The
Second Vatican Council affirmed the laity’s participation in the Mission
of Jesus Christ by challenging all the baptized with a call to holiness,
to ministry and to community. The Council no longer placed the focus of
this call only on the ordained, but on the laity as well. As Pastoral
Councils continued to define themselves, the theology of shared
responsibility and collaboration that flows from the Vatican II documents
began to take hold in the 90’s. The focus shifted from the temporal
activities to the pastoral activities of the parish.
This focus by the Pastoral Council on the pastoral activity of the parish
embraces the mission and the ministry of the Church: worship and prayer,
proclaiming the Gospel and teaching, social action, care of the poor, the
sick and dying and bringing God’s healing power to everyone. Pastoral
activity is reflected in the parish by the way the Pastoral Council
responds to the mission.
