Catholic Church of St. Gabriel at 152 Antioch Rd., Fayetteville, GA 30215-5701 US - Councils, Commissions, & Committees.....

What does the Pastoral Council do? On December 12, 1988, a 13-page Preamble and Constitution was developed to form a Pastoral Council at St. Gabriel’s Parish, Fayetteville Georgia. The Preamble /Constitution has been revised several times since then, but the basic premise of the council remains: “a(n) advisory body with the charter of providing recommendations to the Pastor concerning the Parish policies and goals.” In addition the council is to assist in the apostolic work of the church and serve as a permanent structure for constructive dialogue. The pastoral council also serves as the coordinating body for all organizations and group activities within our Parish structure. So, how does this group of 12 elected parishioners, along with our Deacon, do all of this? The answer lies in the commissions and committees. The constitution defined six standing commissions. Each commission has its own simple purpose. The work of all commissions, collectively, is extremely powerful for our parish. In addition to the commissions there are various committees. Each commission and committee has a dedicated purpose and responsibility. Here is a very brief summary of each commission’s purpose: The Administration Commission facilitates and coordinates the daily operations and maintenance of the facilities. At-Large Representatives represent the Parish community for their concerns, grievances, comments and recommendations. The Community Life Commission provides opportunities for fellowship for the Parish as a whole. Faith Formation Commission oversees the instruction of all parishioners in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Liturgy Commission calls God’s people to worship by facilitating and evaluating the local celebration of the Eucharist and other liturgical prayer. Pastoral Care Commission establishes and coordinates opportunities for growth and nourishing of the spiritual life of all members of the Parish. Each commission has numerous members and is lead by a commission-elected chairperson. The chairperson is responsible for coordinating the commission activities and running the monthly meetings. The chairperson also meets with Father Karl on a routine basis to discuss the commission’s activities. So, to answer the question, what does the Pastoral Council do? As articulated in our Preamble/Constitution – the 12 elected members advise and coordinate, and serve as a permanent structure for dialogue. However, equally important, each Council member serves on a particular commission with fellow parishioners who have similar interests and talents. Each commission is always looking for new members. If you are interested in finding out more about any one commission, please call the commission chairperson whose name and telephone number is listed in the weekly bulletin.

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