Highlights

Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting

September, 2003

According to Church law (Canon 511),

"In each diocese, to the extent that pastoral circumstances recommend it, a pastoral council is to be established whose responsibility it is to investigate under the authority of the bishop all those things which pertain to pastoral works, to ponder them and to propose practical conclusions about them."

Membership of the Diocesan Pastoral Council is comprised of representatives from diocesan committees and councils, and two representatives from each region, who meet five times each year with the bishop.

- New members attended an orientation. The new Diocesan Pastoral Council members are: Doreen Kromback (Region 3), Fr. Francis Garvey (Priests' Council), Sr. Carmen Sonnek (Sisters' Council), and Alejandro Moreno (Bishop's Appointee from the Hispanic Community). Two representatives from Region 4 are yet to be named as well as representatives for Youth and the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee.

- Bishop John Nienstedt presented the council with an overview of priorities and certain diocesan goals. The priorities are now part of the Plan for Parishes, 2003 - 2008. The goals are other projects and activities that need to be worked on during the coming year. The Bishop emphasized the importance of the Diocesan Pastoral Council's role to advise and consult with him on pastoral activity and issues.

- Mark Kemmeter, diocesan Coordinator of Staff, reflected on some of the ways that the implementation of the new Plan for Parishes may affect other diocesan activity and organization.

- The members discussed an article on "the lay Catholic in the 21st Century." The group concurred that there is a need for more adult formation opportunities and that the diocese may need to play a greater role in this area of ministry.

- Last year's executive committee was re-elected for another term. The committee consists of: Chairperson Dolores Berg, Vice-Chairperson Paulette Svoboda, Secretary Richard Hesse, and Member-at-Large Wayne Carlson.