Dear Fellow Parishioners,

This letter is on behalf of your Pastoral Council to let you know who we are and what we do. In short, we are a group of volunteers who work for you. We listen to and seek input from our fellow parishioners. We also assist with the spiritual and leadership development of the many and talented ministry leaders who so generously share their time and talents with all of us. We share our observations and input with Father Oscar, parish staff, and other leaders in our parish.

We are a diverse group that reflects the rich tapestry of backgrounds, perspectives, and talents in our parish. Pastoral Council members normally serve a three-year term and meet once per month to consult with Father Oscar. According to our by-laws, we “listen, discern, ponder, and recommend.” We do our best to work together in a spirit that is “grounded in faith and worship.” In all our activities we strive to keep in the forefront that ours is a ministry of service. We are here for you!

In addition to our monthly advisory meetings with Father Oscar, we support a variety of parish activities, with the goal of facilitating “evangelization, community life, community outreach, pastoral care, worship leadership, and stewardship.” Below are just the highlights of the many things we do:

• support our campaign to build a new church home
• support the annual Parish Fiesta
• host leadership retreats for parish ministry leaders
• suggest ways to better serve our parish, in response to our annual survey or other ways of listening to our fellow parishioners
• support a welcoming church environment for new and long-time parishioners
• review our annual budget and financial report
• most importantly, we pray together

So, the next time you see one of us wearing our gold Pastoral Council name badge at Mass or at another parish activity, know that you have a friend that you can talk to about things relating to our parish. If you have a question or concern, let us know. If you are looking to become more active in your faith and your parish, tell us. We can help!

Please remember that by letting us help you, you are also helping us. Like you, we have all gone through the highs and lows—the joys and challenges—that an active walk with Christ can bring. Christ calls us to be challenged! We seek to grow in our own faith by getting to know you better and learning even more about the wonderful people at The Holy Name of Jesus!

We look forward to the opportunity to hear what you have to say and what you have to offer.

Yours in Christ,
The Holy Name of Jesus Pastoral Council