Parish Pastoral Council
Purpose:  The Holy Family Parish Pastoral Council is an elective body that has a consultative vote only and is governed by norms determined by the Archdiocesan bishop. The council relates to the pastoral life and growth issues of the parish community. The membership of the Parish Pastoral Council should be representative of the whole parish. The pastor presides at the council meetings. He seeks counsel on matters affecting the life of the parish. When there is a change in the pastor of the parish, all formal activity of the council ceases until the new pastor or administrator reconvenes the council. The council is to be a representative body of the faithful whose focus is on the whole community, uniting the whole community and pursuing the mission of the Church. The council is convoked by the pastor, must respond to his call and questions, offer the best consultation possible, and seek consensus in its conclusions.
Requirements: Council members must be registered in the parish, be 18 years of age or older, have demonstrated a commitment to the parish community, be in full Communion with the Catholic Church, pledge themselves to spiritual growth, commit themselves to skills development as part of the Christian leadership process, and be willing to devote the necessary time and energy to offer effective consultation. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month. The Parish Pastoral Council currently consists of the priests and deacons of the parish and twelve lay members. Because Holy Family is a new parish established from the consolidation of seven parishes and two mission churches, the present council was created with at least two representatives from each former entity. In its two years of activity, the present Parish Pastoral Council has worked very well together to bring all of the former worshiping communities into one new community. New parish schedules, organizations, activities and similar things have been successfully defined and established. In the near future, new members will need to be elected and some of the original members will need to step off the council.
Meetings: Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month.
Accomplishments:  Meeting outcomes are published in the parish bulletin.
Members: Jeff Antonelli (President), Maria Luisa Mercado (Vice President), Janie Ayala (Secretary), Roy Altamirano, Michael Doherty, Bob Fullen, Lois Howard, Steven Marsh, Alan Rochford, Maryanne Rogers, Barbara Ryder, Roberta “Cookie” Taylor, and Erik van Kuijk. The priests and permanent deacons assigned to Holy Family Parish are voting ex-officio members of the Parish Pastoral Council.
Contact: Fr. E.J. Stein O.F.M., Pastor (409)762-9646