The Pastoral Council Charter outlines the vision, purpose, values, and operating guidelines for a parish pastoral council. The council aims to assist the pastor and staff by discerning and implementing parish priorities through prayer, communication, and fostering cooperation. Key responsibilities include developing a 1-3 year parish plan, supporting ministries, providing leadership for a capital campaign, and developing an outreach program. The council meets monthly, and members serve 2-year terms with the option to serve another term.

1. PASTORAL COUNCIL CHARTER
(EFFECTIVE 9/2/15)
DRAFT
1. Team Vision: Called by Name; Gifted by God; Committed to Prayer; Driven to Serve
...Abiding in Hope the Parish Pastoral Council will assist the Pastor,
Staff and Parishoners to form disciples to become apostles of Jesus
Christ.
Team Purpose
Statement:
The purpose of the Pastoral Council is to provide leadership to
prayerfully discern, to communicate, and to implement the
parish priorities. Foster cooperation.
We are a community on a pilgrimage to a sacred place, inviting all
to walk with us as we:
 Discover Jesus in our lives,
 Understand our life's purpose,
 Developa personal relationship with Christ,
 Enrich our local community,
 Impact the whole world.
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 strategy

2. by the end of October 2015.
 Goal 2: Present the plan and vision to parish-at-large by
beginning of 2015 Advent Season.
KRA #2 - Shepherd, communicate and work to align the
ministries of the parish with the pastoral priorities of Liturgy,
Youth, and Formation to retain existing Parishoners and to
assist Ministries in developing programs to attract new
Parishoners.
 Goal 3: Encourage Ministries to inform and seek support of
the Council to fulfill their Charters.
 Goal 4:Support Ministries in developing priorities to be in
alignment with Parish Annual Plan.
 Goal 5: Assist the Youth and Family Ministry Board in
support of the new Youth and Family Minister.
 Goal 6: Draft an updated Charter for the next annual plan to
be in alignment with the Parish annual Budget .
KRA #3 – Provider leadership and support to the Capital
Campaign.
 Goal 7: Champion the building and renovation project to the
Parish, participate in explaining the program, priorities and
process in developing the goals and objectives.
 Goal 8: provide assistance in developing donor commitments.
KRA #4 – Develop the outreach program based on the Villanova
Study, current council reflections, Staff and Pastor input.
 Goal 9: Appoint committee to lead in the Charter development
for the Outreach program.
 Goal 10: Develop a process of prioritization and budget
expenditures for the outreach program. Including:
Individual personal charitable distributions
Local programs the parish will support
Regional outreach programs which we will participate
Parish global efforts we will support
Composition: Composition of Parish Pastoral Council will include minimum of 7
and maximum of 12 members. Pastoral Council members serve for
a two-year term with the option to discern a second two-year term.
Members shall be appointed or elected every year to not have more
than 1/3 of the Pastoral Council members’ turnover in a given year.
New members will be discerned during the Easter Season and

3. 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 will be developed during the
budget process and submitted to the Finance Council and Pastor for
approval. The council will make recommendations to the pastor on
how to allocate those funds.
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 – 8:30 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.
Parish Council will have an annual meeting where Parishoners can
attend.
Agenda will be circulated to members one week before the next
meeting.
Agenda will include:
Call to order
Prayer and Reflection
Approval of Minutes
Ministry and Staff Reports ( written highlights submitted one
week prior to meeting)
Old Business
New Business
Closing Prayer
4. Team Norms
and Ground
Rules:
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
commence their terms on Pentecost Sunday.(IS THIS VALID ?)

4. How will you
communicate and
share feedback,
deal with
commitment and
involvement of
members, set tone
and celebrate
successes.
so they remain up to speed.
Minutes will be published on the St. Monica web site with
confidential information excluded.
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
Vice Chair: TBD( person to chair next term)b
Scribe: Margaret Dalesandro
Timekeeper: Sandy Concannon
Members and Year appointed:
Tobias Hoppe – 2013
Sandy Concannon – 2013
Margaret Dalesandro – 2014
Palmer Dalesandro – 2014
Martha McGurk –2014
Tony Roeder –2014
Levi Keen – 2015
Brendan Powell – 2015
Maureen Friedrich– 2015
Frank Orman – Ex Officio
Mary Pizzano – Ex Officio
Jason Carter – Ex Officio
Rev. Charles Zlock - Pastor
6. Charter
Endorsement: Pastor’s Signature: __________________________________________________
Team Members Signatures: