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ARTICLE I - MEETINGS
1. AGENDA
a. The agenda for each Parish Council meeting will be mailed to each council member on or about one (1) week prior to the meeting.
b. Each Parish Council meeting will begin and end with a prayer.
c. A motion to approve the minutes of the previous Parish Council meeting shall be made at the beginning of each meeting.
2. PROCEDURAL
a. A quorum, consisting of a simple majority of the members-at-large shall be necessary for a meeting to be held.
b. A Parish Council meeting will normally be limited to (90) minutes in length. Extensions are granted by a majority vote of the members present.
c. The secretary shall take attendance at all Parish Council meetings. Upon three absences from regular meetings during one council year, un-excused by the President, a member shall be considered to have resigned from the council, making his/her seat vacant and to be filled as set down by Article II, Section 4 of these By-Laws.
d. Procedural motions shall be passed by a simple majority while those requiring the action of the council shall be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members present.
e. At the last meeting of the council year, the president, or a previously elected officer shall ask for nominations for each office. The nominations and election for president shall precede the nomination and election for First Vice-president and so on. Election for each office should be by separate writen ballot, and a simple majority is required for the election.
ARTICLE II - ELECTIONS
1. NOMINATIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS
a. In March a Nominating Committee, chaired by the First Vice-President and consisting of two (2) additional members elected by the Council shall prepare a list of nominees, each of whom has consented to serve if elected.
b. Any Parishioner who submits a petition signed by fifteen (15) registered parishioners shall automatically become a nominee.
c. A ballot, including the names and photographs of all nominees and a space for write-in votes should be available to all registered parishioners eighteen (18) and older after all Saturday and Sunday Masses. An announcement should be made at all Masses that only parishioners eighteen (18) and older should vote.
d. During May the Parish Bulletin should include notification that an election is to take place, that nominees' resumes may be picked up at the rear of the Church and that absentee ballots are available at the Rectory.
e. All elected council members will attend an informal instruction-orientation session devised under the direction of the Parish Council Officers. sufficient notification of the time of the session(s) should be given and an effort made to a accomodate the schedules of the new members.
3. ELECTION RESULTS
a. All nominess should be notified the night of the election, if possible, of the elections results.
b. Upon request, any parishioner shall be given the actual vote count of the election.
c. The results of the election shall be included in the available Parish Bulletin.
4. VACANCIES
a. Any vacancy which occurs among the members- at-large shall be filled by nomination and vote of the council, giving due consideration to those who ran but were not elected in the most recent election. Such new members will serve for the length of the un-expired term.
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
1. STANDING COMMITTEES - GENERAL
a. The four standing committees of the council mandated bythe Constitution shall consist of at least three (3) members. At the last meeting of the Council year, members shall volunteer for a standing committee. The Council Officers shall resolve any conflicts or failure to meet the necessary three (3) member requirement.
b. Each Committee shall, at it's first meeting of the Council year, elect a Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be resposible for calling committee meetings, initiating liason with Parish clerical and lay staff, Parish Organizations and Parishioners. He/she shall be responsible for preparing the committee's monthly and annual reports and for any other duties which may be required or directed by the President. The Chairperson may delegate these or portions thereof to other members of the committee but shall retain full responsibility for their fulfillment.
c. Any Standing Committee meeting requires the presence of at least two (2) committee members.
2. STANDING COMMITTEE - DUTIES
a. The Christian Service and Community Life committee - is concerned with social evangelization, hospitality, and furthering Parish involvement in the Christian Community. It should seek ways in which the Parish can engage in a wider social ministry. Organizations such as the CYO, Care Givers, and Right to Life represent groups that this committee interfaces with.
b. The Spiritual Development Committee - serves to assist those individuals and groups in the Parish whose purpose is the furtherng of the worship and prayer life of the Parish. This committee acts as a liaison between these individuals and groups and the Council. Such groups and individuals include, Eucharistic Ministers, Cantors, Music Groups and Lectors.
c. The Education Committee - provides a liaison between the Council and such groups as those involved with the Religious Education Program, the Grade School Program, and programs of education and catechesis that are run on an occasional basis. This commitee should assist, where possible, in the broader aspects of these programs and seek to improve all aspects of education and catechesis in the Parish.
d. The administration Committee - is inolved in all aspects of Parish administration including budget, building and ground maintenance, communication and any other duties which may be assigned to it by the President.
3. MEMBERSHIP
A. All Parish Council members shall be required to be a member of and take an active part in the workings of at least one committee.
