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Purpose | Structure | Special Programs / Articles | Deanery Pastoral Council
Deaneries and Current Deans | Diocesan Pastoral Council | Resources
"I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." Isaiah 49
As baptized Christians, we are obliged to be stewards of the Church- collaborators and cooperators in continuing the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, which is the Church’s essential mission. This mission- proclaiming, teaching, serving, and sanctifying- is our task. It is the personal responsibility of each of us as disciples of Jesus Christ to participate in this mission.
Being a good disciple, a follower of Jesus is the work of a lifetime. With every step we are challenged to go further in accepting and living God’s will. Being a disciple is not just something else to do alongside many other suitable things for Christians, it is a total way of life that requires constant conversation. This conversation is the result of our total self being focused on God as the creator and giver of all good gifts, the greatest of which is Jesus Christ. The invitation that Christ gave to his first disciples to “come follow me” is the same invitation given to each person who says “I believe”.
We are called individually and by name. Each one of us has a vocation and God intends each one of us to play a unique role in carrying out the divine plan. Our challenge is to understand our role and respond generously to this call. Christ calls each of us to be stewards of our personal vocations, which we receive from God. Serving on the Parish Pastoral Council or on a Commission is one way in which we can respond to this call.
The Second Vatican Council affirmed the laity’s participation in the mission of Jesus Christ by challenging all of the baptized with a call to holiness, to ministry and to community. The theology of shared responsibility and collaboration between the laity and the ordained, that flows from the Vatican II documents, provides a foundation for the Pastoral Council. The pastoral activity of the Council embraces the mission and ministry of the Church, through worship and prayer, proclaiming the Gospel and teaching, social justice, care of the poor, the sick and the dying, an bringing God’s healing power to all.
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The membership of the Parish Pastoral Council is composed of 12 lay members and the Pastor. The Pastoral Council, in collaboration with parish members, develops a parish plan that will meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of the parishioners. The Council implements the parish plan through the work of the following five Commissions.
- The Education and Formation Commission
- The Spirituality/Worship Commission
- The Parish Life Commission
- The Peace & Social Justice Commission
- The Stewardship/Administration Commission
The Office for Parish Pastoral Councils provides training, discernment assistance and support for the Parish Pastoral Councils. A detailed training manual is available by contacting the Office for Parish Pastoral Councils.
The Coordinator for Parish Pastoral Councils also provides training and support for the Deanery Pastoral Councils and the Diocesan Pastoral Council.
Contact Person
Anne Verbeke, Coordinator
219-769-9292, Ext. 280
averbeke@dcgary.org
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Come Home for Christmas
Easy Steps you can take to welcome inactive
Catholics home to your parish during the
Christmas Season.
Click here to read this article (PDF).
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The purpose of the Deanery Pastoral Council is:
- To provide an opportunity for the laity to have input on issues that are pertinent to their deanery.
- To keep parishes within the deanery informed of parish, cluster, and diocesan programs and activities.
- To give diocesan program coordinators and other resource people an opportunity to provide assistance to a specific group of parishes.
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Northlake Deanery
Msgr. John J. Siekierski, Dean
Porter-Starke Deanery
Rev. Gerald H. Schweitzer, Dean
Southlake Deanery
Rev. Dennis J. Teles, Dean
Gary-Hobart Deanery
Rev. Dominic V. Bertino, Dean
Laporte Deanery
Rev. Theodore Nordquist, Dean
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“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 and spiritual 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
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Members of the diocesan 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 from the five deaneries.
Terms Expire 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 |
Term Expires March 2010 |
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 |
Term Expires March 2011 |
Pat Hren |
St. Helen Parish, Hebron |
Maria Wallace |
Ss. Peter/Paul Parish, Merrillville |
Enriqueta Velasco |
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Station |
Chris Moryl |
St. Peter Parish, LaPorte |
James Stewart |
Holy Rosary Parish, Gary |
Gary Pieters |
St. John the Baptist Parish, Michigan City |
Elsa Esper |
Queen of All Saints Parish, Michigan City |
Olga Martinez |
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, East Chicago |
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Office of Parish Pastoral Council Resources:
(Resources available by contacting the Pastoral Council Office)
- Pastoral Council Manual
- Facilitators Manual
- Goal & Objective Guidelines
- Future Full of Hope - Parish Guide to Renewal
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Return to Directory of Offices Main Page
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