Standing Committees     Top

Standing committees are permanent committees of the parish council established in the parish council constitution. Every parish council has four mandated standing committees which correspond to the mission of the Church to pray, teach and serve:

• Prayer and Worship

• Christian Formation

• Human Concerns

• Administration

Other standing committees may be added by the parish council through the amendment process described in the parish council constitution.

Ad hoc Committees     Top

Adding a standing committee is a major decision for the parish council since it affects the entire parish structure. In fact, it's a good practice to allow a potential standing committee to function for a year or more as an ad hoc committee. During that time the committee's functions and responsibilities can be refined and its effectiveness evaluated. Once the committee is operating to the parish council's satisfaction, then the parish council can decide if its scope and purpose are suitable to a permanent position within the committee structure.

Who should serve on a committee?     Top

People who:

• will speak up at meetings

• value the experience of working with others

• are patient with processes

• contribute to the power of the group

• are flexible and adaptable in their thinking

• foster a sense of spiritual growth

• are tolerant and respectful of differences

• develop a sense of community

• have an interest in the committee's work

• are willing to ask others to serve

• have time for committee meetings and tasks

Committees are the working bodies of the parish council. They study, pray and act to make the parish the real center through which the Church carries out its mission. The committees implement the parish council's priorities and goals serving the parish community in many important ways, but especially by broadening the representation and participation of parishioners in parish life.

The parish council, its committees, and the pastoral staff have a responsibility to work cooperatively with each other for the good of the parish.

Prayer and Worship Committee     Top

Description:

The Prayer and Worship Committee nourishes and gives direction to the liturgical aspect of parish life. This mandated standing committee ensures that the parishioners are provided with opportunities to deepen their faith through a variety of prayer experiences and liturgical celebrations.

Responsibilities:

Fosters the on-going spiritual development of parish members.

1. Provides opportunities for parishioners to deepen their faith through prayer experiences and liturgical celebrations.

2. Identifies the spiritual growth needs of parishioners.

3. Plans and promotes parish-wide programs of a spiritual nature: eucharistic weeks, missions, days of reflection, etc.

4. Develops support systems for spiritual formation of parishioners through encouraging small study/prayer/reflection groups within the larger parish (i.e. scripture study groups, prayer groups, charismatic prayer groups, ecumenical prayer groups, etc.).

5. Promotes development of church ministries, both clerical and lay.

6. Provides opportunities for the spiritual growth of leadership groups, especially the parish council and standing committee chairpersons, through retreats, prayer services and days of renewal and reflection.

7. 8. Develops opportunities for ecumenical cooperation, understanding and prayer; and/or invites charismatic and ecumenical prayer groups to use parish facilities and/or hold prayer services in conjunction with those planned by other groups, for greater appreciation and understanding.

8. Assesses the appropriateness and effectiveness of all programs, celebrations and support systems with regard to deepening the parish's spirituality and sense of mission.

9. Determines budget priorities in the areas of the committee's responsibilities and makes recommendations to the parish council through the Administration Committee.

10. Studies the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and collaborates with staff in implementing RCIA in the parish.

11. Implements the recommendations of the archdiocesan Office for Prayer and Worship.

Faith Formation Committee     Top

Description:

The Faith Formation Committee develops within the parish an awareness that the parish community has the responsibility for promoting the educational / formational aspect of the Church's mission. Christian Formation is a lifelong process aimed at personal conversion and growth in faith. This committee gives advice to staff members on the design, implementation and evaluation of the total Christian educational/formational program in the parish, which includes: sacramental preparation, adult and family ministry, youth ministry, school ministry and child ministry.

The committee structure provides for a comprehensive approach to Christian education/formation by acting as the overall coordinating and integrating body regarding all aspects of Christian education/formation in the parish. This committee respects the roles and responsibilities of the parish employees as defined in their job descriptions.

Responsibilities:

1. Assists in the development of the long-range plans for Christian education/ formation of the parish providing for a comprehensive approach for all ages and stages in life.

2. Identifies parish needs regarding Christian education/formation programs.

3. Develops and recommends to the parish council educational/formational policies which are consistent with archdiocesan policies and guidelines.

4. Determines budget priorities in the areas of the committee's responsibilities and makes recommendations to the parish council through the Administrative Committee.

5. Develops sources of revenue for the operations of the educational/formational programs in conformity with parish policies and in collaboration with program administrators.

6. Assists the pastor/administrator in defining the roles, responsibilities and relationships (job descriptions) of the educational administrators and parish council regarding educational/formational programs. Committee members may serve on search, grievance or conciliation committees.

7. Facilitates communication and coordination among all educational/formational programs of the parish by reporting to the parish council, the parish community, the district and archdiocese.

Human Concerns Committee     Top

Description:

The Human Concerns Committee discerns needs of persons in the parish and wider community, especially the poor, and identifies resources to meet those needs enlisting the active cooperation of parish members. This committee fulfills the justice dimensions of scripture and our church tradition acknowledging that every Christian is called to service and to work for justice, including Respect Life efforts. The committee's scope of responsibility is two-fold:

• to meet immediate needs

• to work for changes in the structures of society which are oppressive.

Committee members are not responsible to actually DO all of the committee's work but rather to INVOLVE OTHERS in actively accepting the responsibility of their Baptism. The committee supports those in the parish who are already involved in service, advocacy, justice education, and empowerment of people. This committee works with community groups and other parishes to help solve related problems. They keep parishioners aware of issues relating to justice, peace, hunger and the homeless on local, national and international levels so that appropriate Christian action on such issues can be determined.

Responsibilities:

1. Discerns the social needs of various ages within the parish and the wider community, especially the poor.

2. Develops responses and programs to meet those needs, as well as identifies resources and makes referrals to already existing church agencies and community groups.

3. Involves others in actively accept the responsibility of their Baptism --to help people in need.

4. Supports those in the parish who are already involved in service to the needy, whether church-centered or in some other area.

5. Develops a consciousness within the parish of the major social problems in the community and the world.

6. Works with other parish committees, community groups, and neighboring parishes and/or denominations to help solve social problems.

7. Determines budget priorities in the areas of the committee's responsibilities and makes recommendations to the parish council through the Administration Committee.

8. Seeks to respond to needs through a balance of four approaches:
   

The Administration Committee     Top

In each parish, there is to be a finance committee to help the parish priest in the administration of the goods of the parish. It is ruled by universal law and by the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop, and it is comprised of members of the faithful selected according to these norms.

Revised Code of Canon Law, c.537

Description:

The Administration Committee makes recommendations to the parish council concerning all aspects of parish financial and budget matters; personnel; stewardship of resources; church support and fundraising coordination; and upkeep of the physical facilities and properties of the parish. The activities and recommendations of this committee are firmly rooted in the biblical concept of stewardship. The committee works closely with the parish council and is supportive of all other committees. This committee does not decide priorities for the parish --that is the responsibility of the parish council.

Responsibilities:

1. Aids and advises the pastor concerning the administration of parish goods within the limits of canon law and the directives of the archbishop.

2. Fulfills archdiocesan requirements concerning the financial administration of the parish, sometimes accomplished through a Finance Subcommittee (refer to the Administrative Services Handbook).

3. Coordinates all fundraising in the parish, emphasizing the biblical concept of stewardship of time, talent and treasure.

4. Informs parishioners about parish support through parish communications media and/or a communications committee.

5. Reviews and counsels parish officers on all banking arrangements, capital expenditures and long-term contracts.

6. Approves financial statements for submission to the chancery and archdiocesan Office for Parish Finances.

7. Monitors and makes recommendations to the parish council with respect to the proper upkeep of the physical facilities and properties of the parish, usually accomplished through a Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee.

8. Monitors and makes recommendations to the parish council on issues pertaining to parish personnel, including parish policies, compensation and staffing.

Health Cabinet     Top       

The Health Cabinet works hand in hand with the parish nurses in planning and implementing programs.  The Health Cabinet is made up of members of the congregation with an interest in health issues; medical background is not necessary.  The more varied its members, the more effective the health cabinet will be in meeting the needs of all our parishioners.

Meetings are held periodically to work on brainstorming, planning and implementing programs.  The next meeting date is January 21, 2002.  All are welcome!

LINK TO Minutes from last meeting may be inserted here.

Click here to go to the Parish Nursing page

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