The Pastoral Council Charter outlines the vision, purpose, values, goals, and operating guidelines for the Pastoral Council of St. Monica Community. The Council's purpose is to assist the Pastor in providing leadership, prayerfully discerning, communicating, and implementing parish priorities. Key goals include developing a 1-year and 3-year plan, aligning ministries with priorities, welcoming new parishioners, and participating in charter reviews. The Council will meet monthly, share responsibilities, and keep information confidential when required.

1. PASTORAL COUNCIL CHARTER
(EFFECTIVE 3/6/14)
1. Team Vision: Courageously creative Catholics forming disciples to become
apostles.
Team Purpose
Statement:
The purpose of the Pastoral Council is to assist the Pastor in
providing leadership to prayerfully discern, to communicate,
and to implement the parish priorities for the St. Monica
Community.
Values: Christ-centered – everything we do is evaluated in light of our
relationship with Jesus Christ. If it helps us individually and as a
parish become more centered on Christ, we will do it. If it does not, we
will not do it.
Loving – we will do our best to follow the great commandment in the
hopes that others will know we are Christians by our love. This means
we will avoid the temptation to simply be “nice” or to engage in gossip
or rumors. Instead, we will lovingly discuss difficult issues to advance
the mission of Jesus in our parish.
Passionate – we care deeply about the souls in this parish and will go
the extra mile for the Lord and this community.
Trustworthy – if we live the first three values, we will earn the trust
of the community and will be able to fulfill our purpose in support of
the pastor
Prayerful- Personal and intentional prayer on part of the council
members along with parish wide prayer support
2. Team
Outcomes
KRA #1 - Create a realistic plan that provides hope for the
parish community
 Goal 1: Develop and adopt a 1-year plan and a 3-year vision in
by end of September 2014.
 Goal 2: Present the plan and vision to parish-at-large by
beginning of 2014 Advent Season.
KRA #2 - Shepherd, communicate and work to align the
ministries of the parish with the pastoral priorities of Liturgy,
Youth, and Formation
 Goal 3: Meet with the leaders of key ministries and
identify opportunities for alignment by end of August,
2014. Review findings of Villanova MBA Outreach Study .
Incorporate all information, analyze and formulate
recommendations by end of October 2014.

2. Resources and
Budget:
Define what people,
organizations,
tools, and money
the team plans to
us to achieve its
purpose.
In addition to Council members, the Pastoral Staff of the Parish and
a member of the Finance Council are invited to meetings.
The budget for pastoral priorities is $30,000. The council will make
recommendations to the pastor on how to allocate those funds.
KRA #2 (continued):
 Goal 4: Participate in the development of building plans
and lease agreements to ensure the Pastoral Priorities are
aligned with these efforts by June, 2014
 Goal 5: Coordinate the plans and steps to insure the hiring
of new “Youth Director” by end of June, 2014.
 Goal 6: Participate in 1-day, off-site “Charter-Review”
retreat by end of January, 2015.
KRA #4 - Be a vehicle/conduit/bridge between parishioners,
the pastor and parish leadership.
 Goal 7: Assist the pastor in development and implementation
of a program to welcome new parishioners and connect them
to the rest of the Parish. Identify program details and
responsibilities by fall 2104 to ensure full implementation
2014 Advent Season.
Timing:
Highlight any
major milestones
including the
beginning and end
time for the team.
Composition of Parish Pastoral Council will include minimum of 7
and maximum of 10 members. Pastoral Council members serve for
a two-year term with the option to discern a second two-year term.
The goal is to not have more than a third of the Pastoral Council
members turnover each year.
New members will be discerned during the Easter Season and
commence their terms on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2014.

3. 3. Team
Operating
Guidelines:
Define the meeting
structure and
timing, problem-
solving process,
policy for making
decisions and
resolving conflicts
and any other
operating
guidelines.
The Council meets on the 1st Thursday of every Month. If necessary,
a second meeting on the 3rd Thursday may be scheduled. Meetings
are from 6:30 – 8:00/8:30 pm depending on agenda that night.
A member of Pastoral Council is expected to represent this council
at meetings of the Finance Council on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month.
In order to grow in our faith and to model what it means to be a
courageously creative Catholic, we will take turns preparing for and
leading prayer at our meetings.
4. Team Norms
and Ground
Rules:
How will you
communicate and
share feedback,
deal with
commitment and
involvement of
members, set tone
and celebrate
successes.
Members are expected to attend 8-10 meetings a year and to
communicate with the Chair in advance if they cannot attend. A
partner will be assigned to brief any member who misses a meeting
so they remain up to speed.
Given the sensitive nature of some of the agenda items, members
are expected to keep information confidential when requested.
Members are expected to solicit, listen to, and share feedback from
parishioners on issues that impact the leadership and direction of
the parish.
5. Team Roles
and
Responsibilities:
What are the
collective, paired,
and individual
responsibilities?
Council Chair: Tobias Hoppe
Scribe: Rotating
Timekeeper: Rotating
Connections to other parish ministries:
Sandy Concannon – Women’s Club
Levi Keene – Ushers; Hospitality
Maureen Friedrich – Young Adults
Brendan Powell – Youth Ministry
Martha McGurk –
Palmer Dalesandro –
Margaret Dalesandro –
Anthony Roeder –

4. 6. Charter
Endorsement:
Pastor’s Signature: __________________________________________________
Team Members Signatures: