St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Congregation Pastoral Council Discernment Process (Mensaje en español)
The Pastoral Council is an advisory body to the Pastor that represents the needs and interests of the members of the parish and provides a channel of communication between the members and the Pastor.
Monthly meetings are held from September to June (3rd Tuesday of the month) and members deliberates and advises on issues affecting the life and work of the parish and make recommendations to the Pastor. The Council may take the lead on establishing new ministries and undertaking special projects.
The Pastoral Council includes approximately 10-14 members who serve three-year terms. The officers of the Council are the president and the vice president.
We are searching for new Pastoral Council members who:
- Have knowledge of St. John’s history and tradition
- Embrace the congregation’s diversity and St. John’s role in the Interfaith Centers and community
- Have a vision of what St. John’s can become consistent with its mission
- Support the implementation of the Pastoral Plan
- Lead a spiritual life of prayer
- Be willing and excited to serve St. John’s and the extended community
- Be committed to the Roman Catholic Church
Through discernment, interested parishioners and nominees are invited to an Information Night where they will learn about the work of the Pastoral Council and are encouraged to consider and pray over the information they heard and read.
The Discernment of new members involves prayer and the naming of the gifts that an individual brings to the parish community. At the end of the process, each nominee, along with the group that has been gathered, will discern who should come on the Pastoral Council at that time. Discernment is a process of listening with openness for the guidance of the Holy Spirit – to that still, small voice – in our prayer and in our communal considerations for the good of the parish.
This process involves calling upon the Holy Spirit to be present, being open to input from the community, and providing the opportunity for prayer and reflection.
The term for the Pastoral Council starts on July 1st, but this year, new Pastoral Council members will be selected at the October 2024 Pastoral Council meeting. New Pastoral Council members will attend their first Pastoral Council meeting of the year in November.