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Report on the
Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting
held at Park Place Pastoral Centre on the 8th and 9th of December
2000
The Future
Pastoral Care of Parishes
The commitment to the future pastoral care of the parishes is a central
concern of the Diocesan Pastoral Council at this point. The summary of
the business of this meeting was to consider the issues that had been
raised at the previous meetings and in the deaneries in response to the
two April questions and to discern an appropriate way forward.
Father Paul Townsend the acting chairperson,
presented the responses to these questions under the following headings
– development of lay ministries, education for lay ministry, ordained
ministry, community, big issues which could bring big changes and change
is better in small steps. These categories must be understood in the
light of the different rates of development in parishes and deaneries in
this diocese.
Members were invited to consider two questions
- "What are the three major pastoral issues that have emerged from what
you have heard?" and "Since then, what other pastoral issues have
emerged?" Responses to these included – education, resources, formation
for leadership, welcome of people in second marriages or irregular
unions, the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults, Dominus Jesus, Child
Protection, general absolution, review of
deanery and parish structures and initiative on evangelisation.
In responding to these detailed points, the
Bishop suggested five areas to be addressed by the Diocesan Pastoral
Council –
- The structuring of parishes and deaneries
in our diocese and how best pastoral care might be effected.
- The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
and its implementation in the parishes of the diocese.
- The enabling and training of lay ministers
and lay ministry.
- The exercise of leadership.
- The active involvement of young people in
the life of the Church.
Dominus Jesus, Child
Protection,
vocations and faith as a private activity are other issues of current
concern. Monsignor John Nelson continued the response to the work of the
first session by speaking of the considerable variance in the nature of
parishes and deaneries and of the understanding of parish boundaries.
The idea of producing a development plan for deaneries was broached.
Members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council
welcomed this clarification of issues and their relative importance.
Specific
Initiatives for the Diocesan Pastoral Council
The group then divided again to consider the question "In the light
of what you have heard, what are the next steps that you think we need
to take?" The suggestions of each group were shared in plenary
session. Three primary areas of endeavour were agreed – the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults, the organisation and responsibilities of
deaneries and the reporting back and the perceived role of the Diocesan
Pastoral Council. Monsignor John Nelson will arrange a presentation on
the work of the Curia, including the work being done to promote the RCIA
and Catechetics, for the next meeting in April. A working party
comprised of three elected members and three members of the Curia will
be formed to present a working plan for the profiling of deaneries and
their resources for this meeting. The working party will make
recommendations for future structuring and resourcing of the deaneries.
The account of the work of this body given in this summary sheet will be
disseminated to all parishes and deans to achieve a better
understanding. Members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council will report
personally in their parishes and deaneries. An article will be submitted
to Portsmouth People as well.
The Election
of Chairperson
The process for the election of chairperson was agreed. The chairperson
will be in place before the next planning meeting on the 9th of March
2001. This role calls for the qualities of a co-ordinator who can
command the respect of both clergy and laity, who can work in close
collaboration with the Bishop and share in his vision, who is a person
of prayer who loves the Church. Ex-officio members are excluded from
election.
Future Meetings of the Diocesan Pastoral
Council
Friday 6 and Saturday 7 April 2001 at Park Place Pastoral Centre
Saturday 30 June 2001 at Kiln Green
Friday 12 and Saturday 13 October 2001 at Park Place Pastoral Centre
Mary Ambler 10 December 2000 |
