Highlights

Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting

March, 2005

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.

March Agenda

- Tom Holzer, Director of Finance, reviewed the financial report of the diocese for fiscal 2004-2005. A report summary will be published in the May issue of The Prairie Catholic.

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- The budget for the fiscal year of 2005-2006 was reviewed. The budget involves revenues and expenses of $2,430,000. The budget was recommended for approval.

- Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale, a consultant to the Minnesota Catholic Education Conference (MCEA), presented the state standards for the certification of catechetical leaders. Most of these candidates are Directors of Religious Education (DRE’s). The diocese currently has seven candidates for certification. Those who receive the certification from their bishops will serve as a diocesan review board for future candidates. The first statewide group of candidates for certification will be recognized in August.

- The Council completed its prioritization and response to the NALM (National Association for Lay Ministry) Study that was conducted in the diocese. After focusing on several priorities in each of the six challenge areas, it was determined that the co-priorities of the diocese should be "to form an Ad Hoc Committee to study and develop the establishment of a formation program for the permanent deaconate and lay ecclesial ministry" and "to identify new sources of diocesan revenue to fund new ministry initiatives."

- The Council continued to plan for the 50th Anniversary observance of the establishment of the diocese. The Executive Committee will draft a full outline of the observance for discussion and finalization at the next meeting. The observance schedule will be announced in the June issue of The Prairie Catholic.

- An article on the four steps of evangelization by Matthew Kelly was discussed. The Council recognizes that the Diocesan evangelization priority that will coincide with the observance of the 50th Anniversary will need to incorporate the themes of evangelization, the role of the laity in the church, the call to discipleship, and adult faith formation/outreach activities in each parish and area faith community.

- An update on the progress of the feasibility study for a diocesan appeal revealed that there was sufficient interest among the pastoral and lay leaders who attended regional gatherings to recommend that a random survey should be conducted in the diocese. The survey will provide objective data about the level of commitment for an appeal and essential information for the development of a case statement.