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Introduction to Ministry Catalog
SS. Mary and Mathias Parish
Muscatine, Iowa
In accordance with Diocesan requirements four distinct entities (Councils) should exist in the Parish:*
1) The corporate board of each parish consists of the diocesan bishop, the vicar general, the pastor and two lay directors appointed by two of the following persons: the diocesan bishop, pastor and vicar general. The corporation is formed under civil law and is responsible for liabilities that may befall the parish corporation.
2) The parish finance council members are appointed by the pastor on the basis of their expertise and advise the pastor in the administration and stewardship of the parish finances, budget, parish facilities, and long-range financial development.
3) The parish pastoral council is selected or elected to advise the pastor in pastoral issues and shares in the responsibilities of visioning, budgeting, and strategic planning for the parish.
4) A board of education is recommended for advising the pastor in formulating policy in the area of faith formation of Total Catholic Education. Instead of a board of education there may be a faith formation committee for the parish.
At SS. Mary and Mathias Parish, the SS. Mary and Mathias Catholic Board of Education is utilized in accordance with the recommendation of the Diocese and functions as the Faith Formation Commission. The Board of Education does not operate under the direction of the Parish Pastoral Council. The Muscatine Catholic Board of Education is a regulatory body that oversees all Catholic educational programs and curricula, both of the school and catechetical.
SS. Mary and Mathias Catholic Board of Education - (Ministry (Commission) of Faith Formation)
a. The ultimate objective of faith formation is discipleship. The Parish facilitates the work of the Spirit by helping the individual hear and respond to God’s loving call to a personal relationship, lived out in a faith community that witnesses to all in words and actions the Good News that is Jesus Christ.
b. Responsibilities*
c. Suggested Activities*
At SS. Mary and Mathias Parish there are five Parish Ministries(also called Commissions) , in addition to the SS. Mary and Mathias Board of Education (Faith Formation Commission), as required by the Diocese of Davenport, and three standing committees operating under the direction of the Parish Pastoral Council.
1. Ministry (Commission)of Church Life
a. Ministry of Church Life is focused on the communion of all persons in the parish and the relationship of that parish to the community in which it lives.
b. Responsibilities*
c. Suggested Activities*
2. Ministry (Commission) of Family Life
a. The Christian vision of family life speaks about the family as a community of life and love. It proclaims that family life is sacred and that family activities are holy, that God’s love is revealed and communicated in new ways each and every day through Christian families.
b. Responsibilities*
c. Suggested Activities*
3. Ministry (Commission)of Finance and Administration
a. The parish finance council serves as an advisory body to the pastor in the administration and stewardship of parish finances, budget, parish facilities and long-range financial development.
b. Responsibilities*
c. Suggested Activities*
4. Ministry (Commission)of Liturgy
a. The overall purpose of a parish (or parish cluster) liturgical ministry is to prepare and provide for the spiritual development of each member of the community through liturgical celebrations.
b. Responsibilities*
c. Suggested Activities*
5. Ministry (Commission) of Social Action
a. The love which Jesus calls us to express is not only a love for family, fiends and fellow parishioners. It is also a love for those in need, for the marginalized, for the enemy, and for those whom we love even when we expect no love in return, which is the meaning of agape. The celebration of the mass and the sacraments, our participation in faith formation and our active membership in the parish are all preparation to go out and live the gospel in our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our communities and the world.
b. Responsibilities*
c. Suggested Activities*
6. Hispanic Ministry Committee
a. Pending description
b. Responsibilities
c. Suggested Activities
7. Stewardship Committee
a. Promote the concept of Christian stewardship and foster an environment in which stewardship is understood, accepted and practiced by the parish community. Use the time, talents, and treasures of our parishioners to promote active participation of all parishioners in parish ministries and activities. Collaborate with the six Ministry Areas (Commissions): Church Life, Family Life, Finance and Administration, Liturgy, Social Action, and SS. Mary and Mathias Catholic Board of Education (Faith Formation Commission) in promoting the Stewardship Concept as a way of life.
b. Responsibilities:
c. Suggested Activities.
8. Vocation Committee
a.
b. Responsibilities:
c. Suggested Activities.
* See The Diocesan Church-Six Areas of Ministry:
On the Web go to “davenportdiocese.org” and click on “libraries”, "main” box, search/look for (and click on) “Living the Faith Task Force”, scroll down to find “Six Areas of Ministry” (From Table of Contents –Part IV--pp 131-144).
NOTE: The actual responsibilities of the various Ministries at SS. Mary and ,Mathias Parish may differ from the Diocesan recommendations and suggestions in some areas.