They, and other bodies, like Pastoral Councils, Finance Committees, are the means of ensuring that parishioners can exercise their right to make their needs and wishes known to their pastors. In the past, inadequate preparation and the inexperience of available lay-people, brought setbacks. The best people are not always the easiest to work with and the easiest to work with are not always the best people for the job. Parishioners have the right to express opinions concerning the good of the Church to their pastors. The challenge now is to prepare people to play the full part, appropriate to them in the life of the Church.
Pastors have to respect the intelligence and maturity of their parishioners.
People are more likely to listen to and obey pastors when they find that their own views are considered and their dignity appreciated. It is a question really of mutual trust and respect. Preaching catechetical formation, pre-sacramental preparation, care of the souls, these are the ordinary means by which lay faithful receive the spiritual assistance from the Church and the Word of God and the sacraments to which they are entitled. One of the great strengths of the Catholic Church in Ireland has been, and still is, the close links between the lay faithful and their clergy. Those links have been forged by home visitation, especially in times of tragedy and bereavement, pastoral care, involvement in youth ministry and education.