Every Parish in the Diocese of Rochester has a "pastoral council" of parishioners which serves as a consultative body, assisting the Pastor in carrying out the mission of the parish. Members are selected every spring and serve a three-year term (renewable once).
The specific purposes of the Pastoral Council are:
• to develop a common vision and purpose, actively advocate for the poor and the
powerless, and to extend Christian commitment to the surrounding neighborhoods and
communities;
• to orchestrate a statement of mission for the parish community and become the
reference point for activity in the parish;
• to provide recommendations for parish priorities, directions and policies through pastoral
planning for worship, evangelization, outreach, stewardship, etc.;
• to promote communication, understanding, and collaboration among parish
organizations and between the parish, the bishop, the diocese and the universal Church.