Pastoral Guidelines

The role of the Catholic Filipino-Australian Chaplaincy (CFAC) of the Archdioces of Brisbane is to support the Church’s mission of witnessing to the world of the love and values of Christ as it ministers to the Catholic Filipino communities. The Pastoral Council shares in the responsibility for the on-going spiritual growth of the Filipinos, working together with them and supporting their efforts to live as followers of Christ.

In listening and responding to the hopes, ideas, needs, concerns and problems of the Filipinos, the Pastoral Council seeks to:

1. Provide opportunities for the Filipinos

• To grow in their relationship with God
• To nurture an experience of a community
• To be a good Christian influence in the wider community.

2. Contribute towards making decisions that reflect the Gospel values and the teachings of the Church.

3. Set a calendar of events, events that truly nourish the spiritual and the communal life of the Filipinos.

Composition

The Pastoral Council of Brisbane is the umbrella of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Councils of Gold Coast, Ipswich and Caboolture are sub-chaplaincies for they are under the mandate and supervision of the Brisbane Chaplaincy.

Membership

The Pastoral Council of Brisbane is composed of the Coordinator, Vice-Coordinator, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. Gold Cost, Ipswich and Caboolture chaplaincies have the option to elect an assistant secretary/assistant treasurer, if the situation calls for it.

Pastoral Council officers are elected by way of voting in the process of secret ballot. Each officer of the Pastoral Council is a representative of the whole Filipino community of the Archdiocese and not a representative of a specific group. A person who holds a responsible position in any group of the same nature as the chaplaincy cannot be elected into any office in the Pastoral Council.

Term of Office

The term of office is two years with a maximum of two consecutive years. The office commences every February.

Duties of Elected Officers

Each officer of the Pastoral Council is required

• To attend regular meetings
• To actively participate in the deliberations of the Pastoral Council
• To help develop a spirit of sensitivity to the needs and concerns of the Filipinos; and to listen and understand the issues affecting the life of the Filipinos.

4. To operate within the spirit of mutual collaboration and cooperation in all plans and undertakings of the Chaplaincy.

5. To support the Chaplain as needed.

Meetings

Brisbane Pastoral Council meets every fourth Saturday of the month, except December. Should the situation calls for it, the meeting can be moved at any day. The official venue of the meeting is St Matthew's Church, 180 Bryants Road, Cornubia.

Sub-chaplaincies may arrange their own regular meeting schedules and venues in coordination with the chaplain. They may invite the chaplain to attend the meeting. In any case, the chaplain has to be consulted in making decisions on important matters or events.

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Caboolture officers should meet once a year, preferably February.

Finances

Each chaplaincy is responsible in making initiative to raise funds to sustain the temporal needs of the chaplaincy. It is also responsible to take care of its own chaplaincy accounts. Fundraisings and charitable projects and undertakings need prior clearance from the chaplain.

Communication

It is the mutual responsibility of each Pastoral Council to establish a good rapport with the other chaplaincies by sharing the minutes of their meetings and by collaborating in any way to demonstrate the spirit of camaraderie with all the chaplaincies at all times.

Privacy

All information derived in the conduct of business of the chaplaincy remains the property of the CFAC and is limited only to the officers of the Pastoral Councils. Delicate information tabled at the meetings of each Pastoral Council must be kept only within the confines of the individual Pastoral Council. The Chaplain, however, has to know and has access to this information.

Dealing with Vacancies

Officer of the Pastoral Council absent fore more than six (6) months without a valid reason will be replaced. A unanimous decision by the Pastoral Council is required before a replacement can be submitted to the chaplain for ratification

Review of the Pastoral Guidelines

These guidelines should be reviewed every annual meetings of all Pastoral Councils.

Note: The Pastoral Guidelines was unanimously approved by all the officers of the Pastoral Councils of the Archdiocese of Brisbane during their annual meeting on 17th February 2007, and is therefore take its immediate effect. The Constitution and By-Laws of the Chaplaincy formulated in 1998 has ceased its effectivity.