Pastoral Council - Members

Ailish Carey (chairperson), Finola Walsh (secretary), Patrick Bacon, Catherine Carroll, Sister Annunciata Flanagan, Ellen Croke, Rev Willie Dalton, P.P., Gretta Griffin, Patrick Holohan, Seamus Horgan, Barbara Kelly, Elizabeth Kennedy, Carmel Maher, Brother Maurice Moriarty, Margaret Murphy, Bridget O’Brien, Joan O’Keeffe, Mary Power, Rev Willie Purcell, Assistant., Thomas Walsh.

Pastoral Council - Preamble

The Callan Parish Pastoral Council is elected at a Parish Assembly every three years. The present members were elected in October, 1998. In its constitution it declares:

We, the People of God in the parish of Callan, in union with each other, with our priests, with the bishop of the diocese, with all the members everywhere of the Church founded by Jesus Christ and governed by His vicar, the bishop of Rome, do hereby unite to form a Pastoral Council for this parish as recommended by canon 536 of the Code of Canon Law.

Aware that Christ has told us that without Him we can do nothing, we ask for the guidance of His Holy Spirit so that all our words may be spoken and all our works done in His charity and that they may contribute to the establishment of His reign.

Pastoral Council - Objectives

The Council accepts responsibility for the life and mission of the Church in the parish while acknowledging that the primary responsibility for the pastoral care of the community entrusted to him lies with the parish priest under the authority of the diocesan bishop. (Cf. Can. 519).

The Council shall promote the mission of the Church in its entirety as well as its mission in this particular parish, remembering that this mission includes both the pastoral care of present members and the proclamation of the gospel to all people.

The Council shall concern itself particularly with any Mission Statement which the Council may prepare, and shall revise such a Mission Statement from time to time.

The Council shall identify, implement and evaluate those pastoral initiatives and policies best suited to the fulfilment of the Church’s mission in this parish.

The Council shall work in close collaboration with the priests, in accordance with Church law, faith and morals, diocesan policy and civil law.

The Council shall also collaborate with other religious bodies and with civic, business and professional organisations in working for the common good of the community.

The Council shall co-ordinate and encourage any liturgical or pastoral activities undertaken by those committees which are associated with the various churches in the parish.

The Council may set up subcommittees to achieve particular purposes, may co-opt suitably qualified persons as members of such subcommittees and may receive reports from them from time to time.

Prayer, reflection and inservice education on the nature and mission of the Church is of paramount importance for every member of the Council.