What is the function and composition of a parish pastoral council, and its relation to the diocesan bishop?

• A. A parish pastoral council comprises only clergy.
• B. A parish pastoral council is the advisory body of lay and ordained members that assists the pastor under the bishop’s oversight and guidance.
• C. A parish pastoral council reports directly to civil authorities.
• D. A parish pastoral council is the governing authority.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a parish pastoral council is an advisory body that helps the parish priest carry out the parish’s pastoral mission, while remaining under the bishop’s oversight and guidance. It brings together both lay and ordained members to study the parish’s needs, plan pastoral programs, and coordinate church activities. The pastor remains the primary pastor and decision-maker, but he seeks the council’s input to shape pastoral initiatives in harmony with diocesan priorities. This arrangement reflects how parish governance operates within the wider diocese: the bishop sets the norms and provides oversight, and the council assists rather than governs. It’s not about reporting to civil authorities, and it isn’t the parish’s governing authority; its recommendations are influential but not binding in the way a governing body would, and the duties are not limited to clergy—the inclusion of lay members is intentional to foster shared mission.