Parish Pastoral Council Norms

Diocese of Rockford

Catholic Church. It marks a major step in the continued implementation of the Second Vatican Council. The 1983 Code, again reflecting the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, describes a parish as a definite community of the Christian Faithful established on a stable basis within a particular
(Diocese) Church (Canon 515). After the family, the parish is the most important form of community within the diocese. In the parish, Christ’s faithful are gathered together into one under the leadership of the pastor, who represents the Bishop among them, to fulfill their Christian mission. Each parish, then, truly represents the diocese and therefore, the Catholic Church throughout the world. The pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor, under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop (Canon 515). This pastoral care includes the responsibility to preach the Gospel and nourish the
Christian Faithful with the message of salvation, to celebrate the sacraments and to lead the parish community in prayer. In order to foster the unity of pastor and Christ’s faithful of the parish in carrying out Christ’s mission, the 1983 Code of Canon Law legislates that, after consultation with the Presbyteral Council and in accord with his pastoral judgement, the Diocesan Bishop may direct the establishment of a pastoral council in each parish of the diocese (Canon 536, n.2). The Parish Pastoral Council is to take its direction from, and be governed by, norms given by the
Diocesan Bishop (Canon 536, n.2). The diocesan norms then are to be adapted to the particular circumstances of each parish according to the parish’s size and needs.