Parish Pastoral Councils (PPCs) have been a feature since the Second Vatican Council. The final document of the recent Synod on Synodality has emphasised the importance of Parish Pastoral councils to give voice and scope for lay People to influence the local Church. The synod spoke of the need to strengthen Pastoral Councils at Parish and Diocesan levels. Pastoral Councils can hold significant potential for offering meaningful opportunities for laypeople to engage with their vocation within the Church.

Here are some of the ways PPCs could enhance the role of the laity:

1. Fostering Active Lay Participation

• PPCs could serve as platforms where laypeople are invited to collaborate in pastoral planning and decision-making, enabling them to contribute their insights and talents to the parish’s mission.
• By extending opportunities for involvement, PPCs can encourage lay members to deepen their engagement with the Church’s mission.

2. Building Co-Responsibility between Priests and Laity

• Through PPCs, parish leadership could invite laypeople to share in the co-responsibility of shaping pastoral priorities. This shared responsibility can highlight the diverse experiences of lay members and ensure that initiatives resonate with the parish community.

3. Creating Opportunities for Formation

• PPCs might offer pathways for lay members to receive formation in leadership and ministry. This could include workshops, spiritual retreats, or mentorship programs, helping laypeople grow in their understanding of their baptismal call.

4. Promoting Synodality

• PPCs could embody synodality by actively seeking contributions from the laity, fostering dialogue, and engaging in communal discernment. This approach aligns with the Synod on Synodality’s emphasis on walking together as a Church.

5. Encouraging Vocational Discernment

• By creating spaces for laypeople to reflect on their unique charisms and how they can serve the parish, PPCs could help individuals discover and live out their personal vocation.

6. Supporting Community Engagement

• PPCs might offer roles for laypeople to take part in initiatives such as social justice programs, liturgical planning, and outreach efforts, enabling them to put their faith into action.

7. Witnessing to the Universal Call to Holiness

• By inviting lay members into the life and mission of the Church, PPCs could provide opportunities for individuals to live out their call to holiness in concrete and impactful ways.

By expanding these opportunities, PPCs can empower laypeople to fully embrace their vocation, enriching both the parish and the broader Church. Whether parishes and dioceses seize the opportunity highlighted by the Synod remains to be seen.