Parish Committees are the backbone and driving force of parish life. Their work is directed toward specific on-going tasks related to general parish life. They are composed of a sufficient number of parishioners to carry out their tasks. Their members meet regularly and work with other parishioners on projects and activities which have a real impact on the parish. These committees have a stability related to the tasks for which they are responsible. While those on Pastoral Council may be members, the parish committees are parish committees and not sub-groups of the Pastoral Council. As such, they do not "report" to the Pastoral Council. These committees relate to the pastor, parish staff and parish at large by the funding, scheduling, and publicity of their activities. The liaison with parish committees and the pastoral council is the pastor and parish staff. Some elements of parish life are not covered by a parish committee because they are the direct responsibility of a member of the parish staff and they have their own specific ways of obtaining input from specific segments of the parish (e.g. religious education or youth ministry).

At present, the committees of Saint Kilian Parish are listed below (they are either active at present or deemed necessary and in need of formation). Please select from the following for further information:

• Activities Committees
• Apostolate Committees
• Evangelization Committees
• Faith Formation Committee
• Heritage Committee
• Worship Committee
• Ad Hoc Committees

Activities Committee
Since a parish is a social community oriented toward interaction on many levels, a varied social life is extremely important. Building community occurs not only at the Eucharist but also in the fellowship which flows from it. The Activities Committee is responsible to foster activities which impact on the social life of the parish and the wider community. It also works to achieve the parish's strategic objectives. Some examples of its activities are the Halloween social, children's Christmas party, Valentines dance and the Mardi Gras.

Apostolate Committee
The Apostolate committee is fundamentally oriented toward service. Its members work closely with the parish social service ministers (e.g. Ladies of Charity, and St. Vincent De Paul Society) as well as those working in bereavement, health care and respect life ministry as well as the promotion of vocations. It also works to achieve the parish's strategic objectives. Some examples of its functions would include: sending cards to shut-ins and visiting the sick.

Evangelization Committee
Evangelization should be at the heart of every parish. This committee advises the pastor and parish staff on updating the "welcome" material available and the parish's fundamental hospitality ministry. They also foster and facilitate neighborhood welcome activities. They develop ways to bring people back to the practice of their faith and work to provide a home in our parish for those who are "unchurched." It also works to achieve theparish's strategic objectives. Some examples of its areas of responsibility would include sending welcome material, organizing neighborhood welcome activities, and sponsoring programs for the unchurched or those away from Catholic faith and desiring to return.

Faith Formation Committee
This committee is responsible for fostering an atmosphere in the parish whereby parishioners are made aware that Catholic faith is a process of life-long growth. This committee collaborates with the pastor and parish staff in providing the means by which this growth can occur. The way in which this occurs is varied. The parish may provide the forum for groups to meet (such as support groups for various needs). The parish will also supply specific programs to meet adult education needs. One activity being considered is the establishment and maintenance of a quality video library for the entertainment and faith formation of the entire family. Catalogues would be maintained and individuals or families would be encouraged to donate their own tapes or the cost of purchasing new ones as memorials. This committee also works to achieve the parish's strategic objectives.

Heritage Committee
This committee is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a parish archive. The purpose of the archive is to preserve the history of the parish and its parishioners as well as documenting the present to preserve it for the future. This will initially involve requesting the donations of documents, photographs and artifacts (which will in turn need to be catalogued and preserved). Ultimately, displays will be set up to enable parishioners to view items within the archive. This committee also works to achieve the parish's strategic objectives.

Worship Committee
This committee assists the parish, parish staff, and especially the parish liturgists and musicians by informed discussion of various aspects of the liturgical life of the parish. This would include but not exhaust issues such as scheduling and assessing the quality of our parish worship and prayer. An important part of the work of this committee is the formation and coordination of Art and Environment Teams which help decorate the church for special seasons and feasts. This committee also works to achieve the parish's strategic objectives.

Ad Hoc Committees
are established to address certain issues or tasks. Such committees generally exist for a specific period of time (usually the duration of the issue or task). For example, the process of building will require the formation of committees to deal with various aspects of this process. Other examples of such committees might be those dealing with a Harvest Dinner, Flea Market, Rummage Sale, Work of Human Hands Project, bake sales, etc.