PURPOSE

1.1 The Council shall be a vehicle for the parish to fulfill the pastoral mission of Jesus and the Church in a specific part of the Archdiocese. It does this by developing Catholic identity, promoting evangelization, and fostering stewardship.

1.2 The Council shall strive to build a community of disciples who recognize their baptismal calls to lives of holiness, witness and service.

1.3 The Council shall engage in a continuous process of pastoral planning, which takes into account the needs and priorities of its parishioners, the Archdiocese, the broader community, and the world.

RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY

2.1 The Council shall be the consultative and planning body in regards to pastoral activity except to the extent limited by faith and morals, church or civil law or archdiocesan policy. The Council possesses a consultative vote only.

2.2 In any case where the pastor judges an action of the Council to be outside the limits set forth in #2.1, the pastor may withhold implementation, providing the Council with a rationale. The Council may appeal to the Office of the Archbishop or one appointed by him for clarification or arbitration. Any decision regarding the appeal will be final.

2.3 In any case where any member of the Council interprets an action of the Council to be outside the limits set forth in #2.1, the member shall present the interpretation no later than the next meeting of the Council and ask for reconsideration. If reconsideration fails to resolve the matter, any Council member may then take the matter to the Office of the Archbishop or one appointed by him, for clarification or arbitration. Any decision resulting from such an appeal shall be final. 

**Excerpt from document published by Archdiocese Office for Planning and Councils.
*The entirety of this document can be found by clicking the link below.