Dear Friends in Christ:
In the coming weeks we will see a change in the membership of Parish Pastoral Council. The Pastoral and Finance Councils are advisory bodies to the pastor. Unlike many other bodies in civil society, and perhaps in other churches or even other aspects of Catholic life, these councils are not legislative, deliberative, or governing bodies. Nor, strictly speaking, are they representative bodies like a city council, congress, or parliament. The men and women on these councils are advisors who give guidance and counsel to the pastor. In turn, the pastor is obligated to give serious consideration to the council’s guidance. Canon Law requires that every parish have a Finance Council and diocesan policy mandates a Pastoral Council in every parish in the archdiocese.
We have been particularly blessed with talented and gifted council members in this parish. The Pastoral Council meets monthly; the Finance Council convenes quarterly; to examine the status and well-being of the parish and its activities. The councils review all aspects of the parish: finances, administration, programs, ministries, facilities, policies, and the pastoral and devotional life of the parish. Admittedly, most of the time, our conversation centers on the temporal aspects of the parish but we also look at the spiritual dimension as well.
In the coming weeks, we will say goodbye and thank you to two of our council members who will be replaced with two new members. Mollie Delouche and Leigh Schuelke have both generously given of their time and energy. Each has made significant contributions to our parish in their service on Pastoral Council with their insights, wisdom, and good counsel. When I recently asked, in one of our meetings, what was the most important thing they discovered about the parish from their service on the council, they each pointed out that the parish is much larger and complex than they originally thought. They were not simply referring to the number of parishioners, but rather to the number of ministries, programs, organizations, groups, and activities. This has been a common remark over the years. It is a challenge to grasp the immensity of the parish and its activities. It is much more than most people experience, even very active and involved parishioners.
Over the years council members have suggested that the parish do this or do that only to discover that it is already being done and has been for a long time. As pastor I can tell you that it is difficult to keep up with everything. (Check out our Ministry Directory, Parish Volunteer Opportunities, and Clergy & Staff pages on our website at stjohnvianney.org). Another challenge is realizing that while our parish is very active and does a lot, we are a BIG enterprise and cannot always be as nimble as a smaller parish. With so many moving parts our parish needs to follow policies, procedures, and guidelines, for the greater common good. As one council member put it, “There is a “why” for everything”.
Like every organization and institution our parish must adapt to changing conditions. Change is necessary for growth and the health of our parish family. We cannot and should not do everything just because “we have always done it that way!” That is a very dangerous attitude. At the same time, we should not abandon or ignore the proven and sensible reasons as to why things are done in a certain manner. That too, can be a reckless attitude. At the heart of our parish is our mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus and help people get to heaven! Or, as we state it, Living Faith, Changing Lives and Making a Difference!
In Pace Christi,
Fr. Troy