HIGHLIGHTS

Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting – December, 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 councils and committees, and two representatives from each region, who meet five times each year with the bishop.

December Meeting Agenda

• The Council began its study of the Policy for the Diocesan Pastoral Council and Committees. The policy was discussed and then referred to the Committee on Parishes for their recommendations on the relationship of the Council to Area Faith Communities.
• A revised application for the Lay Ministry Scholarship was introduced by the Evangelization and Catechesis Committee and reviewed. The application was recommended for the Bishop’s approval.
• The latest compilation of Catholic School enrollments was discussed. Overall, there is a decline in school enrollments but some schools have more students now than in the early and mid-1990’s.
• The evangelization process/priority was discussed and a preliminary plan was referred to the Priests’ Council for their review and suggestions.
• The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Diocesan Pastoral Council will form a planning committee to prepare a marriage/family celebration in the fall of 2006. The committee is looking at a possible January or February meeting date.
• The final organizational details were recommended for the 50^th Anniversary observance of the Diocese of New Ulm. Letters will be sent to the standing committees to begin preparations for the celebrations. The Council will have a standing agenda item on the anniversary celebrations in order to monitor and review the planning.
• There was a discussion about the language for the Rites of Christian Burial that is used in some newspaper obituaries in the Diocese. The word “service” is often used as a generic reference rather than the proper terminology. There was agreement that a directive to pastoral leaders should be made. The matter will be sent to the Worship Committee for study and the preparation of some kind of directive.
• Sister Anna Marie Reha, SSND, the Director of Hispanic Ministry, offered the enrichment on the organization and state of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese. She also presented the report from the Ad Hoc Committee on the “Plan for the Future of Hispanic Ministry.” The Plan recommends an increase in the number of worship centers from the present number of six to better serve the entire Diocese, the expansion of ministry to Hispanics in all areas and parishes where there is a sizable population, and the development of training and formation opportunities for those involved and interested in the ministry.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, March 4, 2006, at St. Catherine in Redwood Falls, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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