At Masses on May 20-21, we will conduct our annual nominations for the Parish Advisory Board. The purpose of the PAB is to assist the Pastor in the decision-making process in the areas of pastoral planning, programming, and effectiveness, as well as facilitating communication and interaction between and among parish groups and ministries.
One of the areas in which the Parish Advisory Board has been most active in recent years is in the development and implementation of the parish’s Strategic Plan. The plan addresses objectives and action plans in the four primary areas of Parish Participation, Adult Formation, Community Involvement, and Parish Finance. The Board was instrumental in formulating the plan in the fall of 2014, in collaboration with the various ministry councils of the parish, and regularly assesses the implementation of the action plans which are the responsibility of different staff members, councils, or ministries.
The Parish Advisory Board also conducts three “Council Workshops” each year. The members of all the ministry councils (Adult Formation, Finance, Hispanic Ministry, Justice and Charity, Liturgy, School Advisory) are invited to these workshops, along with the members of the Parish Advisory Board itself, to become familiar with the work of a specific council or another ministry in the parish. These workshops lead to a better understanding of the various parish ministries and help to build connections.
At the Masses of May 20-21, you will be invited to nominate one or more parishioners to be considered for membership on the Board. All nominees will be invited to an Information Night at which new PAB members will be selected. Members must be registered in the parish, having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Self-nominations are permitted. The requirements are not terribly burdensome but we do ask that members make a three-year commitment which includes ten regular meetings each year. The Parish Advisory Board is not bilingual, so at least a basic fluency in English is required.
Between now and May 20-21, please prayerfully consider placing a name (or more than one) in nomination. Remember, you are not committing anyone to anything – other than receiving a letter of invitation to the Information Night. And please pray for the members who are continuing or completing their terms.