The pastoral council’s purpose is to be a sign and witness of unity, to recommend parish priorities and directions, to promote community, and to assist the pastor in pastoral planning. The pastoral council is a consultative leadership body of parishioners that advises and makes recommendations to the pastor.

The pastoral council is a consultative body and is governed by norms determined by the Archbishop (CIC, c. 536 §2). Reflecting on the call of Vatican II, the Code of Canon Law and the tradition of the Archdiocese of Seattle, the parish pastoral council collaborates with the pastor to discern through consultation how to address the challenges and opportunities encountered by the parish in its particular time and place.

Archbishop Connolly first mandated parish councils in 1972.

Whereas parish pastoral councils are responsible for all directional and strategic planning, in some parishes, particularly larger parishes, strategic planning for specific areas may take place through commissions.

In this case, it is recommended that several commissions be constituted, corresponding to the areas of spiritual life and worship, stewardship, Christian formation, and human concerns/social ministry.

Parishes with parish schools must have a school commission. Unlike parish committees that are involved in specific programs or ministries, these commissions engage in strategic planning and policy development in their specific areas in response to parish priorities and goals.