Pastoral Council

The St. Joseph’s Pastoral Council, in keeping with guidelines provided by the Diocese of Rochester, is a consultative body to the pastor who receives from Bishop Matthew Clark the responsibility to be his local presence and to share the shepherding roles of teaching, sanctifying, and governing in our parish.

The St. Joseph’s Pastoral Council seeks to build, strengthen and nourish faith and to empower members by encouraging critical thinking and ownership. All efforts are rooted in the challenge of the gospel and flow from the community’s prayers, gifts and needs as we gather around the Eucharistic table to express and intensify our relationship to one another in the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ.

Pastoral Council purposes:
• To form community as a sign and witness of unity for the larger St. Joseph’s parish community;

• To provide recommendations for parish priorities, directions and policies through pastoral planning;

• To promote communication, understanding, and collaboration among parish organizations and between the parish, the Diocese and the universal Church.

KEEP UP TO DATE

All are welcome at any meeting, usually the second Monday of the month at 7PM in the Malley Building. Meeting minutes and agendas. Next meeting is June 9th at John's home (see agenda for directions).

COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

In forming community, council members are challenged to ongoing renewal through prayer, study, listening, and dialogue. In developing priorities and directions for the parish, the council is to become the means of achieving full participation by the whole parish community in its mission by giving all a voice in guiding and directing parish life. Learn more about their goals and activities of our mission-driven workgroups.

To learn more about Council service, contact us

Mission-Driven Workgroups

We are committed to building a vibrant parish community and have established workgroups that meet outside the monthly Council meetings to address key goals. All parishioners are urged to join a workgroup.

Enhanced Participation in Parish Life With the goal of evangelization and increasing participation in the life of the parish community, this workgroup presently is analyzing feedback received from parishioners through the census. They are directing the effort to develop ways to meet the educational, spiritual, and social needs and desires that emerged from the census. They took an active role in the census project and previously launched the Singles Group. Chair: Anne Bell. Staff liaisons: Michelle Castelli, Patrick Fox. Click Here for the most recent minutes.

Spiritual Growth Missioned to stay attuned to the spiritual longings of parishioners, the Spiritual Growth Workgroup develops pathways that help us all grow closer to our God. Last year the workgroup was instrumental in guiding the renovation of the Blessed Sacred Chapel as a holy place of quiet prayer in the presence of the Lord. Presently, they are focused on the baptismal spirituality of our faith community, building collaborative relationships with the Worship Workgroup and Small Group Ministry. Chair: Marlene Maggio. Staff liaisons: Cathy Kamp, Nancy Veronesi. Click Here for the most recent minutes.

Hospitality and Welcoming The workgroup that seems to have the most fun, the Hospitality Workgroup strives to build on St. Joseph’s strength as a welcoming community. All are welcome is its mantra. Recently hosting a morning of prayer and discussion on our ministry of hospitality (ushers, greets, how we gather) this group of parishioners presently is focused on growing our ministry of hospitality, redesigning the process of how we welcome and reach out to new parishioners, and creating new social events. One desire is to reinvigorate our coffee hours after Mass—a core team of coordinators is needed. Contact Chair: Joe Duffy. Staff liaisons: Eva Mascadri, Nancy Veronesi. Click Here for the most recent minutes.

Faith-Building Communications Serving in a foundational role to all the workgroups, these parishioners guide the Communications Ministry of St. Joseph’s, helping to articulate and further develop our mission and vision as a community of believers characterized by our gratitude, hospitality, and discipleship. Through the talents and donated professional services of parishioners, they launched the parish newsletter and continuously support parish communications as needed. Recently, they completed editing the content for the new, annual Parish Guide, which will be published for the first time this spring. Parishioners with talents in web design, graphic design, writing, and media relations are encouraged to join this team for projects or to provide ongoing assistance. Chair: Ann Anthony. Staff liaisons: Matt Curlee, Brian Waldmiller. Click Here for the most recent minutes.