prayed.
We are
aware that all this is ‘a tall order’.
But with faith, conversion and cooperation
we can do a lot.
We the
members of the Parish Pastoral Council ask for
your prayers and support as together we set
out on this journey of renewal. May the Holy
Spirit strengthen and guide us. Amen.
