Parish Pastoral Council | Dunleer Parish

The Parish Pastoral Council is a group of parishioners who work with the Parish Priest in the pastoral life and mission of the Parish of Dunleer.

The Council provides a place where the experiences, hopes, concerns and ideas of parishioners can be shared and considered. Its purpose is to help the parish listen carefully to the needs of its community and to discern how we can best live and proclaim the Gospel together.
The Parish Pastoral Council:
• Advises and supports the Parish Priest in matters relating to the pastoral life of the parish.
• Listens to the parish community, bringing forward the experiences, needs and suggestions of parishioners.
• Helps to identify pastoral priorities and consider new opportunities for the life and mission of the parish.
• Encourages participation and involvement, helping parishioners to recognise and share their gifts and talents.
• Supports the work of parish groups, ministries and initiatives, encouraging greater collaboration across the parish.
• Looks to the future, considering how the parish can continue to welcome, serve and evangelise in the changing circumstances of our community.
The Parish Pastoral Council is not a committee that runs the parish. Rather, it is a consultative body that works alongside the Parish Priest, offering wisdom, experience and the perspective of the wider parish community.
Above all, the Council seeks to help the Parish of Dunleer become ever more fully a praying, welcoming and missionary community, rooted in Christ and attentive to the people entrusted to its care.
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Matthew 18:20

“…a pastoral council is to be established in each parish, over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity.” (Code of Canon Law 566.1)

To fulfil its role the pastoral council needs to be a representative body in which the diversity of the parish community is reflected. It is a means whereby all parishioners can take part in discussions that relate to the parish, its mission and its future development.

The parish pastoral council assists the parish priest in fostering pastoral activity but it is not itself a decision-making body. “A pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by the norms established by the diocesan bishop.” (Code of Canon Law 566.2)

To take on the task of the council, members need to be baptised Catholics who participate in the life and the worship of the parish, who have a loving concern for the parish and are willing to be part of a parish leadership group.

Our Current Parish Pastoral Council Members for 2024-2028 are:

Peter Keane

Julia Keane

Deirdre Maguire

Carmel Kennedy

Patricia Butterly

Nola Pluck

Frank Gallagher

Greg Czwalga

Agnieska Czwalga

Fr. Damien Quigley