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Parish Resourcing Pastoral Renewal A Handbook for Parish Pastoral Councils
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| A Handbook for Parish Pastoral Councils |
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 Jane Ferguson has worked in pastoral development in Ireland, England and beyond over many years and shares her extensive experience in this handbook. It is a wonderful resource for parishes that are beginning on the process of setting up Parish Pastoral Council for the first time and for Pastoral Councils that want to reflect on how they are doing and want to refresh themselves.This is a handbook. Thus it is very practical and deals with how to do things. It begins with what a diocese has to do to foster the setting up of Parish Pastoral Councils before considering how to set one up in the parish. Here the author describes the whole setting up process from forming a working group right through to the blessing service. We found the section on the selection process very helpful recently when we were discerning with one parish group how they would decide on the membership of their new council. Section three gives a detailed outline of a formation course for Parish Pastoral Councillors. Again we found this section helpful in our own work in parishes. Ferguson's definition of Parish Pastoral Council is worth considering: The Parish Pastoral Council is a recommended structure within the parish, concerned with the pastoral activities of parish life. It is made up of a representative body of the faithful and must include the parish priest or his delegate. The Parish Pastoral Council shares the responsibility for building the parish into a vibrant Christian community that promotes gospel values of love, justice and peace. It is a consultative body of leaders who actively seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and are guided by the teachings, laws and recommendations of the universal church and the local diocesan church. The final section explores the important work of planning and the steps involved in planning. Significantly Ferguson includes the stage of action planning – answering the questions of who is going to do what, when, where and how? Many good plans flounder because this stage of the planning is ignored. Ferguson bases the work of the Parish Pastoral council on what we call the pillars of pastoral renewal. She emphasises worship, formation, evangelisation and service. I would be keen to add community building to this, as being a witnessing community of faith is the key to building the parish as a vibrant Christian community that promotes gospel values of love, justice and peace. It is great to have another book on Parish Pastoral Councils written form an Irish perspective. It is a very welcome book which every parish could profit from, especially as our diocesan pastoral plan has outlined the importance of setting up Parish Pastoral Councils. Parishes that want support in setting up a Parish Pastoral Council or would like to be facilitated in developing a parish pastoral plan is welcome to contact us. Andrew McNally |
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