Discernment for New Members of the Parish Pastoral Council

The PPC is an advisory board to Fr. Sean Horrigan and is one of the chief ways that the parishioners participate in the life and mission of the Church. Membership rotates every year.

If you are interested in participating or would like to nominate another individual, email Fr. Sean at sean.horrigan@ctrcc.com.
 

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The PPC is composed of 12 parishioners and we rotate membership every year to get new people and new ideas involved. We try to keep a balance of nine discerned members and three appointees. A process of discernment has become the normative way that pastoral councils are filled throughout the country. Though it takes a few hours to complete, it allows all participating to share in the experience and, most importantly, allows the Holy Spirit to guide the collective wisdom of those discerning. It soon becomes clear who the Spirit is calling to serve in this ministry.

It is important to note that members of the PPC are expected to be attentive to the needs of the entire community. They must work on behalf of all, not just their favorite areas of interest. They are a representative body, not a body of representatives. They serve in a consultative role only and have no decision-making authority. They do not deal with the day-to-day operations of the parish, but rather are to be “forward-looking” in their role. They help identify the present and future needs of the parishioners and consult with me on ways we can best achieve those goals.

To be a member of the PPC, one must be an active registered parishioner with a demonstrated commitment to the life of the parish. You must be fully initiated in the sacraments, and if married, be in a Catholic marriage. A PPC member must also be willing to engage in spiritual growth and skills development to best serve on the council, and I think it goes without saying that you must be willing to commit to working collaboratively with others. The PPC meets once a month, but there are often other responsibilities associated with the council that require time and preparation.