The Parish Pastoral Council, over which the Pastor presides, assists the Pastor in his pastoral planning for the parish with expert opinion and advice for the good of the Church. In keeping with the organic nature of the parish as an expression of the local church, united to the Bishop, a pastoral council is not a decision-making body rather it possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by the norms established by the diocesan bishop (The Code of Canon Law, 511-514). As such, the establishment and on-going work of a pastoral council is normative for parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington.

The main objective of the parish pastoral council is to promote pastoral activity that will help the parish achieve its supreme purpose, the salvation of souls. The pastoral council assists the pastor with discerning and achieving the overall good of the parish and its mission.