We are pleased to announce that members of the St. Stanislaus Parish Pastoral Council have been selected to serve our parish community. The Council will work closely with our priests and deacons to help discern a shared vision for the spiritual and pastoral life of our parish.

Members:

• Deacon Tony Bellitto
• Kathleen Vaccarelli
• Deborah Eble
• Alexa Friend
• Robert DeVico
• Eileen McKeron
• Francis Romano
• Annemary Roth
• Jorge Villarreal
• Victoria Kaczmarek
• John A. Dougherty
• Jeffrey Gulla

In the coming weeks, some of the Council members will participate in a Diocesan Leadership Gathering hosted by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This session will help them interpret and apply the insights gained from last year’s Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey, which provided valuable feedback from our parish community.

Drawing on these results, the Council will begin to develop a pastoral vision and set of priorities for the future of St. Stanislaus Parish—one that deepens our discipleship, strengthens parish life, and renews our shared mission of “Listening, Loving, and Liberating” in Christ.

– Rev. Patrick J. Brady (11/2/25)

Role of the Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is a consultative body that assists the pastor in pastoral matters through prayerful reflection and consensus-building. It is not a decision-making group but one that helps the pastor discern and implement the parish’s mission.

The council’s key responsibilities include:

• Gauging the needs, concerns, and gifts of the parish community.
• Helping to craft and periodically review the parish mission statement (always naming Jesus).
• Developing a pastoral plan to guide parish life.
• Recommending policies, programs, and priorities to advance the parish mission.
• Regularly reviewing ministries, evaluating progress, and suggesting improvements.
• Considering Archdiocesan goals and how they can be implemented at St. Stanislaus

Membership
The Archdiocese recommends that a Parish Pastoral Council have 12 members, plus the pastor and any parochial vicars . Membership is structured to reflect the whole parish:

1. Ex Officio Members (3 seats)
   • A member of the Parish Finance Council (required).
   • Other possible ex officio members: school principal, Director of Religious Education, deacon, social minister, or director of worship .
2. Elected Members (6 seats)
   • Parishioners chosen through a nomination and election process, organized by a Nomination Committee chaired by the PPC’s vice-chairperson .
3. Appointed Members (3 seats)
   • Selected by the pastor to ensure broad representation across the parish community .

Terms of Service

• Members generally serve a three-year term, renewable once consecutively.
• Terms should be staggered so that no more than one-third of the council changes at one time. In a new council, initial terms may be set at one, two, or three years to establish this cycle .

Why It Matters
The Parish Pastoral Council is one of the most important ways that lay parishioners participate in the mission of the Church. By joining in prayer, discernment, and planning with the pastor, council members help ensure that the parish reflects the Gospel and responds to the real needs of its people  .

Source: Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Parish Pastoral Councils – Guidelines and Resources: archphila.org – Parish Pastoral Councils