A Letter from the Pastoral Council

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Last year, the retirement of Father Seamus, and the introduction of a different model of Pastoral Leadership for Saint Patrick Catholic Church & School, a Lay Pastoral Coordinator and 3 Parish Priests, prompted Kevin Lovejoy to ask members of the Pastoral Council to stay on the Council for an additional year to help us through this period of change and transition. We were happy to step up to serve our community for an additional year. We believe our advice, counsel and leadership was of tremendous benefit to Kevin and our parish. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our church during this challenging and rewarding time.

Stewardship of Talent

As we continue to discover and discern what Father Jerry describes as “the mission that has us,” Saint Patrick Parish will continue to rely on the collective wisdom and talents of our parishioners, and the active leadership of a representative Pastoral Council. Fortunately, we are incredibly blessed at Saint Patrick, with many talented and committed parishioners. You are one of these talented parishioners, and that is why you are reading this. Now more than ever, Saint Patrick Parish needs a robust, and spirit-filled Pastoral Council that values our history as a parish and is passionate about our future. Our universal church, and Saint Patrick in particular, face unique challenges in the coming years as the reforms and visions of Pope Francis emerge, and as we consider various forms of parish organization and leadership related to the shortage of priests and religious in our diocese.

Discern the Call to Serve

The overall responsibility for our parish lies with all of us, not just the Pastoral leader, be that a Priest/Pastor or lay Pastoral Coordinator. We, the collective community of Saint Patrick, must think, plan, and ultimately act together if we are to fulfill our mission as Church in the modern world. We are asking you to join us in this journey by discerning whether you may be called to service on our Pastoral Council. We have five council positions to fill. Of course no one can guarantee that you will be elected to the council, but we do know that you have the spiritual and temporal skills needed to serve our parish community. Saint Patrick Parish needs people like you to step up at this time. You have strengths and talents that we firmly believe would serve the needs of our community.

Elections

Pastoral Council Elections will be held during all Masses the weekend of May 21 – 22, 2016 to fill the postions left open by the five of the nine Pastoral Council members who are rotating off.

The deadline for submitting your name as a candidate is Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Please e-mail a photograph and a one paragraph biography/statement of interest to Pastoral Council.

Thank you for listening to the call to serve our parish community and for taking the time to discern whether to share your talents and gifts at this time. Members of the Council would be more than happy to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Pastoral Council with you face to face. Please call the parish office at 253-383-2783 or email the Pastoral Council.

Saint Patrick— Pray For Us!