Dr Carmel Suart, Research Officer for the Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes committee, at the launch of the revised constitution for Parish Pastoral Councils at St Mary’s Cathedral on 31 July. Photo: Ron Tan.
By Matthew Lau
The objective outlined in the Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes priority area, identified in the Archdiocesan Plan 2016-2021, entails the need “to foster in each parish community a deepening realisation of their vocation to be a credible witness to the presence of Jesus in our lives, in our Church and in our society”.
Dr Carmel Suart, Research Officer for the Parish Renewal Implementation committee, said the key facet to enable parishes to reach these goals falls into the hands of each respective parish leadership group.
“The nature and function of the Parish Pastoral Council are drawn from the nature and mission of the Church,” she said.
“At this midway point [of the Archdiocesan Plan], we have produced a new Constitution with an accompanying e-resource to help Parish Pastoral Councils find the most effective means and methods to serve the people of the parish as they fulfil the mission of the Church in this time and place.”
Primarily, the main objective of the website is for parishes to have an up-to-date resource that is easily accessible.
“The first resource, which has been uploaded onto the website, is the e-handbook which accompanies the Parish Pastoral Council Constitution [2017],” Dr Suart added.
“The purpose of the handbook is to encourage and assist parishes to discern how to better engage its members to work collaboratively within the life of the Archdiocese, as well as within the life of the parish in fulfilling the Church’s mission.”
Bishop Donald Sproxton, Vicar for Adult Faith Formation and Parish Renewal, speaks to a cluster of various parish representatives at a Joint Parish Retreat Day at Mount Lawley Parish on 10 March. Photo: Josh Low.
She said the aim is to invigorate Parish Pastoral Councils in their endeavours to “place at the heart of the parish a consciousness and enthusiasm, promoting the mission of Christ proposed by the Gospels and taught by the Church”.
place at the heart of the parish a consciousness and enthusiasm, promoting the mission of Christ proposed by the Gospels and taught by the Church
“The content of the e-handbook provides a framework of key guiding principles and offers strategies and suggested resources to help build more effective Parish Pastoral Councils.
“A Parish Pastoral Council who understands its role within the mission of the Church has a capacity to strengthen the life of the parish in creating a Christ-centred and mission-orientated Church which is vibrant, revitalised, faithful, welcoming, inclusive and forward-thinking.”
In doing so, Dr Suart added, each parish in their unique way will work towards accomplishing the Archdiocesan vision outlined in the Archdiocese of Perth Pastoral Plan.
With her experience as a consultant for Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA), Dr Suart devoted her time and knowledge into how the e-resources could be used as a major teaching tool for parishes.
“For the resource to become an effective tool for Parish Pastoral Councils, it is highly recommended that all members of the Parish Pastoral Council familiarise themselves with its content as it lays the foundation for the work of the Council,” she explained.
Council leaders and parish priests have been invited to one of eight gatherings to work through and familiarise themselves with the website and the content of the e-handbook.
While the resources will be presented to all parish representatives on the same platform, there is no expectation that all parishes will utilise them in a uniform manner.
“A number of strategies will be provided so that parishes may best select the method that will work best in their community,” she added.
“Apart from the e-handbook, the website also offers resources for faith formation and prayer, video and podcast that will enhance the understanding of the various sections with the e-handbook.”
Dr Suart told The Record that the core intention of the website is to keep parishes abreast of what is happening in the Archdiocese.
“And also become a conduit for supporting a collaborative pastoral model of working with other parishes, diocesan agencies and organisations. This will develop the vital support and expertise needed to build an Archdiocese faithful to the Gospel.”
From pages 24 to 25 of Issue 15: ‘Archdiocesan Plan 2016 – 2021: Halfway mark filled with determination to commit to bring Church in Perth closer to Christ’ of The Record Magazine