The Missionary Choice in the Activity of Parish Pastoral Council

Authors

  • Leszek Rojowski The Ponifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/pch.670

Keywords:

Parish pastoral council, Pope Francis, Evangelii gaudium, evangelization, pastoral planning

Abstract

The article discusses the missionary option as indicated by Pope Francis in his first apostolic exhortation. This challenging option can be lived fully only through a total commitment of all church structures. That is why it is interesting to reflect how one of the parish structures, namely the pastoral council, can contribute – according to its competences – to put into practice what has been enunciated in Evangelii gaudium.

A particular contribution of the parish pastoral council consists primarily in the development of an adequate parish pastoral plan, which would have as its main goal to educate the parish as a missionary community, responsible for the transmission of the Christian faith in today’s world. The article also features some directions from the Papal document which must be taken into account and some practical suggestions which aid in reaching the delineated goals. A commitment of the parish pastoral council to fulfil this missionary choice enables this structure to see its role as oriented “to promote conformity of the life and actions of the People of God with the Gospel”.

References

Paul VI, Apostolic exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, 08.12.1975, http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi_en.html (30.05.2014).

John Paul II, Encyclical letter Redemptoris missio on the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate, 07.12.1990, http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_07121990_redemptoris-missio_en.html (30.05.2014).

Francis, Apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium on the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world, 24.11.2013, http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html (30.05.2014).

Synod of Bishops, XIII Ordinary General Assembly, The new evangelization for the transmission of the christian faith, Lineamenta (2011), http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20110202_lineamenta-xiii-assembly_it.html (30.05.2014).

Synod of Bishops, XIII Ordinary General Assembly, The new evangelization for the transmission of the christian faith, Instrumentum laboris (2012), http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20120619_instrumentum-xiii_en.html (30.05.2014).

Congregation for the Clergy, Circular letter Omnes christifideles on pastoral councils, 21.01.1973, http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_19730125_omnes-christifideles_it.html (30.05.2014).

Borras A., La parrocchia. Diritto canonico e prospettive pastorali, Bologna 1997.

Gręźlikowski J., Rady parafialne w świetle aktualnych potrzeb Kościoła w Polsce, „Homo Dei” 270 (2004/1), 45–58.

Lanza S., Progetto, discernimento, verifica pastorale, in: Aa. Vv., Creatività dello Spirito Santo e programmazione pastorale, Roma 1998.

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Published

2014-11-13

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Section

Articles