Highlights

Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting - December 7, 2002

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.

December Meeting Agenda discussion

- The Financial Statement of the Diocese for the fiscal year of July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002 was reviewed. There was a net asset deficit of $7,542. The membership considered this loss minimal in light of investment return fluctuations and the extraordinary diocesan activity of the previous year.

- Because of low rates of return on investments, the Priests’ Pension Board and the Priests’ Council is recommending an increase in parish assessments to the Priests’ Pension Fund for the remainder of the fiscal year and into the next year. The membership suggested empha-sizing that the assessments were lowered during the capital campaign but need to be raised now in order to protect the full-funding of the pension.

- Several priest personnel policy revisions, regarding priests and deacons who come into the Diocese to serve, were recom-mended.

- A new policy for a Safe Environment program for the Diocese was reviewed and recommended. The policy establishes annual inservices for diocesan and parish personnel in order to prevent and detect the sexual abuse of minors. Inservices have already been conducted for pastoral leaders, diocesan staff, and Catholic School teachers.

- Thirty education policies for Catholic Schools, reflecting updates and changes in State and Federal statutes, were discussed and recommended.

- The Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund awarded approximately $2,000 to members of the Diocese who are working on advanced degrees in theology or related studies during the past year. A revised draft of the Fund’s interim guidelines was reviewed and recommended.

- A policy for the First Reception of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation was discussed and recommended. The policy provides for an ongoing catechesis on the Sacrament and clarifies that the majority of candidates preparing for First Eucharist should receive Penance/Reconciliation prior to the first reception of Communion.

- 46 of 82 parish pastoral councils have responded so far to the DPC survey on communication and consultation. Over 80% of the parishes wish to be involved in the diocesan policy-making process. A response to the survey will be finalized at the next meeting.

- The Loyola University of New Orleans Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX) academic program was studied for its possible introduction into the diocese. Some of the nearly 60 dioceses which have used the program will be contacted for their evaluation. Academic institutions in the immediate area will also be approached.

- The preliminary draft of the Plan for Parishes 2002 — 2007 was reviewed and discussed.