By Michael Motes

The October meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council was highlighted by Archbishop Thomas Donnellan’s pledge to the Liturgical Committee that he plans to implement the distribution of Holy Communion to the laity.

Sister Janet Valente, secretary of the Pastoral Council and director of the archdiocesan Office of Urban Affairs, stated in the council minutes: “The archbishop has told the Liturgical Commission he will implement lay ministry of communion, but feels an appropriate time for cathechesis and explanation is needed; and also would like those chosen for this to be presented by the parish community in a formal ceremony.”

Archbishop Donnellan told the group that he had given permission to several seminarians to distribute communion during the summer and that some parishioners opposed the idea.

The archbishop, who had earlier opened the four-times-a-year meeting of the council with prayer, addressed the first report of the day by presenting information on the progress of the archdiocesan poverty program (“Operation Eye-Opener,” which has, when presented, been a feature of the BULLETIN in the past).

In his evaluation of the program, the archbishop elaborated on the archdiocese’s concern in the housing area. He said that two nonprofit sponsorship projects had recently been considered. But “for different reasons” had not been developed.

Father Henry Gracz reported that the Liturgical Commission, for which he spoke, is “particularly concerned” about the qualifications and diocesan training of organists and the “evaluation of the worship aides available today for parish use.”

Leon Allain, president of the council, expressed great concern over the nonentity of the council. He noted that less than 20 percent of the parish councils he had visited during his present tenure of office knew of the Pastoral Council’s existence.

To Allain, who refers to the council as a “dialogue group between the flock and the shepherd,” this lack of knowledge of existence is a great disappointment.

“The Council is here to serve the entire community,” he said. “But often the lack of inner-communication prevails.”

Each delegate to the council should respect his part in the Christian community, according to Allain, who requests that each parish within the diocese become better acquainted with the Pastoral Council and requests of the parish delegate an update on the council’s activities.

“If each parish would become more involved”, said Allain, “and take a more active role in the Pastoral Council meetings, a greater degree of both comprehension and communication could exist throughout our diocese.”

The next meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is scheduled for November 18. The BULLETIN will announce in advance the time and locale.