Some of the words used in this website and in general reading materials about Parish Pastoral Councils may need some explanations to enable full understanding by everyone. Some of them are treated here from the experience of some members of the Working Group. If there are others that you think need clarification, please let us know through the Ask a Question facility on the site.
Code of Canon Law
This is the code of uniform Church legislation governing the orderly
pastoral administration and leadership of the Church. Our present Code
of Canon Law was promulgated by the Pope in 1983. It contains 1752 Canons.
Canon 536 is the applicable law governing the functioning of Pastoral
Councils.
Consensus
The collegial process of arriving at a decision selecting one option
from among many through a process of gathering relevant information,
open discussion and resolution of major concerns connected with the
preferred option. Without necessarily meaning total agreement, and without
compromising the views and needs of the participants, consensus reaches
a decision that all members are able to accept willingly and uphold
sincerely.
Deanery
Usually the name given to a geographic grouping of Parishes within a
Diocese, designed to enable better participation on a regional basis,
and resource-sharing to facilitate more effective programs.
Ministry
Usually a special work or Office of service to the community to support
its engagement in the mission to which all its members are called by
Baptism. Ministry usually requires a specific calling and charism from
the community, and an appropriate commissioning for its service. For
example, for the Ministry of Priesthood, candidates are commissioned
by the call of the Bishop to the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Other ministries
are commissioned through non-Sacramental rites. Not all are called to
ministry in this sense.
Mission
In general, a group’s mission describes the core purpose for which
it comes together. Paragraph three of the Vatican II Document, The Church
in the Modern World, described the Mission of the Church as the continuation
of Christ’s work under the lead of the befriending Spirit. Christ’s
work is to spread the Good News [Gospel] and so to transform the world
in its light towards love, justice, peace and reconciliation. All who
are baptised are called to participate in this Mission.
Pastoral
This descriptive word designates those reflections, conversations and
actions that concern the community’s mission to proclaim the Gospel.
It refers to all those matters that respect the communal life, celebration,
growth in faith, stewardship of the earth, and loving concern for others
that comprise the key elements of that mission.
Pastoral Planning
The prayerful and reflective, systematic and collaborative process by
which the community defines their realised situation, identifies their
common purpose and their vision for its fulfilment, sets goals and priorities
to achieve their vision, and then devise scheduled actions and resources
to achieve their goals.
Vision
Vision is a clear description of the difference it sees itself achieving
in the foreseeable future as it fulfils its purpose as best it can.
For example if the mission or purpose is to plant a tree, the vision
will be a clear description of what the gardener wants that tree to
be like when it is full-grown.