PASTORAL COUNCIL
St. Michael the Archangel’s Pastoral Council acts as an advisory and consultative body to the pastor. The Second Vatican Council affirmed the laity’s participation in the mission of Jesus Christ by challenging all of the baptized with a call to holiness, to ministry and to community. The Vatican Council appealed to priests to support laity participation by recognizing their role in the parish community.
“Priests must sincerely acknowledge and promote the dignity of the laity and the role which is proper to them in the mission of the Church ... They should listen to the laity willingly, consider their wishes in a fraternal spirit, and recognize their experience and competence in the different areas of human activity, so that together with them they will be able to read the signs of the times."
Presbyterorum Ordinis, Documents of The Second Vatican Council
Purpose of the Pastoral Council
The purpose of St. Michael’s Pastoral Council, based on the Pastoral Council constitution of the Archdiocese of Denver, is as follows:
To prayerfully reflect on and discuss with the pastor matters which relate to the overall welfare of the parishioners of St. Michael’s.
To collaborate with other parish ministries and services to further the pastoral service of the parish.
To assist the pastor in understanding the pastoral needs and circumstances of the people entrusted to his care, and in enhancing his pastoral ministry to them.
To carry out other functions which the pastor may entrust to them.
Membership and Selection
Three council members are chosen each year. Parishioners volunteer their own names to the pastor once a year or are nominated by other parishioners. All who are nominated meet with the existing pastoral council and present the skills and abilities which they might bring to the council. After a period of prayer, the council, along with all nominees, present three names to the pastor for appointment.
By participating on the Pastoral Council, members share in the priestly, prophetic, and shepherding mission of Jesus Christ. Members serve a minimum 3-year term and meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
"Through their baptism and confirmation, all are commissioned to that apostolate by the Lord Himself. Now, the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can she become the salt of the earth" (Vat II: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 33).
Meet the Parish Council Members