Kilbrittain Parish Assembly

Constitution

BACKGROUND:

In February 2001 the Parish Pastoral Group (which was formed in 1998 and nearing its end of term) met with Canon John K. O'Mahony and guest speakers, who spoke of their experience of drawing up and implementing a Parish Pastoral Plan in the Parish of Ballinhassig. It was decided to set about a programme of Parish Renewal for our own Parish.

A Committee from this group took on the responsibility of organising and planning elections, thus increasing the membership and broadening the base. In order to achieve this the Parish was divided into 14 electoral areas each of approximately 30 homes with about 70 adults. A list of people in the Electoral Area was given to each household together with ballot papers for those over 18, and these votes were collected two weeks later and counted.

Each area elected 3 people one of whom was under the age of 28. Those with the highest number of votes were asked if they were willing to take part, and if so form the Parish Group. This group then met in September 2001 for four evening sessions of preparatory work. This culminated in a weekend assembly in October in the Pastoral Centre at the African Missions, Wilton, Cork.

NAME:

1. 1 The Parish Group shall be known as Kilbrittain Parish Assembly.

1. 2 "The Parish Assembly has only a consultative voice and it is regulated by the norms laid down by the Diocesan Bishop" Ref. Canon 536.

AIMS:

2. 1 To enhance parish life and ministry through the collaboration of priest and people in developing the spiritual and temporal well being of the community and to make the Gospel a living reality.

OBJECTIVES:

3. 1 To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas.

3. 2 To examine the strengths and needs of the parish and to harness the various talents and abilities of people in response to those needs.

ELECTIONS:

4. 1 Elections to the assembly shall be by the vote of all parishioners over 18 years of age.

4. 2 Subject to paragraph 4.6 all parishioners aged over 18 years shall be deemed eligible and available for election.

4. 3 The Parish Priest for the time being together with the outgoing central committee shall act as convenors of the elections and shall also act as returning officers.

4. 4 The Parish shall be divided into electoral areas of approximately the same number of people.

4. 5 Three people shall be elected from each electoral area one of whom shall be under 28 years of age.

4. 6 The term of office shall be three years and a person shall only be eligible for two consecutive periods of office.

THE ASSEMBLY:

5. 1 The Assembly shall be convened by the convenors following the election of members from each electoral area.

5. 2 The initial Assembly shall be held over two days.

5. 3 The task of the Assembly at the initial gathering shall be:

5. 3. 1 To examine the strengths and weaknesses of the parish. Regarding the involvement of people in various areas of parish life such as Church, Liturgy, Ministry, Community and Voluntary groups.

5. 3. 2 To review the plans of the previous assembly and assess the effectiveness of the programme agreed and implemented during the term of that assembly.

5. 3. 3 To plan a programme and implement it.

5. 3 4 To elect a Parish Pastoral Group to act as a central co-ordinating body. The person with the next highest vote shall fill any vacancy arising.

5. 3. 5 To form working groups to take responsibility for specific areas of pastoral and parish activities that have been agreed by the assembly.

5. 4. The Assembly shall be convened from time to time during its term of office:

5. 4. 1 To report on and review the programme decided on at the initial assembly and to transact such business as is proper to the whole assembly.

5. 4. 2 To review the progress of the working groups and to make adjustments where deemed necessary.

PARISH PASTORAL GROUP:

6. 1 The Parish Pastoral Group shall act as the central co-ordinating body on behalf of the assembly.

6. 2 The Group shall meet at least 6 times a year.

6. 3 The Group shall have the task of:

6. 3. 1 Taking responsibility for the implementation of the programme decided on the assembly.

6. 3. 2 Supporting the various working groups and to act as a liaison between them.

6. 3. 3 Convening the meetings of the Parish Pastoral Assembly.

6. 3. 4 Taking responsibility for communicating the work of the Assembly to the wider Parish and to invite response and ideas from them.

AMENDMENTS:

7. 1 Amendments to this constitution may only be made at a meeting of the Parish Assembly by two-thirds of the members present and voting.

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