Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council is a representative body of the whole parish, priests, religious and laity, working together to form a Christian community, which seeks out and responds to the spiritual and material needs of all God’s people. A parish council, therefore, should be truly “pastoral”, and reflect a sharing of responsibility for the Church’s mission, so that the Church in this particular place may reflect more fully the presence of Christ.
The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body. As such it has the right and duty to provide wise advice and constructive assessments to the parish priest. It is to be involved in prudent policy making, goal planning and setting of objectives for the furtherance of Christian ministry within the parish.
Canon law requires the setting up of a separate Parish Finance Committee/Council. The Parish Pastoral Council will be required to dialogue and collaborate with that Committee where necessary in fulfilling the mission of the parish.
Council Membership
1. The council shall consist of:
- The Parish Priest and his Assistant Clergy;
- A representative of other pastoral workers specifically serving the parish
- Elected parishioners of sufficient numbers from St Francis Xavier Cathedral, St Lawrence’s Church Bluff Point, and St John’s Church Rangeway to adequately represent the parish;
- Such parishioners as may be co-opted by the Parish Priest and Council provided that the number co-opted shall not exceed the number of elected members.
2. People who are active members of the Church community and have reached the age of 18 years are eligible for election.
3. Membership of the council shall be for a period of two years. Any retiring member may be re-elected provided he/she has not served for more than six consecutive years. On completion of six years of service, a retiring member may again be eligible after a lapse of one year. Should the position of an elected member become vacant, the council shall have the power to appoint a replacement until the next election.
4. Any member of the council may resign by giving a written notice of intention to the secretary and the resignation shall operate from its acceptance by the council.
5. Any member of the council who, without giving adequate reason is absent from three successive meetings, is automatically excluded from the council.
Current Members of the Parish Pastoral Council
Chair : Ms Rosemary Taylor
Vice Chair: Mr Mario Scarpuzza
Secretary : Mr Simon Place
Alison Dawson
Murray Gardiner
Sr Flora Ricupero PBVM
Anna Holly
Fr Gerard Totanes VG, Adminstrator
Fr Savio Nguyen, Assistant Priest
Fr Joel Nayongesa, Assistant Priest
Sisi Soosanayakam
Wendy Wright
Mary Sterry
Ron Pace
Annual General Meeting
An Annual General Meeting of parishioners should be held on a date fixed by the council. The Agenda should include the Chairperson’s report, the Parish Priests report, a finance report and the election of two new members.
Minutes of the Meetings
Parishioners may obtain the Minutes of the Parish Council Meetings, by contacting the Parish Office on 9964 1608 or
Email: gtonparish@graldtoncatholic.org.au
