The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body which unites laity and clergy in a community of prayer, leadership, service, and pastoral planning. All members work together as they seek to listen to the Holy Spirit in discerning what is best for the parish in the light of the Gospel, the Church’s teaching, and the experiences and needs of parishioners and the surrounding community. The Council can fulfill its role by encouraging a climate in which people can feel free to speak the truth with openness and love.