For many years, our Pastoral Council focused mainly on reporting ministry activity and parish events, basically keeping members up to speed on current happenings at Notre Dame. Meetings were held once a month, typically for an hour and a half in the evening, and over the years, the Council included a long line of committed, fully engaged ministry leaders.

After three years on a path of parish renewal, and benefiting from wise coaching by Divine Renovation, Fr. Paddy and the leadership team began to view the Council in a new and more valuable role that would support and help advance our mission: one of an envisioning body. Today, Pastoral Council probes deeply into critical issues designed to answer the question: What do we want Notre Dame to look like five years from now? Ten years from now?  In order to explore these questions more fully, Pastoral Council now meets 3-4 times each year for an entire Saturday morning, from the perspective of five key areas of parish life: worship; evangelization; discipleship; fellowship/hospitality; and ministry.

While at one time the Council consisted of seasoned ministry leaders, today it is becoming more representative of our parish population, as it should be. The ministry now includes the “voices” of both young parents and a young adult, and an important goal is to work toward an ever more equitable mirroring of the parish as we move forward.

Serving as Pastoral Council President is Mike Letterese, with Carolyn Tortorello in the role of Council Secretary.  Mike captures nicely why this leadership body is important to the life of our parish: