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CONSTITUTION OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART OUR MISSION STATEMENT We, the Parish Family of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, recognize that we are on a spiritual journey. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we grow as a People of God through Eucharistic celebration, sacramental prayer, apostolic service, continuing faith formation, and renewal. Aware of our responsibilities to each other, we strive to imitate Jesus through compassion, mercy, and love. We seek to be faithful stewards providing a heart and home for the many people of this community. ARTICLE I - NAME This organization will be called "The Parish Council of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church Society, Orchard Park, New York", hereinafter called the "Parish Council". ARTICLE II - PURPOSE The primary purpose and responsibility of the Parish Council is to guide and determine the direction of the parish by providing leadership, leading pastoral planning, initiating and directing policies which flow out of the parish’s mission. This governance is to be visionary, direction-setting, and policy formulating – focusing on the big picture rather than administration. Day-to-day management of operations and the implementation of policies will be the role of staff, committees, and volunteers. ARTICLE III - FUNCTION The four functions of this Council:
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP Section 1 - Membership The Council will have 17 members, to include:
Section 2 - Eligibility and Vacancies
ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS Section 1 - The Council Vice-President shall be Chair of an Elections Committee that will include two other council members to be appointed by the President at the April meeting. This Committee will run the nomination and election process. Section 2 - Nominations from parishioners will be solicited in May, and the elections will be by paper ballots in June. Section 3 - Terms of Office will begin at the September meeting and end on August 31 of the year nearest the end of their term. In the case of members elected as Parish Council Officers, their term will end after the September Parish Council Meeting. ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES The Parish Council will have the following Standing Committees, and each parish group or organization may have a representative on one of the committees as listed below. The larger and more formal parish organizations will elect/select a person to represent them on the assigned committee at that group’s May meeting, for a term of three years. Other groups may appoint a representative to their respective committee if they wish, or have a representative attend a committee meeting for a particular purpose. The committees will represent their groups before the Parish Council. The Parish Council will determine to which committee an existing or new group belongs. Each committee will meet in June to elect/select a Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Parish Council representative and a monthly meeting date. Committee officers are to serve for a three-year term. Any parishioner in good standing may be a member of a committee. Each committee will have at least one staff member. When appropriate, the council may appoint an Ad Hoc Committee for a particular purpose.
The Executive Committee consists of the pastor, the elected officers, and the immediate past President of the Parish Council. They are responsible for determining the agenda for the Council, and under extraordinary circumstances, may act on behalf of the Council, when necessary.
The Finance and Maintenance Committee is responsible for the Christian management of parish resources, both material and human. In an attitude of stewardship, it should include responsibility for overseeing financial management and facilities maintenance. Activities within the parish complex are approved by this committee.
The Justice and Service Committee will minister to those in need through Christian service and social justice efforts, both in the parish and in the world outside of the parish.
The Worship Committee concentrates on the celebration of the liturgy and the sacraments. It consists of all groups involved in prayer, music, liturgy, and sacramental preparation. Regarding sacramental preparation, the Worship Committee will work hand in hand with the Education and Formation Committee.
The Evangelization Committee focuses on announcing the Good News to all people. This encompasses all preaching and explanation of the Word outside of regular liturgies and school activities. Additionally, the Evangelization Committee works to inform those interested in the Faith, and to invite back to the Church the inactive and the fallen away.
The Education Committee is responsible for the formal educational activities for children, youth, and adults of the parish, with the purpose of facilitating the growth of each person into the whole Christian.
The Community Building and Communications Committee will stress the communal nature of parish life and the particular need of "belonging" in such a large parish. Thus, it concentrates on the social activities of the parish and the surrounding community.
Section 1 - The officers of the Parish Council shall be:
Section 2 - Election and Term of Office
Section 3 - A vacancy in the presidency will be filled by the Vice-President.
ARTICLE VIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND MEMBERS Section 1 - The President of the Parish Council will:
Section 2 - The Vice-President will fulfill all duties of the President in his/her absence and Chair the Election Committee. Section 3 - The Secretary will:
Section 4 - To enable all members to participate in all matters before the Council, a Recorder who is not a Parish Council member, may be appointed by the Pastor to record the minutes of the meetings. ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS Section 1 - The Parish Council will meet every month, September through June. Section 2 - Nine members will constitute a quorum. A quorum will be required for the conduct of an official meeting Section 3 - A simple majority vote of members in attendance at any meeting will be required for the transaction of routine business. Section 4 - At the Pastor’s discretion, it may be required that the entire Council be polled before a decision is made. Section 5 - Special meetings may be called by the Pastor or the President. Section 6 - Robert’s Rules of Order will govern the proceedings of the Parish Council. Section 7 - A "Sense of Council" procedure may be used to obtain opinions and guidance on proposed or contemplated actions or ideas brought before the Council. This would be an informal discussion amongst the members and the Chair to "sense" their inclination on matters that may later be formally proposed and voted on. Section 8 - Any parishioner may attend a Parish Council meeting, but only members may participate in discussions and votes. Section 9 - Any person may address the Parish Council at a meeting providing they have prior approval from the Pastor or President ARTICLE X - AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION Section 1 - Any Council member or parishioner of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in good standing may propose to the President, in writing, a reasonable amendment to this Constitution. Section 2 - The President must include the proposed amendment in the next meeting’s agenda. Section 3 - Any proposed amendment must be acted upon over three consecutive meetings; proposed at first meeting, discussed at second, voted upon at third meeting. Section 4 - An amendment will require a two-thirds affirmative vote of members present and votes conveyed to Pastor or President beforehand.
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