Mission

The Parish Pastoral Council will work with the Parish Priest and pastoral team, in leading the growth of St Dominic’s Parish as a welcoming community of worship, spiritual richness, and service.

Role

The Council is an advisory body to the Parish Priest.

It will consult with members of the Parish and keep them informed on pastoral strategies and initiatives. This will include regular contact with the various ministry groups operating as part of the parish.

The Council will initiate, encourage and support parish ministries and related events; and will advise and be consulted by the Parish Priest and pastoral team on pastoral strategies and initiatives

Membership

Six members of the Council will be selected from among parishioners.  These will be members of the community of St Dominic’s who are actively committed to the mission of the Parish.

These members will reflect a range of skills and attributes – members will be needed with interest in various areas of areas so that all elements of our welcoming spiritual community can be strengthened.

Five members will be appointed because they occupy particular positions:

• Parish Priest (Fr Paul Rankin OP)
• Pastoral Associate (Jacinta Bibby)
• School Principal (Tony Levett) or, with the approval of the Parish Priest, his representative
• Representative of the Dominican community, as approved by the Parish Priest
• Representative of the Parish Finance Council, as approved by the Parish Priest

Minute Secretary
Parish Secretary (Joan Hennessy)

Proceedings

The Council will select a chairperson and deputy Chairperson from among those members who have been selected from parishioners.

The Chairperson will chair meetings of the Council.  In their absence, the deputy Chairperson will chair meetings.  If both are absent, the meeting will appoint a chair.

The Council will usually meet monthly, and at least six times a year.

Meetings are called by the Chairperson, with the agenda circulated one week prior to a meeting.  Minutes will be kept of proceedings.

The quorum for a meeting of the Council will be three members selected from among parishioners, and three other members. 

The normal mode of operation will be by consensus.  Where necessary, matters will be decided by majority vote.

Where the Council agrees, non-members, including invited guests, can attend meetings of the Council.

The Parish Priest will coordinate a report to each meeting of the Council on recent developments in the Parish.

Selection of members

All members of the Council are appointed by the Parish Priest.

Each year, parishioners will be invited to nominate for membership of the Council.

Nominations will need to be in writing, and to outline the claims of the nominee to a position on the Council.  This will include relevant experience, interests and skills.

The Parish Priest will appoint and lead a small group to consider nominations.  This group will normally involve two incumbent members of the Council.  The group will carefully assess the claims of the nominees, and make recommendations for appointment, taking into account the need for the Council to reflect some of the diversity of the parish itself.

Induction and formation will be provided for members of the Council.

Tenure of Council

Appointments to the Council will normally be for a period of three years, with two members appointed from among parishioners being appointed each year.

To establish this pattern of rolling vacancies, two of the initial appointments will be for one year, two for two years, and two for three years.

The Parish Priest can, with good reason, withdraw the appointment of any member of the Council.

The Parish Priest can, with good reason, disband the Council.

Reporting

A list of members of the Council and a copy of its terms of reference is to be displayed on the notice board of St Dominic’s Church, and on the parish website.

A brief summary of the proceedings of each meeting of the Council will be published in the Dominican.

The Council will report to the Parish twice a year on its activities and on the status of the various parish ministries and organisations.

The Council will organise an annual Parish Assembly, at which the Council will report to the parish; and there will be an opportunity for parishioners to ask questions and to discuss matters related to the Council and the administration of the Parish.


Fr Paul Rankin OP
Parish Priest

16 January 2009