Meetings are normally on the 2nd Monday of each month.
Three Year term

Read Parish Pastoral Plan

Read the Vision Statement

The Parish Pastoral Council, as a consultative body to the Pastor, is the coordinating and unifying structure that meets to deliberate and decide, in common agreement, those matters for which they are responsible, for the good of the Cathedral Parish.


ARTICLE I.  NAME

The name of this body shall be the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Parish Pastoral Council, herein after referred to as "PPC."


ARTICLE II.  THE PURPOSE AND Objectives

Section 1.       To assist the Pastor in facilitating the spiritual health, operation and growth of the Parish by providing leadership, direction, education, resources, and encouragement in accordance with the mission and goals of the parish, the diocese and the universal Church.

Section 2.       To pray and study together to develop communal discernment.

Section 3.       To discern the on-going needs, temporal and spiritual, of the parish, its people, the diocese and the wider community of which the parish is a part, and to find resources to meet those needs.

Section 4.       To formulate and maintain the annual written Parish Pastoral Plan, which includes a mission statement and which prioritized goals and objectives.

Section 5.       To support and to act as a line of communication to and from the people and existing parish organizations in order to bring about the coordination of their activities.

Section 6.       To cooperate with the Pastor and administrative staff in overall efforts to fulfill parish needs.

Section 7.       To utilize diocesan norms and guidelines in establishing goals and directions for the parish. 

Section 8.       To determine and attempt to utilize and enhance the gifts and talents of all members of the parish.

Section 9.       To communicate with Parish Finance Council and make recommendations concerning the parish budget.



ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

Section l.        The PPC consists of:
twelve elected members,
appointed members, and
ex officio members.

Section 2.       To be a member of the PPC, one must:
a.         be an active Catholic, in good standing in the Church,
b.         be registered in the parish a minimum of three years,
c.         be 16 years of age or older,
d.         be interested in the development and spiritual growth of the entire parish,
e.         not be a member of the Parish Finance Council.

Section 3.       All members are voting members, with the exception of ex officio members, who have an active voice but no vote. 

Section 4.       Attendance of PPC meetings is expected.  Should any member of the PPC fail to attend any two (2) consecutive meetings (without proper explanation) OR exhibit a lack of interest in PPC business, the Executive Committee is to meet with that member to determine his or her desire to remain a member of the PPC.  The Executive Committee can declare the member's seat vacant and replace that person with a substitute who serves the remainder of that person’s term.

Section 5.       Should any member of the PPC act contrary to Church teachings on faith and morals, diocesan policy, church or civil law, after having heard the member, the Pastor, may declare such a person's seat vacant and may replace that person with a substitute for the remainder of that person's term.


ARTICLE IV.  NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.       General elections normally occur in the second half of April. 

Section 2.       The PPC Nominations Committee receives the names of nominees and determines the list of candidates for the ballot.

Section 3.       The number of candidates will ideally be at least twice the number of vacant, elected seats.

Section 4.       Nominations must be received by the first of April.

Section 5.       The names and brief biographical descriptions of each candidate will be made available by the candidate to the members of the PPC at least three (3) weeks before the scheduled election. 

Section 6.       All registered Parishioners (16 years of age or older) will be eligible to vote in the general elections.

Section 7.       Election will be by secret ballot, tabulated by Chair and Secretary of PPC, and a designee(s) of Pastor.  The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.  The Executive Committee breaks all ties.

Section 8.       Appointed members who shall represent a cross-section of the Parish shall be selected by the Pastor.


ARTICLE V.   TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1.       The term of office of all elected and appointed members of PPC shall be three years, beginning with the May meeting.

Section 2.       A member may serve no more than two consecutive terms.


ARTICLE VI.  OFFICERS

Section 1.       Officers of the PPC, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary, form the Executive Committee.

Section 2.       At the May meeting, the members of the PPC shall first elect a Chairman from their own membership, elected or appointed.  The current Chairman makes known those eligible for office and asks each of his/her willingness to be a candidate for this office.  Election is decided by a simple majority of the members present (50% + 1) by secret ballot.

Section 3.       The members of the PPC then elect a Vice-Chairman from their own membership.  The current Chairman makes known those eligible for office and asks each of his/her willingness to be a candidate for this office.  Election is decided by a simple majority of the members present by secret ballot.

Section 4.       The members of the PPC then elect a Secretary from its membership for a term of one year (election is decided by simple majority, by secret ballot).  The PPC may choose to have a non-member serve as recording secretary.

Section 5.       Vacancies in PPC offices will be filled at the first scheduled meeting after the vacancy occurs, following procedures outlined above.

Section 6.       The Chairman shall preside at all council meetings.  At the start of each council year, the Chairman shall distribute the "Guidelines for the Parish Pastoral Council" to all new members.  The Chairman will be an ex officio member of each commission and ad hoc committee.

At the start of the year, the Chairman of the PPC, having heard the Pastor, shall appoint committee heads for the regular standing committees, from available volunteers, for a term of one year.

Section 7.       The Vice-Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman and be responsible for continuing education of the members of the PPC and for all publicity and public relations.

Section 8.       The secretary shall record and report the minutes of each meeting and make them available to the membership.



ARTICLE VII.   COMMITTEES

Section l.        The PPC can form committees, established by majority vote, to advise it and to carry out specific duties, for example, the Nominations Committee.  Members of these committees need not be from the PPC.  Participation from throughout the entire parish is encouraged for accomplishing the work of each committee.

Section 2.       Each committee may establish subcommittees to assist in accomplishing its stated objectives. 

Section 3.       Each committee head will submit a written report to the Executive Committee, two weeks prior to the regular PPC meeting, on the activities and proposals of that committee.


ARTICLE VIII.  MEETINGS

Section 1.       The PPC shall meet on the second Monday of each month, when needed, or at another time designated by the Pastor. 

Section 2.       PPC meetings are open to all parishioners and invited guests. 

Section 3.       The secretary shall forward to each member a copy of the Agenda and the minutes of the previous meeting at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Section 4.       Any member of the PPC may submit to the executive Committee an item to be included on the Agenda. Parishioners are encouraged to submit matters for the Agenda to any PPC member.  The Executive Committee formulates the agenda.

Section 5.       A special meeting of the PPC may be called with forty-eight (48) hours' notice to each member by the Pastor or by the Chairman with the consent of the Pastor.

Section 6.       A majority of the PPC members (elected, appointed and ex officio) constitutes a quorum and shall be sufficient to transact business at any meeting, regular or special.

Section 7.       Unless otherwise herein set forth, the decision-making process of the PPC will be by consensus.  [See Attachment A]

Section 8.       If consensus cannot be reached, the Pastor (or Chairman in the absence of the Pastor) may call for a majority vote of members present.

Section 9.       Since it is a consultative body, the Pastor has the authority to suspend or terminate any discussion of any topic before the PPC and reject any action taken or any recommendation made by the PPC.


Section 10.    The order of business for regular meetings shall include, but not be limited to the following: 

1.  Opening Prayer
2.  Continuing Education
3.  Attendance   (Noted by secretary)
4.  Approval of Minutes
5.  Amendment of Agenda
6.  Unfinished Business
7.  New Business
8.  Committee Reports 
9.  Announcements
10.  Pastor's Comments
11.  Closing Prayer


ARTICLE IX.  REVISIONS of Guidelines

Revisions, additions or deletions to these guidelines may be adopted at the meeting following their initial presentation in writing to the PPC membership.  Consensus must be achieved; otherwise a vote may be called by the Chairman.  Two/thirds majority must be reached for the motion to be passed.





These Guidelines for the Parish Pastoral Council
were approved on June 18, 2008. 

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