Parish Council

(Excerpt From the Saint Jude Parish Constitution)

Purpose

The Council shall be a vehicle for fulfilling the pastoral mission of the parish. It does this by fostering growth within the parish family and the sharing of spiritual gifts and talents; by encouraging positive relationships among all members of the parish, and by collaborating with other parishes and the wider community.

The Council formulates parish policy, fosters good communication, and provides leadership by clarifying parish vision, establishing goals and witnessing the Gospel message in the larger community and the world.

The Council, after prayerful discernment, shall advise the pastor and develop policies to support those activities and programs which foster the spiritual, intellectual, moral and temporal; well-being of the parish, and shall make a contribution to Archdiocesan goals and policies.

Membership

The Council shall have a total of 16 voting members, all of whom shall be baptized, practicing Catholics at least 18 years of age (except the youth member), registered members of the parish, and participants in the parish worship life, especially Mass and the sacraments. There are four types of members:

Ex officio members: The Pastor and two lay trustees

Members-at-Large: 10 persons elected by the parish as a whole

Pastoral appointees: The pastor has the right and obligation to appoint two members to The Council

Youth member: One individual at least 14 years of age, but not yet 18, selected annually from and by the youth members of the parish.

Standing Committees

The Council shall have the following standing committees:

  • Prayer and Worship
  • Christian Formation
  • Human Concerns
  • Finance and Administration
  • Buildings and Grounds
  • Parish Activities
  • School Advisory