ROLE OF THE PASTOR


“… The pastor is the proper shepherd of the parish entrusted to him, exercising pastoral care in the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share….”

Pastoral councils also need to be aware of the demanding responsibilities of the pastor.  The pastor is charged by the bishop with the responsibilities outlined in canon law, which are:

     Liturgy and worship;
     Word;
     Christian community; and
     Outward mission.

The Pastor’s charge is for the entire territory (parish) under his charge, Catholic and non-catholic alike.  The
pastoral council advises the pastor concerning these pastoral matters just as the finance council advises the
pastor concerning financial matters.  But it is important for the faithful to recognize that it is the pastor’s
responsibility alone to make the final decision.

This may sound strange to democratic Americans who feel that a vote is required for every issue.  It is not strange in either the Scriptures or the Tradition of the Church.  But because it is the pastor’s responsibility to make the final decision, that does not mean the laity have no voice and no role.  These same Traditions and Scriptures hold that import decisions should not be made by one person alone.  When we look in the Acts of the Apostles we can see that the Apostles never made an import decision without going to the community for advice and then praying as a community for guidance.  The Apostles knew that they must also consult with the community of the faithful, since it is in the Church as a whole we best come to an understanding of what the Spirit is trying to do within our lives and our Church.

The Second Vatican Council and Pope Paul VI insisted on the importance of pastoral councils on the local,
regional and diocesan level.  Pope John Paul II repeatedly emphasized the same, expanding their scope and
importance within the Church.  Catholics today live in a time of unprecedented opportunities to be involved in the life of the Church and help guide the Church into this century.  We as Catholics must now take seriously our role to assist the Pastor in his ministry of the entire parish for, as Christians, it is our ministry as well.