One of my favorite ceremonies as a diocesan bishop is the public installation of a pastor in his parish. When I celebrate this ritual in our local churches, many people tell me it is the first time they have ever seen it take place. Part of the liturgy includes the presentation of the members of the pastoral council and finance council of the parish. As I present the council members to the new pastor, I say, “Father N., this is the pastoral council and the finance council of N. Parish. They are the voice of your people, and they will assist and counsel you as you minister to this parish. Always be attentive to the needs they express.” Then the pastor says to the pastoral and finance councils, “My friends, I pledge to seek your counsel, guidance, and advice in the spiritual and temporal care of my pastorate.” That brief exchange captures the heart of the relationship between a pastor and the councils of his parish.

This relationship is essential to the vitality of a church community. A pastor bears a tremendous amount of responsibility, but he does not exercise his authority in a vacuum. His ministry becomes more effective by regularly consulting with lay members of the parish. The documents of the Second Vatican Council called for the creation of parish pastoral councils as a recommended approach to parish leadership.

The decree on the Apostolate of the Laity states, “Insofar as possible, there should be councils which assist the apostolic work of the Church either in the field of evangelization and sanctification or in the charitable, social, or other spheres, and here it is fitting that the clergy and religious should cooperate with the laity” (Apostolicam Actuositatem, no. 26).

The Voice of the Laity

The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, states, “The laity have the right, as do all Christians, to receive in abundance from their spiritual shepherds the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the assistance of the word of God and of the sacraments. They should openly reveal to them their needs and desires with that freedom and confidence which is fitting for children of God and brothers in Christ. They are, by reason of the knowledge, competence or outstanding ability which they may enjoy, permitted and sometimes even obliged to express their opinion on those things which concern the good of the Church. When occasions arise, let this be done through the organs erected by the Church for this purpose. Let it always be done in truth, in courage and in prudence, with reverence and charity toward those who by reason of their sacred office represent the person of Christ (Lumen Gentium, no. 37).

“The laity should, as all Christians, promptly accept in Christian obedience decisions of their spiritual shepherds, since they are representatives of Christ as well as teachers and rulers in the Church. … Let the spiritual shepherds recognize and promote the dignity as well as the responsibility of the laity in the Church. Let them willingly employ their prudent advice. … A great many wonderful things are to be hoped for from this familiar dialogue between the laity and their spiritual leaders: in the laity a strengthened sense of personal responsibility; a renewed enthusiasm; a more ready application of their talents to the projects of their spiritual leaders. The latter, on the other hand, aided by the experience of the laity, can more clearly and more incisively come to decisions regarding both spiritual and temporal matters. In this way, the whole Church, strengthened by each one of its members, may more effectively fulfill its mission for the life of the world” (Lumen Gentium, no. 37).

The role of the pastor

Canon Law defines a parish as “a certain community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular Church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a parish priest (parochus) as its proper pastor under the authority of the diocesan bishop” (see can. 515 §1; can. 519). The parish priest, therefore, is not a “hired hand” of the parish but its shepherd, entrusted with the care of souls.

By virtue of the sacrament of holy orders and canonical appointment by the local bishop, the parish priest is configured sacramentally to Christ the Head and Shepherd of the Church. Thus, he shares in the threefold office of Christ: teaching (munus docendi), sanctifying (munus sanctificandi), and governing (munus regendi).

Teaching: A pastor teaches the faith given to us by Jesus Christ himself and passed down to us through the authoritative teachings of the Catholic Church. The pastor is the primary preacher and catechist of the parish. He bears responsibility for proclaiming the Word of God in its fullness — whether convenient or not — ensuring doctrinal integrity in preaching, catechesis, and parish programming (see can. 528 §1).

Sanctifying: As chief steward of the sacraments in the parish, the pastor leads the community in the worship of God through the Mass, the other sacraments, and all the prayers of the Church.

Governing: The pastor is the shepherd of the local faith community. He serves under the authority of the bishop. His identity and authority do not arise from delegation by committees nor from popularity among parishioners, but from ordination and appointment by the diocesan bishop. He is responsible for guiding parish programs and training parish leaders. He is accountable for the finances, he must make sure the facilities are well taken care of, and he fosters the lay ministry of all the members of the parish.

The pastor exercises real authority to lead, decide, and direct pastoral life, to oversee the parish ministries and staff, and to oversee the administration of parish goods.The pastor represents the parish in all juridic affairs and is to ensure that the goods of the parish are administered according to the norm of law (see can. 532).

The role of the pastoral council

The 1983 Code of Canon Law provides for a parish pastoral council in canon 536. It says, “If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune … a pastoral council is to be established in each parish, over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity.”

Official Church documents clarify that the pastoral council represents the People of God, but not in a legal or political sense. Rather, council members are representative in that they serve as a witness or a sign of the whole community (Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, Omnes Christifideles, 1973, no. 7[SM1.1]).

The Diocese of San Angelo mandates pastoral councils because the very nature of the Church "requires the active collaboration of the baptized in the mission Christ entrusted to it" (Pastoral Manual of the Diocese of San Angelo, “PM,” sec. F, p. 10). Consequently, every parish and mission church in the diocese must establish a council and maintain bylaws approved by the bishop. When a mission church cannot provide sufficient personnel resources to the pastoral council, it may send representatives to the parish church's pastoral council (see PM, sec. F, p. 10).

The Pastoral Council is a consultative body that strives to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit within the parish. In collaboration with the pastor, the council:

• Monitors “the pulse” of the parish, identifying immediate needs and opportunities for growth.
• Investigates potential solutions and recommends practical conclusions.
• Fosters open and free dialogue between the pastor and community representatives.
• Strives for consensus in thought and action regarding all matters of parish life (PM, sec F, p. 11).

“The pastor assigned to a parish/mission must retain the ultimate decision-making responsibility within the parish. The council's action must become final and binding only when ratified by the pastor (see can. 536)” (PM, sec.F, p. 11).

“The pastoral council must not meet in the absence of the pastor. The council must have regular meetings at least quarterly, at which the pastor presides (see can. 536). The chair conducts the meeting” (PM, Sec. F, p. 13). The pastor may appoint up to one-third of the voting membership, but the majority of the members must be elected (PM, sec. F,p. 11). I encourage parishioners to consider serving on this council, and to keep an eye out for announcements of the next selection process.

While the council exercises a vital role in the decision-making process, its nature is explicitly advisory. Canon 536 § 2 says, “The pastoral council has only a consultative vote.” It assists the pastor by offering insight, discernment, and recommendations, but it does not run the parish, direct the pastor, act independently of him, or claim authority over parish property or finances.

The role of the finance council

The Code of Canon Law requires the establishment of a finance council in every Catholic parish, governed by universal law and by norms issued by the diocesan bishop. In canon 537, it states that in the finance council “the Christian faithful, selected according to these same norms, are to assist the pastor in the administration of the goods of the parish,” keeping in mind that in all juridic affairs the pastor represents the parish according to the norm of law (can. 532).

The Pastoral Manual of the Diocese of San Angelo states: “Each parish/mission of the diocese must establish a finance council to assist the pastor in administering the temporal goods of the parish or mission (can. 1280). The council must have a consultative voice only. However, pastors are not to take their advice lightly” (PM, Sec. F, p.14).

“The finance council must meet as often as required to conduct the parish/mission's temporal affairs at the pastor's discretion but at least quarterly. They must review the parish/mission's financial status at these meetings, emphasizing revenue and expenditures. They must ensure that diocesan policies regarding income and expenditures and accurate reporting to the diocese are carried out” (PM, Sec. F, p. 15).

“At least quarterly, the community's finance council must review each month's parish or mission financial statements, including the ledgers and bank accounts” (Sec. F, p.22).

The finance council serves as a "watchdog" and an advisory board for the parish's financial affairs. It does not control parish finances independently of the pastor, nor does it possess authority over pastoral priorities, staffing decisions, or liturgical life.

Our diocese provides resources for council members, including sample versions of bylaws for pastoral councils and finance councils, training videos, and best practices.These resources are available from the Office of the Chancellor. The diocesan norms for pastoral councils and finance councils can be found at the website of the Diocese of San Angelo (https://sanangelodiocese.org/pastoralmanual).

Conclusion

Authentic collaboration in the Church flourishes only when roles are rightly ordered. The pastor listens attentively, consults sincerely, and values the wisdom of the laity. Councils speak honestly, advise generously, and respect the pastor’s authority. When each serves according to his or her proper role, the parish reflects the Body of Christ — ordered, living, and directed toward holiness.

Pope Francis called the Church to a spirituality of “synodality,” where we all walk along the road together, listening to one another, with healthy dialogue, transparency, accountability, reciprocity, and co-responsibility. In this context, he said, “everyone has a part to play;” bishops and priests are to be “shepherds in the midst of the flock, yet remaining shepherds, not the flock. … In front to show the way, in the middle to sense how people feel, and behind to help the stragglers” (Address, Sept. 18, 2021). The healthy relationship of a pastor with his pastoral and finance councils is a good example of the practice of synodality.

The parish priest, as pastor, stands not above the Church but within her, yet unmistakably as shepherd. A renewed understanding of the roles of the pastor and the councils is essential for the flourishing of parish life. Only when each office respects its proper limits does the parish truly reflect the mystery of the Church: one body, many members, united under Christ the Head.