Diocesan Pastoral Council

 

“It is highly desirable that in every diocese a special pastoral council be established, over which the diocesan bishop himself presides and in which clergy, religious and laity specially chosen for the purpose will have a part. It will belong to this council to investigate, to consider, and to formulate practical conclusions about those things which pertain to pastoral works.”  

                                   Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishop in the Church, Christus Dominus CD 27

 

The Diocesan Pastoral Council  is a consultative group that meets with the Bishop to prayerfully discern matters pertaining to the pastoral activity of the diocese and to make recommendations that pertain to these matters.  The council will study, consider and propose practical conclusions for implementing the diocesan vision and mission.

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

 

Members of the pastoral council shall reflect the age, gender, culture and race of the entire diocese. Although the laity make up the majority of the membership it is not a “lay council.”  Membership includes the Bishop, 2 priests, 1 religious, and 20 lay men and women.

 

Members

 

 

Term Expires March 2008

 

          Lucia Bim-Merle Queen of All Saints Parish
          Irene Cardona St. Stanislaus Parish E.C.
          Michael Cummings Ss. Monica/Luke Parish
          Fr. Eduardo Malagon St. Patrick Parish Chesterton
          Fr. Peter Muha St. Edward Parish
          Melissa Sanchez Ss. Peter/Paul Parish
          Mary Lou Shobe Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
          Marilynn Thode St. Joseph Parish LaPorte
          James Zmuda St. Stanislaus Parish E.C.
   

 

Term Expires March 2009

 

          Leticia Arredondo St. Patrick Parish, East Chicago
          Mitch Gaffigan St. Patrick Parish, Chesterton
          Bernadette Grimes St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Gary
          Austin Hiller-Bonta Nativity of Our Savior Parish, Portage
          Geraldine Kiernan St. Paul Parish, Valparaiso
          John Luce, M.D. Queen of All Saints Parish, Mich. City
          Ron Pyle St. Michael Parish, Schererville
          Bob Rehlander Sacred Heart Parish, LaPorte

   

 

 

 

          Sr. M. Aloysius Albert, OSF St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare, Hammond
          Thomas Johnston Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Merrillville
          Sandra Stroud St. Joan of Arc Parish, Merrillville
          Bonita Hontz St. Paul Parish, Valparaiso
          Rich South Assumption BVM Parish, New Chicago
          Michael Wald St. John Bosco Parish, Hammond