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A Parish Pastoral Council is a local parish committee provided for in the Code of Canon Law (#536) to offer advice and counsel to a pastor in matters pertaining to pastoral ministry in a parish. Council members are chosen by appointment or election to reflect the diversity of the parish membership and to facilitate communication between the active ministries and apostolates of the parish. Meetings are conducted monthly in a spirit of prayer and collaboration for the good of the parish. The decision-making process takes place by consensus. When necessary, advisory votes are taken to recommend action to the pastor, which he can accept or reject when implementing policy. The council is governed by by-laws and organized by committees.
At. St. Als, membership on the Pastoral Council is voted on by the parish at large. Any confirmed parish member is eligible for nomination to this council. Its main goal is to counsel the pastor on matters that pertain to the spiritual and material welfare of the parish. The council is responsible for the creation of a parish mission statement and the application of it in all of the other parish groups. The Pastoral Council meets ten times each year on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 P.M. in the church office conference room. All meetings are open to members of the parish.