Highlights
Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting - May 18, 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.
May Meeting Agenda discussion
- The impact of RENEW 2000 in the diocese was reviewed. Over the five seasons, small group participation went from a first season high of over 5,000 members to an average of 2,200 for the remaining seasons. This renewal experience culminated in the diocesan festival, with 1,400 participants. Some small groups are continuing to meet.
- The diocese is seeking grant money to sponsor a Master Degree Program in Pastoral Studies at various local sites. This program would train future parish ministers and provide in depth enrichment for those already in parish service.
- An internship program for seminarians from the Diocese of New Ulm was examined. This new program will assign a seminarian to spend two months at the mission in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, to have a parish experience in the western part of the diocese, and to serve as a deacon in a parish in the eastern part of the diocese.
- A memorial Mass on September 19, 2002, first anniversary of the death of Bishop Raymond A. Lucker was proposed. The liturgy would also include the remembrance of all deceased bishops and priests of the diocese.
- A panel of Pastoral Administrators informed the Council of their role and responsibilities in parishes. The pastoral administrator is appointed by the bishop and entrusted with the pastoral care of a parish which is without a resident priest. A priest is appointed as sacramental minister to provide for sacramental celebrations. There are currently 21 pastoral administrators in the diocese. In the United States, there are now 437 parishes under the care of pastoral administrators.