Ron Wilcox Fr. Dan Hurley   Denis Tarpey Hal Taylor
Mary Ellen Lopriore Rosalie Becker   Joan Levine Maureen Remsen



Getting to Know…
The Pastoral Council


     The Pastoral Council is a group of parishioners who meet on a regular basis with our Pastor, Fr. Dan to discuss a wide range of issues that impact our parish life. The Council is asked to be a visionary group and assist in planning for the future of the parish.

     The Council offers Fr. Dan a unique opportunity for consultation with members of our parish who can offer a parishioner's perspective on the important decisions the Pastor might be called upon to make. Council members are also charged with presenting the concerns, opinions, and ideas of their fellow parishioners to the Pastor. The Council is primarily advisory and is not intended as a legislative group, has no decision-making authority and does not function as a grievance board. Members serve the parish-at-large and are not representatives of specific groups or organizations.

    The Pastor appoints members of the Pastoral Council for a minimum term of three years. The current members are Rosalie Becker, Joan Levine, Mary Ellen Lopriore, Denis Tarpey, Hal Taylor, Maureen Remsen and Ron Wilcox. Their names are listed on the cover of our weekly bulletin and also on our website. To be considered for a position on the Council, please send a note to Father Dan at the Rectory. Even if the limited space on the Council means you are not asked to join for the coming year, your name may be considered in the future.

     During recent years, the Pastoral Council has discussed a great variety of topics with Fr. Dan which include:
  • the continuing and worsening shortage of priests;
  • the recognition of the key role of lay people in the church as described in the Vatican II documents;
  • the success of our parish in offering the service and programs that the Code of Canon Law outlines as pastoral activities which are the responsibility of the Pastor. These responsibilities include the following: faith and catechetical formation; programs promoting gospel values and social justice; Catholic education of children, young adults and adults; outreach to fallen-away Catholics; ecumenism and evangelization; sacramental life and preparation; fostering prayer and eucharistic devotion and liturgical participation; care of the sick and dying; concern for the poor, the afflicted, the lonely, the exiled; fostering family life and solid lay involvement in ministries; and strengthening of extraparochial relations with the bishop, diocesan pastoral efforts and a worldwide Catholic identity;
  • the devastating impact of the child abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church in America and, in particular, our Diocese, and ways in which our parish can further the healing process for the victims, their families and all whose faith has been shaken by these scandals and help restore the confidence of our parishioners in our Church's hierarchy;
  • considering a variety of initiatives for fostering stewardship;
  • searching for creative ways to invite back into our active parish community, in a manner that is welcoming, sensitive and loving, those who might have strayed from the regular practice of their Catholic faith;
  • enhancing opportunities for growth and development of our Catholic faith such as those presented our parish school, religious education for children and adults, parish retreat experiences, the parish website, focused family-oriented liturgies and sacramental celebrations, CYO, a vital youth ministry and the many other prayerful ministries available at St. Rose.
    It is important that we hear from you regarding your concerns and ideas for improving our parish life at St. Rose. Please feel welcome to share those concerns and ideas with any member of the Pastoral Council by leaving a note or message for us at the rectory or by contacting us through the parish website. Your input helps to make the Council an effective planning tool for our Pastor and the parish. We invite you to complete the Pastoral Council Questionnaire by simply clicking on the link to the Questionnaire, which can be filled out and submitted on-line, at your convenience...or print out the questionnaire and drop it off at the Rectory or place it in the suggestion box in the church.

    Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.