The origin of Pastoral Councils can be traced back to the Second Vatican Council when Pope Paul VI and the Bishops articulated for the Church and for the world, the need for faithful Catholics to share responsibility for the pastoral mission of the local church. They spoke clearly of the fact that laymen and women are not merely recipients of ministry; by reason of their Baptism they are called and gifted for ministry, and together with the ordained clergy share in witnessing faith and carrying out the church's mission. The Council made it clear that clergy and laity must develop a new understanding and effective ways of collaborative leadership in the parish and in the diocese. Recognizing an additional opportunity for increase participation and involvement and the possibility of developing vibrant communities of faith, parishes have been encouraged to work towards the development of Pastoral Councils.

The Pastoral Council is a group of parishioners asked to take seriously the role of assisting the Pastor in the efforts of long range pastoral planning that allows for a greater awareness of the “larger vision” proposed by the gospels. As a visioning body, it serves as a forum of consultation for the Pastor and members, primarily by engaging them in ongoing conversations about the needs, feelings, hopes and reactions of parishioners. The purpose of this interaction is to foster the process of pastoral planning and decisions in the light of our parish mission and vision.

In 2002 Holy Name of Mary began the process of developing a Pastoral Council. Members were selected and began to work on understanding their role and becoming familiar with the many facets of our complex parish so that they will be able to provide the information and advice for effective long range planning in our parish. This, of course, is a “work in progress” and a big undertaking in a parish our size; we ask for your input, your support and your prayers as this group moves ahead in its efforts.