OLA Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)

We, the members of Our Lady of the Angels Chermside Parish, uniting the communities of St Gerard, Chermside West, and St Paschal, Wavell Heights, are welcoming and inclusive through Christ.

As stewards of God’s creation, we promote the Gospel values of Christ's unconditional love and mercy, in our families, our parish, and our world.

Our Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council strive to nurture this vision, through Christ.

The Mission of the Parish Pastoral Council of OLA Parish is to:

• make our parish a spiritual and welcoming community;

• support and help the work of the Parish Priest and parish groups;

• support the Parish Finance Council to drive Planned Giving Campaign effectively;

• support Fundraising Activities for the efficient running of the parish, and Social Events in enhancing and maintaining the community;

• support the existing teams of leadership and initiate new responsibilities as needed;

• support the ongoing faith formation of adults and children;

• support and encourage parishioners to engage and participate in the life of the parish;

• support the parish as good stewards of the property and its maintenance.

The OLA Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is appointed by the Parish Priest to represent both communities of St Gerard's, Chermside West and St Paschal's, Wavell Heights, to support the Priest in his stewardship of our Parish.

Patrick Lencioni says, “Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.”

Therefore, the members share and support the pastoral and administrative responsibilities of the Parish Priest. We work as a team utilising our various skills for the welfare, maintenance, and development of the community.

The PPC is a consultative as well as an operational body on behalf of the Priest. As such it has the right to provide wise, impartial and constructive advice to the Parish Priest, and the duty to implement the advice and decisions of the Priest in the service of the Body of Christ

Canon law requires the setting up of a separate Parish Finance Council.

Certain parishes, like ours, also have a Parish Pastoral Council to support the Priest in his pastoral responsibilities.

The Parish Pastoral Council, similar to the Parish Finance Council, supports the Priest in executing his decisions and directives in fulfilling the mission of the parish.

The mission of the Parish Pastoral Council, in cooperation with the Priest, is to see that every avenue is opened for all members of the parish to:

• Discover their call as disciples of Christ;

• Develop the confidence and skills they need to carry out their mission;

• Find in the parish the structures and ministries they will need for their ongoing support and growth;

  and

• Review regularly individual and parish goals and strategies so that everyone will have a sense of proceeding purposefully and effectively towards the bringing about of God's reign.

In carrying out this role the Parish Pastoral Council will:

1. Provide for education and formation of PPC members and the parish in understanding the role of the team within the mission of the Church.

2. Initiate processes of participative pastoral planning in order to:

   Support the Parish Priest to plan appropriate goals and specific objectives for the spiritual, liturgical and apostolic life of the parish; and

   Ensure regular evaluation of the attempts to achieve them.

3. Overview the workings of parish groups, ministries and services and cooperation between them to ensure effective organisation. Initiation of new services and ministries where needed.

4. Initiate responsibilities as needed, for the parish community, until a team of volunteers are formed to take over coordination of the ministry. Be involved in the formation and training of new volunteers to equip them with sound understanding of their mission and skills for an effective and efficient response.

5. Ensure open and efficient lines of communication between parish administration, parish groups and individual members of the parish.

6. Prepare the parish for the future, particularly through providing opportunities for future leaders of the parish to emerge and be trained.

7. Support the priest and other existing groups and ministries, to make the parish community an attractive and cordial space, welcoming everyone without any boundaries of discrimination and division.

Therefore, the role of the Parish Pastoral Council is to support and co-ordinate people and activities in their particular areas of parish life according to the need and the priorities of the parish.

Decisions on all matters of importance have to be taken on consensus rather than voting, unless necessary. On all activities and priorities of this team, the Parish Priest will be the final authority.

We thank you for your support.

St Francis of Assisi says, “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Listed below are a few ministries of Parish life through which the Parish Pastoral Council and friends can serve.

Liturgy: Support the Liturgy Group, Sacristan, Mass Coordinators etc.

Formation: Support teams for Sacramental preparation of children, RCIA and Baptism preparation, as necessary, as part of the ongoing faith formation of children and adults.

Music: Support and encourage skilled musicians to engage in the Music ministry.

Social: Support existing teams or coordinate the formation of new teams to organise social events such as annual Melbourne Cup Luncheon, Brisbane City Pop’s Orchestra Concert, Parish Social dinners, Refreshments and Youth Fundraising events after Mass, etc.

Children: Support for Children’s Liturgy, Christmas Pageant, Stations of the Cross Pageant, Activities connected with OLA Primary School Wavell Heights or the Parish community etc.

Youth: Support for Youth (School age 12yrs-17yrs) to share fun, faith and friendship. Host OLA Youth Group fortnightly during school terms at St Gerard's Church. Host Youth Mass monthly 9:30am First Sundays (except January) at St Paschal's Church. Attend Archdiocesan Youth events including the Ignite Conference.

Young Adults: Support Young Adults 18yrs-35yrs to share faith, formation and friendship. Host regular Young Adult gatherings. Host Youth Mass monthly 5:30pm second Sundays (except January) at St Gerard's Church. Attend special Archdiocesan Young Adult events.

Building: Support the maintenance of the existing buildings and provide assistance to the priest, if necessary, in organising any new developmental projects.

Finance: Support the Parish Finance Council by organising Fund raising, Planned Giving, Campaigns, and other creative suggestions to find financial resources.

The ultimate purpose of Parish Leadership Team is to prepare the ground for the people in the parish community to encounter Jesus and live the joy of the Gospel. “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision” says, John C Maxwell.

Therefore, the leadership we provide, our belongingness and commitment, teamwork and enthusiasm are so crucial, in fostering the way the community is engaged in parish life.

The Team shall consist of:

• Parish Priest

• Parish Finance Council Representative

• School Representative (OLA Primary School, Wavell Heights)

• Parish Staff

• 6+ appointed parishioners

Membership of the team shall be for a period of their available service and in consultation with the priest.

Any member of the team may resign by giving written notice of intention to the priest and the resignation shall operate from its acceptance by the team.

Any member of the team who, without giving adequate reason is absent from three successive meetings, is automatically excluded from the council.

Team members shall elect/appoint the chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. They may hold office for 3-5 years.

The council shall normally meet once a month/ or as often as necessary.

Sub-committees may be appointed as required, to which any other people may be co-opted. These groups report to the team.

An Annual General Meeting of parish leadership should be held on a date fixed by the Parish Priest and the team.