So that our parish councils continue to grow and develop, and the mission of the Church also grows and develops, the Diocesan Pastoral Council will be developing sessions at the Diocesan Annual Conference and workshops to follow.

The Mission of Pastoral Councils:  Have you ever dreaded a parish council meeting? Truth be told, they can be boring. But how do you fix that? This workshop offers a strong understanding of the threefold mission of the parish pastoral council, which is a great start. In a consultative council, pastors invite councils to investigate a matter, reflect on it, and recommend their conclusions. Meetings take on new significance when council members embrace this role, striving to discern conclusions so wise and prudent that the pastor implements them.

The Spirituality of Pastoral Councils:  The bishop has entrusted the parish to the pastor. The pastor wants to be a Good Shepherd, bringing his flock to green pastures and flowing waters. But what is the  council’s role in fulfilling the mission of the church? It is up to them to offer good advice to their pastor, helping him create a parish that is a place of encounter with God. This workshop discusses Christian spirituality as the way we assimilate the mission of Christ as Church members responding to God’s word.

In January 2020, Dr. Mark Fischer from St. John's Seminary will come to the annual Diocesan Conference to give two sessions on making a parish council pastoral.  All parish council members from every parish and their pastors are strongly encouraged to register for the conference and attend these sessions.

Dr. Fischer is a professor of Theology and has written about parish councils