Pastoral Council & Commissions

The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), in collaboration with the pastor, assumes the overall well-being of the parish, present and future. Its primary work is strategic pastoral planning; its secondary work is consultative, proposing practical solutions to the ongoing life of the parish.

Members of the PPC are individuals with talent in planning and designing parish mission, vision and goals. They are committed to the parish as a whole, are willing to serve for three years, are able to attend council meetings and can work collaboratively with each other and the pastor.

The PPC is accountable to multiple groups and fulfills its function by being responsible to the parish community, the pastor, the Bishop, the diocesan pastoral council and itself.

The PPC is not a board of directors that defines the role of or manages the pastor. The council has no responsibility to oversee or direct the pastor. The PPC, in its consultative capacity advises the pastor on issues that he brings for discussion. Council members may present issues that they have observed or heard, but the council does not take the role of parishioner advocacy or pastor evaluator.

To work effectively, the PPC has no less than five members and keeps within a range of seven to twelve members. More than twelve and less than five members handicap effective group dynamics, discussion and decision-making. The PPC includes the pastor, parochial vicar and discerned parishioners. Discernment for new members occurs in the spring.

Parish Pastoral Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month in Room 167.  All are welcome to attend.

The PPC welcomes your thoughts, questions and concerns. Contact the PPC Executive Committee via email: pastoralcouncil@st-raphael.com.

Parish Council 2021-2022

Pete Makris – Chair

Katie Helm – Vice Chair

Lacy Cortez – Secretary

Fr. Dan Bachner – Pastor

Fr. Jose Cerna “MM”– Pastoral Vicor

Dan Koys – Member at Large

Joy Brackett – Member at Large

Dennis Kiraly  – Finance

Marian Johnston – Staff Rep

Jenn Pfundstein  – RE

Kate Helm  – School

Tony Golab – LLC

Andy Blank – Young Adult

Sean Hagen – Service Ministry

Paul Betten – Pastoral Care

Peggy Overholt – Adult Faith