CHRISTOS VOSKRES!

Hi everyone...

Got another question that I'd like some help with...

I was talking with my cousin from Uniontown and she told me that last Sunday, they elected new members to their parish council. She then asked me about the parish council in my parish, to which I replied, What parish council???

She then told me that they had been told that each parish was to elect a parish council from members of the community, that anyone could be nominated and that all parish members had to vote.

Well, this is REALLY news to me. I've never heard of anything like this.

Anyone else's community have a parish council?

Anyone familiar with this "you have to have a parish council" idea???

thanks to one and all....

Paska krasna Nas vitajet!

mark

Chirst is Risen!

According to our Canon Law, every parish has to have a parish council and a finance council. The method of election is left to the different Diocese around the country. In some places they are appointed, and in some they are elected. Some are more active than others, and that may be why you have not heard of them.

He is Truly Risen!
Peter

Dear Mark,

I've beenb affiliated with more than twenty Eastern parishes as a member, friend, diocesan seminarian, or long term visitor. They all had councils of one form or another.

The only possible exception to this might have been at a Byzantine/Greek Rite (Arberesh/Albanian) Parish of San Nicola in 1988-1990 in Lecce, Italy, part of the Eparchy of Lungro, Italy. It was newly reopened since 1984 and had a small attendance, mostly by Greek Orthodox students and other temporary transplants like me. When I visited there in 1999, I believe that a council had been formed.

Christ is Risen,
Andrew

Dear Mark,

I also served on the council of my home parish for two years. However, I started to have trouble sleeping at night, so I didn't "run" for re-election. Now, I sleep really well!

In Christ,
Andrew

Dear Reader Andrew,

My father was very active on the parish council and he wanted me to be.

I went with him to a meeting where, in front of the bishop, the parish priest dressed him down in very derogatory terms.

I wanted to address this priest, but thought it wouldn't be nice in front of the bishop . . .

I didn't sleep at all that night, and then again the next night.

My father appreciated my upset at the incident involving him, but I told him I was having trouble concentrating on studies after 48 hours without shut-eye . . .

To quote St Thomas More, "This (pointing to himself) is not the stuff of which martyrs are made!"

Alex

At our Parish, anyone my nominate themselves or others, the nominations are then put in a basket. Father Ron prays to the Holy Spirit for guidance and the Holy Spirit decerns the members ( Father picks the names out of the basket)

Dear Scotus,

An interesting idea but it reminds me of something from a few years ago:

They nominated one person and one only for Chairman of the Council. The stubborn fellow, for good reason and cherishing his sleep, declined repeatedly. The parish went for one year without a Chairman.

What if a person nominated by the people and chosen by Father Ron (and the Holy Spirit?) refuses to serve? Would they be in trouble with the people, Fr. Ron, the Holy Spirit, or, God forbid, all three?

Christ is Risen!
Andrew