St. Joseph Church
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust
A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg

The Reverend John S. Szczesny             The Reverend Alan W. Grote
         Pastor                                           Parochial Vicar

Pastoral Council

            The pastors and parishioners of St. Joseph Parish have long had the guidance and support of dedicated parishioners who have volunteered in leadership ministry.  The traditional parish council model, which provided support from an operational and fund-raising perspective, existed until the year 2000.  With the implementation of New Wine, New Wineskins in the Diocese of Greensburg, all existing parish council members received formation in the pastoral model of parish councils.  St. Joseph Parish adopted this model in the year 2000 which has supplanted the traditional type of parish council with a planning and envisioning pastoral model.  Members of Pastoral Council assist the parish in developing plans for the future in the areas of the seven elements of parish life:  Evangelization, Worship, Word, Service, Community, Stewardship, and Leadership.

Members of the Pastoral Council should have the following characteristics:

•  a desire for spiritual growth in themselves and in the parish

• enthusiasm about the future directions of our parish

• willingness to listen, to speak honestly, and to work toward consensus

• the ability to inspire and empower others and to delegate

• flexibility and openness with people and ideas

To be considered for the ministry of parish leadership, a parishioner must be:

• a baptized Catholic.

• a registered member of the parish for at least five years.

• a participant in the ongoing worship life our parish, especially Sunday Eucharist.

• at least twenty-one years old.