Seeing the Forest
For the Trees
The Parish Pastoral Council
as a Visioning and Planning
Leadership Body
Mary Ann Gubish, D.Min. Presenter
Novus Habitus Mentis
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From reacting to the present to creating the
future.
From focusing on things, programs,
committees to seeing the inter-relationships.
From viewing a static snapshot to reflecting
on patterns of change and what they mean.
From seeing people as hapless reactors to
seeing them as active participants in
shaping their reality.
Everything Interrelates
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Reality is made up
of circles of
influence, we too
often see straight
lines.
We need to use
language of
interrelationship,
otherwise we speak
fragmented views.
LUMEN GENTIUM 8
The one mediator Christ, established and
ever sustains here on earth his holy Church,
the communion of faith, hope and charity as
a visible organization.
The 1985 Synod of Bishops proclaimed the
ECCLESIOLOGY OF COMMUNION as the
central and fundamental idea of the Vatican
II documents.
Pope Benedict XVI
“It is in the concept of communion that
theology in our own day has found the
key for approaching the mystery of the
Church…a Sacrament of intimate
union with God and of the unity of the
whole human race.”
Dec. 12, 2007
General Audience
A WAY OF BEING
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The Church as communio is a way of existence,
a way of being.
As a baptized member we take on God’s way of
being which is a way of relationship with the
world, with other people, with God.
John D. Zizioulas
Being as Communion
A COMMUNION OF
COMMUNIONS
Communio is a reciprocal religious relationship to be
safeguarded at all costs!
We Are All In This
Together
The Church is an event of
communion, and that is why it
cannot be realized as the
achievement of an individual.
SUNDAY EUCHARIST
Communio is made most visible at
Eucharist, the most intensive event
for the Church.
 Eucharist celebrates who we are:
the Body of Christ…a Holy
Communion.
 Eucharist gives us a taste of eternal
life as love and communion.
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Whoever enters into
communion with the
Lord…
is expected to bear fruit!
The Amen of the liturgy makes
demands beyond the Kiss of
Peace!
COMMUNION GIVES
RISE TO MISSION
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The Church is
missionary by her
very nature. It is
not that the
Church has a
Mission but the
Mission has a
Church!
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Communion and
mission are
inseparably
connected.
Where
communion is
weakened,
mission suffers.
John Paul II
5 CORE CONCEPTS
 MISSION
 CONSENSUS
 PLAN
 OVERSIGHT
 SPIRITUAL FORMATION
MISSION= Why We
Exist
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unchanging glue that holds us together
leaders die, programs become obsolete
we grow, decentralize, expand, merge, collaborate
MISSION endures
Getting through Change =
Knowing Our Mission
Only
organizations
with a clear
focus will make
it through a
period of
change!
JESUS’ MISSION
STATEMENT
The spirit of the Lord is
upon me…
To bring glad tidings to
the poor
To proclaim liberty to
captives
Recovery of sight to the
blind
To let the oppressed go
free…
Lk.4:16-21
MISSION
QUESTIONS
Why are we here?
 Why is it important that we
continue to exist?
 Why would anyone want to
become a part of us?
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WHAT MAKES US
DISTINCTIVE?
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Who are our people?
What do they hunger for?
What are the issues?
What are the “signs of the times?
Ministry of Pastoral
Councils
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have a gut level belief
in the mission
can articulate the
mission
are exemplars of the
mission
inspire others
because of belief in
the mission
BE VIGILANT ABOUT
MISSION
VOTING
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majority
overpowering
minority
forces people to
choose one of two
sides
defend own position
defeat others
“efficient”
CONSENSUS
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body that acts
together or not at all
no decision is made
until everyone is
willing to go along
with it
scrutinize my own
views
listen with care to
others
CONSENSUS
IS...
SEEKING THE UNITY
BENEATH OUR
DIFFERENCES
TRUTH...
IS NOT A MATTER OF NUMBERS.
TWO TRUTHS IN CONFLICT
PRESS TO FIND THE THIRD
TRUTH!
MINISTRY OF
PASTORAL COUNCIL
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primary allegiance is
to the future of the
parish
willingness to work
toward consensus
flexibility and
openness
listen, listen, listen
PLANNING
MEANS...
Making Choices About the Future
 Choosing a Direction
 Getting Results
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PLANNING
BASICS
KNOW THE FACTS
 ASK THE FOLKS
 FOCUS ON THE MISSION
 UNCOVER THE 3-5 YEAR GOALS
 CREATE THE YEARLY
OBJECTIVES
 OVERSIGHT
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Data Gathering Gives
Direction
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Information
obtained through
data gathering
gives substance
and credibility to a
pastoral plan.
Anecdotal or felt
perceptions are not
enough.
Hard Facts…Observable
Trends
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Fiscal reports
Job descriptions
Parish history
Census totals
Sacramental stats
Catechetical and School
stats
October Count
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Parish organizations
Current demographics of
neighborhood/city/boro
Economic/social realities
Public projects (sewage,
highways, bridge
closings)
Plans of nearby parishes
Ecumenical efforts
The Plan is in the
People
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Frequent
canvassing and
specific surveys
Parish assemblies
Mini-assemblies
Clipboards after
Sunday Liturgies
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One on One
Interviews
Focus Groups
Neighborhood
Assemblies
Invite yourself to
the meetings of
parish
organizations
Parish Pastoral Planning Cycle
Focus
Information
Identify
Concerns
and Issues
Engage
Parish
Revise &
Create
Goals
Gather
Information
Create
Objectives
Evaluate
Mission
Implement &
Assess
Engage
Parish
MINISTRY OF
PASTORAL COUNCIL
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commit to planning
remain faithful to
planning cycle
create opportunities for
parishioners to
contribute to and share
ideas for the future
identify pastoral needs
respond to these
needs
NOT BY CHANCE
IF PLANNING PROPOSES A FUTURE BY
DESIGN, NOT BY CHANCE, OVERSIGHT
GUARANTEES THAT THE PLAN IS KEPT ALIVE
BY ON-GOING EVALUATING, AND MAKING
APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS.
OVERSIGHT
MEANS
Promoting ACCOUNTABILITY
 Taking time to EVALUATE
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1. Council performance
2. Implementation groups performance
3. Impact of goals and objectives on the
total parish
SUPPORTING in times of difficulty
 CELEBRATING VICTORIES
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PASTORAL COUNCIL
MINISTRY
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communicate
communicate
communicate
affirm
empower
practice patience
put on love
SPIRITUAL
FORMATION
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Prayer, study, reflection on Scripture and
Church teachings are ways of listening for
God’s direction as we identify and prioritize the
ways in which the parish is being called to live
out its specific mission.
PASTORAL PLANNING
IS LISTENING…
Unless the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain who build it!
Psalm 127
MINISTRY OF
PASTORAL COUNCIL
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Spiritual
Formation Team
Faith Sharing
Discernment
Annual Retreat
Knowledge of the
pastoral elements
of parish life
PARTICIPATION…
IS THE ESSENCE OF
COMMUNION
AND
MISSION!
The Conciliar Church
“Ecclesial communion implies
that each local church should
become a participatory
church…there is a need to
foster participatory structures
as pastoral councils…”
John Paul II
Implications of the
Ecclesiology
for Parish Pastoral Councils
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Faith Sharing
Focus is on parish
relationships in
Christ (avoid the
“activity trap”)
Open, transparent
consultation
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Leadership Body
Representative
Body
Clergy and Laity
in dialogue
Mutuality, respect,
reciprocity
Pastor and Council Behaviors
that Match the Ecclesiology
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Listen, gather,
invite, convene
Learn conflict
management,
consensus building
Develop “People
Skills”
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Welcome and engage
the wider community,
other parishes, other
denominations.
Grow in your
understanding of the
Church as a
Communion and
Mission.
THE PURPOSE:
To Foster Pastoral Activity
In Christus Dominus 27…
a) To study the life and activity of the
parish; that is to research the needs,
the ideas, the hopes of those whom
the council ministers to.
b) To evaluate the pastoral life of the
parish in light of its mission.
c) To recommend pastoral initiatives.
What the Council
IS NOT
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Legislative
Policy-making
Decree-issuing
Finance Driven
Administrative
Coordinating
IS
A mission motivated
leadership body who
with the pastor and in
broad consultation
with the parish
creates long and
short range goals
and objectives by
which the pastoral
work of the church is
to be accomplished.
Truly Pastoral
“It may well be that we will see emerging a
true pastoral council on the parish level,
leaving the development and coordination of
ministerial committees and apostolic lay
organizations to parish staff, thereby
avoiding the growing sense of boredom on
parish supercouncils where the only action
month after month is hearing reports from
committees, commissions and organizations
each having a reserved seat on the board.”
Canonist Bertram Griffin
Code, Community, Ministry
And the Lord Said…
Write the vision down.
Make it plain upon tablets,
So they may run who read
it!
Habakkuk 2:2
Where do we go from
here…
With
our council?
With the parishioners?
What are the questions
we have?
THANK YOU
It has been a privilege to share the good
news of what leadership can attain in
our Catholic Church!
Please contact me for information or
inspiration at
mgubish@diopitt.org