The Role of the Parish Pastoral Worker

The Parish Pastoral Worker works in partnership with the priests and pastoral council of a parish or group of parishes in the 4 areas of: 

Educating – Promoting lifelong learning in the Catholic tradition and in Christian living. Typical tasks include:

• Proclaiming Christ and witnessing to him in their own lives
• Sharing in the work of evangelisation to promote a living relationship with Jesus Christ for all
• Co-ordinating faith development initiatives 
• Promoting understanding of the Church and its mission
• Providing opportunities for various people to deepen their understanding of their Catholic faith
• Contributing to sacramental preparation programmes.

Praying  –  Enhancing the prayer and worship of the parish community Typical tasks include:

• Facilitating the full, active and conscious participation of all the faithful in liturgical celebrations 
• Enriching parish liturgical and sacramental celebrations especially the Sunday Eucharist
• Developing appropriate para-liturgy,
• Working with teachers to resource prayer and liturgy in the parish schools
• Supporting family prayer

Animating – As a lay Catholic, bearing witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging involvement in existing and new initiatives expressing the mission of the Church today. Typical tasks include:

• Encouraging and supporting other lay people in living their faith in the precise circumstances of their lives
• Reaching out in welcome to newcomers, to those disconnected from Jesus and the Church and to those marginalised by society
• Working with Parish Pastoral Council in fulfilling its mission.
• Contributing to ecumenical and inter-religious encounter

Relating – Building community through quality relationships and pastoral care. Typical tasks include:

• Serving as an ex-officio member of the Parish Pastoral Council
• Being available and ‘present’ to individuals and their needs especially the lonely, the sick and the bereaved.
• Supporting and nurturing parish groups especially those engaged in Catholic action and in lay liturgical ministries.
• Participating in home visitation and working with parents and families
• Building links between home, school and parish