PARISH COMMISSIONS


While the parish council is the thinking, planning, reflection group for the parish, the commissions are made up of the people that actually help to make the plan a reality.

The commissions are made up of individuals of the parishes commissioned by the pastor to carry out a
particular ministry in the parish.  They are spiritually called to this ministry.  It falls to the pastor, pastoral council, and the commissions to imitate the Apostles, prayerfully discerning those persons in the faith community that may have a calling to a particular ministry.  This same discernment should occur every time there is a need to fill positions in the faith community, including the pastoral council.

Existing organizations or committees relate to the pastoral council through the appropriate commission. It is common in parishes across the diocese to delegate commissions to the level of another committee.  This is contrary to the intent of the Synod.  Commission members are called and are the principal body responsible for overseeing the proper carrying out of the ministry in accord with the pastoral plan.  This calling should be recognized by the pastor, pastoral council and the faith community itself.  Commission members should be installed in their ministry during Sunday mass.

The Synod recommended the development of commissions to carry out the various ministries of the parish.  Commissions are established within every parish with size and membership dependent upon the size of the parish.  Each commission is responsible for establishing a working plan including mission statement, goals and objectives, the recommendation to the pastor of policies concerning matters pertaining to the commission, evaluating programs and policies, and approval of their budget.

The commissions should endeavor to become experts in the parish concerning the ministry that they carry out. For example, the Community Life Commission should be trained in all pertinent aspects of Social Justice and commission members should take their obligation to be educated in the subject seriously.  Canon Law specifically requires that individuals in a particular ministry be trained in that ministry.   The pastor and pastoral council must also take seriously this obligation that all engaged in ministry must be trained and insure that opportunities are provided for proper formation.  Money must be budgeted annually to insure that the laity is properly trained.  The commission structure is:

       Synod                                                 Today
       Liturgy                                           Liturgy and Worship
       Community Life                             Community Outreach
       Family Life                                    Parish Life
       Ecumenism/Evangelization           Ecumenism
                                                            Evangelization/Communication
       Education                                     Formation
       Administration/Communication      Administration

With the completion of the strategic plan of the Diocese, Crossing the Threshold with Christ, it was
recommended Ecumenism is to be a separate commission with Communication being added to Evangelization.  In this way the commissions better reflect the nature of Evangelization and Ecumenism as understood by the Church today.

The parish pastoral council is the thinking, planning, reflection group for the parish; the commissions are the doers—the ones who actually make the plans happen.

Each commission has its own particular purpose and area of responsibility in the over-all parish set-up.  There are times when two or more commissions will need to work cooperatively in some program or activity and it is the responsibility of the pastoral council to see that such coordination happens.

Existing organization relate to the pastoral council through the appropriate commission.  Any member of special organizations or committees may exist under the commissions. Smaller parishes may combine functions. Commissions may appoint non-council members to committees in their responsibility areas.

The commissions must be involved with the pastoral council in planning for the parish, since it is the
responsibility of the commissions to carry out the plans.

In addition to carrying out the plans of the parish, each commission has its own particular duties to carry out which are ongoing and more or less regular.  For example, the Liturgy Commission is responsible for ongoing planning of the weekly and seasonal Liturgies and the Community Outreach Commission has ongoing concerns about the poor and the homeless.

Each commission shall have:

Its own mission statement that flows from the parish mission statement and is centered on that commission’s area of concerns;

A “job description” approved by the pastoral council;

List of qualifications for membership;

Time commitment asked for members;

A set time limit for membership on the commission;

Orientation for new members;

A chairperson with initiative and enthusiasm who works well with others and can facilitate a meeting