Parish Councils of the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish

Introduction

The 1983 Code of Canon Law reflecting on the Second Vatican Council describes the parish (c. 515) as a definite community of the Christian Faithful established on a stable basis within a particular Church (Diocese).

The pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor, under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop (c. 515, n. 1). This pastoral care includes the responsibility to preach the Gospel and nourish the Christian Faithful with the message of salvation, to celebrate the sacraments and to lead the parish community in prayer. In order to foster the unity of pastor and Christ's faithful of the parish in carrying out Christ's mission, the 1983 Code of Canon Law legislates that, after consultation with the Presbyteral Council and in accord with his pastoral judgment, the Diocesan Bishop may direct the establishment of a pastoral council in each parish of the diocese (c. 536 n. 2).

The Parish Pastoral Council is to take its direction from, and be presided over by, the Parish Priest (c. 536, n. 1). The diocesan norms apply Parish Pastoral Council according to the particular circumstances of each parish according to the parish's size and needs.

Article One: The Document

This document shall be known under Civil Law as the Constitution and By-Laws of the parish councils currently existing in the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish (ROLP) Likewise, under Canon Law (CIC'83, cc. 511-514) this document shall also be known as "the Statutes" of the Parish Councils. This document shall also be subsequently referred to in the text as the "Document. "

Article Two: Nature

The Parish Councils of the ROLP (Resurrection of our Lord Parish) are consultative bodies composed of the clergy, religious and laity of the Parish but may also include others who, by virtue of their office, are engaged in the pastoral care of parishioners. These councils are purely consultative in nature and presided over by the Parish Priest according to the norms established for this purpose by the Local Ordinary.

The clear distinction between policy formation (the proper work of the Parish Pastoral Council) and administration (the proper work of the Pastor and parish staff) should be clearly maintained. At the same time, members of the parish staff should offer to the pastoral council their knowledge and judgment regarding questions under discussion.

Article Three: Aim and Purpose of the Parish Councils

The aim and purpose of the Parish Council are:

1. Primarily, to promote the function of the parish in its apostolate of evangelization, sanctification and governance of parish affairs and, secondarily, to offer services appropriate to its nature as a religion institution;
2. To coordinate and integrate apostolic movements, organization and services entities, to maximize their potentialities thereby avoiding duplication of work and labors (efforts);
3. To collaborate with government organization, civic organizations, and non-catholic agencies and entities in areas of common concern and interest;
4. To determine, after due consultation, the needs of the People of God in the jurisdiction of the parish and design appropriate programs, and implement consequent action plans to satisfy such needs in accordance with Christian principles and considering the financial capability of the parish;
5. To attend to the plight of the poor, the sick, the dying, the aged, the widow and orphans, the oppressed, the prisoners, the families, the children and the youth;
6. To secure and maintain the collective assistance and cooperation of all lay apostolate and civic, social, religious, Catholic Action groups;
7. To serve as a forum for dialogues and consultations among representatives of the People of God in matters affecting the life and activity of the parish and,
8. To perform also, in the light of the above-mentioned functions, other similar tasks as the Parish Priest may deem necessary.

Article Four: Composition of the Parish Councils

The Parish Councils should primarily be truly representative of the parish and generally composed of the following four (4) components:

1. THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
2. THE PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL
3. THE PARISH ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
4. THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Article Five: Detailed Composition of the Parish Councils

1. THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

   1. Nature

      The Parish Pastoral Council Executive Committee, or better known as PPC EXECOM, is a consultative body presided over by the Parish Priest. Its members deliberate on issues concerning the general functioning of the parish. Upon approval of the parish priest, it implements the general pastoral policies or guidelines which are set by the plenum of the Parish Pastoral General Assembly. The execution and manner of executing the specific policies and guidelines are determined and approved through a simple majority vote of the members of the PPC EXECOM. This is then forwarded to the parish priest who must then decide to approve or reject it.

   2. Composition

      The Parish Pastoral Council Executive Committee (or PPC EXECOM) is composed of:

      1. The Parish Priest
      2. The Parish Pastoral Council President
      3. The Parish Finance Council Head
      4. The Parish Administrative Council Head
      5. The Chair/chairs of the different Parish Commissions/Committee, namely:
      6. Liturgy and Worship
      7. Education and Formation
      8. Human Promotions
      9. Transparochial and Renewed Communities
      10. Youth
      11. BEC or ROLP EC

   3. Function

      A specific commission chaired by a couple (Education and Formation, Family Life, Trans-Parochial and Renewal Communities Commission) only casts one vote. In cases of a tie in a voting process, the Parish Priest shall break the tie. In specific circumstances and depending upon the need, the Parish Priest using his personal discretion may appoint an alternate, the temporary EXECOM presiding officer, to preside over a meeting of the PPC EXECOM. The presiding officer must be a member of the PPC EXECOM.

      The power and duties of each PPC Commission Head, as well as, of the members of the Finance and Administrative Councils, shall be defined in their respective appointment which is duly signed by the Parish Priest and countersigned by the PPC Execom Head. Their appointments shall bear the seal of the Parish as an added authentication mark. Such an appointment is effective upon the signing of the "appointment letter" and shall be effective for a period of three years, renewable.

      Each PPC commission addresses a particular field of activity and aligns the parish pastoral ministry with the six (6) priority areas defined by the recent Diocesan Pastoral Assembly of 2006 and updated 2007. The summons of the Parish Priest detailed in the appointment of each Commission head serves as the extent and limit of the Commission's function. Based on specific needs of the parish, the Parish Priest may, at his discretion, add other duties to a Council head or Commission head.

      Anytime a need arises and in consultation with the PPC EXECOM, the Parish Priest may create a new Commission(s) or dissolve existing ones. Head(s) of new Commission(s) shall henceforth be member(s) of the EXECOM while the head of a dissolved commission shall cease to be a member thereof.

      Each accredited / recognized or mandated parish organization shall form part of the supervisory ambit of a Commission as provided for in the summons or mandate given by the Parish Priest.

2. THE PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL

   1. Nature

      The Parish Finance Council or PFC is a consultative body that advises the parish priest regarding financial matters of the parish. This body is demanded by Canon law and is a body composed of lay experts in financial matters. It enjoys autonomy of procedures and actions from the other councils existing in the parish. It generally follows the rules and procedures determined in c. 537 of the Code of Canon Law and the policies of the Diocesan Finance Council.

   2. Composition

      The Parish Finance Council is composed of:

      1. The Parish Finance Council Head/Budget Officer,
      2. The Comptroller/Auditor,
      3. The Treasurer

   3. Functions

      The Parish Finance Head shall be in charge of collating the expenditures incurred the previous year by all the Commissions, Mandated Organizations, PREX Board, and any organization falling under the Parish mandate. He is also tasked to prepare the Annual Budget for the up-coming fiscal year and to present this to the PPC Execom and PPC General Assembly. When needed, the PFC head shall report to the PPC Execom and PPC General Assembly regarding the annual financial status of the Parish. The PFC Head shall also bring to the attention of the Parish Priest those items which the diocese does not allow funding or may allow to be funded. As such, he is also tasked to inform himself about diocesan audit and finance policies. Ordinarily, the PFC Head and the Parish Priest shall be the co-signatories for all parish issued checks and financial transactions. In the absence or incapacity of the PFC Head, the PFC Treasurer shall, together with the Parish Priest, be the co-signatory for all parish issued checks.

      The PFC Comptroller/Auditor is tasked to make a bi-annual audited report which shall be part of the PFC internal audit practice. This report shall form part of the Parish Official Documents. The PFC Comptroller/Auditor shall also substitute for Treasury functions in the absence or incapacity of the latter.

      The PFC Treasurer shall make a daily inspection of the cash flow of both Parish Office and PPC Office. Together with the Parish Priest, the PFC Treasurer shall be the ordinary co-signatory for all checks issued by the parish.

      The PFC Head together with the PFC members shall deliberate on all request for funding, both regular and special projects, i.e., constructions… etc., and make recommendations to the Parish Priest for approval, rejection or modification of the request.

   4. Election/ Appointment / Selection

      Transparency as a value must be upheld in all financial transactions. Owing to the delicate function of the PFC, this same Council enjoys a unique procedure of election specialy during the first time it is constituted. Thereafter, each year observes only a change in only one member of the Parish Finance Council. This ensures the continuity of the Diocesan and Parish directed Financial Policies and procedures. Thus, the initial members of the PFC are elected under the following conditions:

      The names of prospective PFC members are submitted to the Parish priest as nominations by the PPC General Assembly members. Three of them must be chosen and constituted as the Parish Finance Council by the Parish priest who also makes the appropriate appointment of these three. To avoid the total change of membership in any given year, a sound corporate practice, initially one member is elected for a period of three (3) years, another for a period of two (2) years and one member for a period of one (1) year. At the expiry of the term of office of each member, he/she may be renewed for another three (3) years and, consequently, a re-appointment paper should be issued by the parish priest.

3. THE PARISH ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL

   1. Nature

      The Parish Administrative Council or PAC is a consultative body of lay administrative experts who shall take care of both the ordinary and, as directed by the Parish Priest, extraordinary administration of the parish. As a general rule, this Council generally observes the norms determined in cc. 1254-1310 of the Code of Canon Law.

   2. Composition

      The Parish Administrative Council is composed of:

      1. The Parish Administrative Council Head/Human Resources Manager/ Screening Committee Head
      2. The Properties, Inventory and Maintenance Officer
      3. The Special Projects Officer
      4. The Legal Counsel

   3. Functions

      The Parish Administrative Council Head or PAC Head shall supervise the ordinary administration of the parish operations. The PAC Head may also be tasked with supervision of other extraordinary affairs of administration which the Parish Priest may specifically assign. As PAC Head, this person also functions as the Human Resources Manager and, therefore, is tasked with the hiring, discipline, firing, benefits, privileges and other disposition of parish personnel.

      The PAC Properties, Inventory and Maintenance Officer or PAC-PIMO shall be in charge of the acquisition of any equipment needed and approved for Church use by the PPC Execom, the custody of all church properties, the constant updating and regular submission to the Diocesan Chancery of all Parish Property Inventory. He is also tasked to care for upkeep and repairs of all parish Church properties.

      The PAC Legal Counsel shall be a duly licensed and practicing Civil lawyer who shall advise the PPC Execom and PPC General Assembly regarding legal matters. The PAC Legal Counsel shall also supply legal opinions on matters brought before his/her attention by the PPC Councils. He/she, on behalf of the parish, is tasked to stand before civil courts in cases of litigations between the parish and another party.

      The PAC Special Projects Officer or PAC-SPO must be a licensed engineer tasked with supervising the planning, costing, construction, manufacture or fabrication of church immovable properties. If the amount for the work involved exceeds Php 100,000, he shall formally request in writing the approval of the Parish Priest and the written consent of the Diocesan Bishop and the PFC. For any other work exceeding the amount of Php 500,000, he shall submit all the plans to the parish priest for initial discussion and approval and, after which, he should again submit these to the Office of the Bishop for a formal written approval.

4. THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

   1. Nature

      The Parish Pastoral Council General Assembly is a consultative body of the widest representation of clergy, religious and laity exercising a pastoral function within the territorial jurisdiction of the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish. Under the authority of the Parish Priest, who approves each decision, this council deliberates and sets the general policies and guidelines for the parish pastoral ministry.

   2. Composition

      The Parish Pastoral Council General Assembly is composed of:

      1. Parish Priest
      2. Parish Pastoral Council President
      3. Parish Finance Council Head and members
      4. Parish Administrative Council Head and members
      5. Chairperson or Chaircouples of specific Parish Pastoral Commissions
      6. PREX Committee Head
      7. Head of the Parish Church Worker Screening Committee
      8. Representative of Religious Communities with a house/residence in the parish jurisdiction
      9. Director of Veritas Parochial school or his representative
      10. Head of other organizations accredited with the Parish
      11. Head of each Diocesan recognized and Parish approved Organizations
      12. Legion of Mary (Mother of Divine Grace Curia)
      13. Knight of Columbus (Pagkabuhay Council 7147)
      14. Daughter of Mary Immaculate (Our Lady of Circle)
      15. Apostleship of Prayer
      16. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      17. Ministry of Lectors and Commentators
      18. Ministry of Usher, Greeters
      19. Ministry of Collectors (St. Matthew's Guild)
      20. Mother Butler Guild

Article Six: Election Process for Candidates to Headship or Coordinatorship in a Mandated Organization in ROLP Parish

1. The Candidate:
   • must possess "domicile" in Resurrection of Our Lord Parish for a period of, at least, 5 years.
   • must have been an actively registered member of a mandated and parish recognized organization for the past two (2) years and enrolled in the current Organization's list
   • must be physically and mentally capable of discharging the duties inherent in the position sought for and be committed to the accomplishment of all the task the position demands,
2. The general membership must elect a three man "ad hoc COMELEC" from among them and this body supervises the whole election process until the declaration of the winners. Minutes of the election and the written ballots must be submitted to the Parish Priest, after which the body ceases to function.
3. Elections must be through secret written balloting, and the counting (tabulation) of ballots must be done in full public view of the voting membership,
4. Based on the maximum number of votes, the names of the top three nominees must be submitted to the parish priest who picks his choice.
5. A term of office is for two (2) years and renewable, unless the statutes of the organization states otherwise. Renewals are based on the recommendation of the general membership but always with acceptance by the parish priest.

Article Seven: Term and Tenure of Office

The appointing authority for all positions in the Parish rests on the Parish Priest by virtue of his office. All Commission heads and committee heads are appointed for a period of two (2) years, renewable and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Each appointment, which defines the extent and limits of the appointment, shall be covered by a letter of Appointment signed by the Parish Priest and attested by the PPC President. No authority to act in the name of the parish may be assumed by any commission head without the concurrence of the Parish Priest and the Parish Pastoral Council President.

Each Commission shall be headed by a commission head (if spouse, they shall be considered as one voting purpose). The Parish Priest may appoint an alternate head who shall represent the commission in the performance of its functions in case of the absence of the Commission head.

Presidents or heads of accredited or mandated organizations shall be members of the Parish Pastoral Council General Assembly by virtue of their election in accordance with the constitution and By-Laws of their organization and the approval of the Parish Priest. Their term of office shall be as provided for in their respective By-laws or constitution.

Copies of each organization's Constitution and By-laws shall be submitted to the Parish Pastoral Council Office for authentication and safekeeping within thirty (30) days from date of effectivity of this "Document." For authentication purposes, Constitution and by-laws of all organization shall bear the seal of the Parish. It shall be the duty of each organization to furnish the Parish Priest and the Parish Pastoral Council Executive Committee with the latest copy of their Constitution and By-laws. In case of conflict between two or more copies or the same document, the one with the parish seal shall be considered authentic.

In the event amendments are introduced to the Constitution and By-laws of an organization, a copy duly certified by the President and the Secretary of the organization shall be submitted to the Parish Pastoral Council. In the presence of the President and Secretary of the organization, the Parish Pastoral Council President and the Parish Council Secretary shall mark the document with the parish seal and initial the document. This will then serve as the official amended By-laws of the organization.

In the case of an organization without a Constitution and By-law, the Parish Priest, in consultation with the PPC EXECOM, shall prescribe the manner of election of its officers and their term of office, and decide on other related matters concerning the organization.

All presidents and heads of accredited or mandated organizations, while they serve their terms, shall be members of the Parish Pastoral Council General Assembly.

Article Eight: Succession of Officers

In case of death, incapacity, resignation or removal for "just cause" of any of the PPC General Assembly officers, the Parish Priest shall appoint the successor of the vacated position.

Heads of commissions may be be replaced in the same manner as stated above.

The same rule shall apply to the members of the PPC EXECOM Council. All removals or suspension from office for just cause shall be in writing signed by the Parish Priest. Likewise, all resignation shall be in writing duly accepted by the Parish Priest.

Article Nine: Meeting and Quorum

The Parish Council shall determine the day and time of its regular meeting which however should not be less than once a month. The meeting shall be held at the Immaculata Hall of the Parish.

Attendance at the monthly ROLP Community Prayer Assembly by PPCGA members is mandatory. The same shall apply for the EXECOM.

Each member of the Parish Council as well as the EXECOM shall have one vote. In the case of Commissions where the Commission head is a couple, they shall be counted as only one vote. Alternates may vote in behalf of their principals only. They shall not vote without prior consultation with their principals.

To constitute a quorum, at least fifty per cent (50% +1) of the qualified membership of the Council must be present. A majority of the members present voting for an issue shall be considered a valid act of the Council or EXECOM. The Parish Priest shall break any case of a tie.

A formal written notice shall be submitted by a member of the council for each excused absence.

The Robert's Rule of order shall be used to govern all Council and EXECOM proceedings.

Article Ten: Other Pastoral Consultative Bodies

1. THE PARISH CHURCH WORKER SCREENING COMMITTEE
   1. Nature

The Parish Church Worker Screening Council is a group of individuals whose function is to determine the aptitude, willingness and level of maturity and spirituality of a faithful who intends to join a mandated organization dully recognized by the parish and especially a faithful who has been nominated to head a particular church organization. The committee's recommendation is submitted to the parish priest for evaluation and approval.

1. Membership Requirements

Each member of this council is required to be: 1) a practicing Catholic of beyond seventy one (71) yrs old, 2) physically able to perform the task, 3) of good moral character, as vouched by the general membership of his/her organization, 4) no current criminal or administrative case filed against him/her in civil or church court, and 5) approved to be a member of this council by the parish priest.

1. Composition

The council is composed of the Head, who is elected to this position by members through secret voting by a simple majority, while the general membership is taken from the different church organizations existing and operating in the parish, as well as, a representative from each religious congregation which possess for a period of three (3) years a permanent residence/house in the jurisdiction of the parish. The Committee Head assumes a term of office for a period of three (3) years renewable for only for another two (2) year. Other members of this council, also called the general membership, assume a term of three (3) years renewable for another year only.

General membership is appointed by the parish priest to this council through this specific process: each parish organization must select three members from their organization and submit these names to the parish priest; the parish priest chooses from among the submitted names the candidate-member to the council; the candidate-member is further assessed and voted into the council through a simple majority by the Head and the other current council members. After being voted into the council, the faithful must receive an appointment from the Parish Priest.

1. COMMITTEE FOR THE SICK AND ELDERLY (under Family life)
2. COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS (under TRC)

Article Eleven: Removal or Suspension of a PPC Member

A member of the Council may be removed or suspended by the Parish Priest, after consultation with the PPC EXECOM, for the following grounds:

1. Conviction for an offence before the civil or canonical courts involving moral turpitude
2. Involvement in public scandal (The PPC EXECOM shall act as the investigating body unless another body is designated by the Parish Priest.)
3. Turning indifferent / hostile to the Christian principles and teaching of the Catholic Church
4. Losing any of the qualification for membership in the Mandated Organization or Council
5. Failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the Council without justifiable reason (the validity of the reason shall be evaluated by the Parish Priest)

In addition, the Parish Priest may, for a just cause, remove or suspend any member of the Council as he may deem as required by the circumstances of each case.

Article Twelve: Amendments

This Constitution and By-laws shall take effect for a period of three (3) years after which amendments may be included. Amendments may be included only through a vote of three fourth of all the members of the Parish Pastoral Council General Assembly voting in favor of the amendment. Alternate members shall not be included in the counting of the three-fourth vote.

Article Thirteen: Effectivity

This Constitution and By-laws shall be effective upon its approval by the Parish Pastoral Council Executive Committee and ratification by the Parish Priest, followed by the application of the Parish Seal on the original copies. This Constitution, duly ratified, shall bear the signature of the adopting members of the PPC EEXECOM, the Parish Priest and the Diocesan Bishop.