In general, the pastoral council is a community of disciples called together, to work in close collaboration with the pastor/administrator/pastoral leader and staff, to prayerfully discern and carry out the will of God for this parish now and into the future. Its more specific roles and responsibilities include:

Listen and Respond to the Holy Spirit. The pastoral council, with the pastor/administrator/pastoral leader and input from staff members, will prayerfully consider what the Holy Spirit is calling the parish to be and become. 2

Organize Lay Participation and Cooperation. The council provides the means whereby lay members of the parish respond to their baptismal commitment and work closely with the pastor/administrator/pastoral leader, staff, committees and parish organizations for the common good and mission of the parish.

Facilitate Shared Practical Wisdom. In dialogue, members of the council and the pastor/administrator/pastoral leader come to an understanding of the spiritual as well as physical concerns and needs of the people of the parish and broader community. The council assists the pastor/administrator/pastoral leader in the development of parish policies and strategies to address those concerns and needs.

Facilitate Parish Planning. At least annually, the council, along with the staff and involvement of all members of the parish community, works with the pastor/administrator/pastoral leader to do parish planning. This includes the formulation of a parish mission statement, the assessment of needs, the establishment of parish goals and priorities and an annual review of the overall operation of the parish for the previous year.

Listen to Needs. At least annually the council shall provide a means whereby parishioners are provided an opportunity to voice any needs or concerns they may have relative to the overall operation of the parish.

Source:
Parish Pastoral Council Policies