DALLAS CARTER

Issues, events and transitions

With hearts still full of holiday cheer, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Bishop Larry Silva’s 17-member group of general advisors, convened its first quarterly session of 2010, Jan. 8-9, at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.

Friday evening was spent visiting the progress of the diocesan Road Map for Pastoral, Program, and Facility Needs 2008-2013. The overwhelming consensus from the vicariates was that the Road Map, the bishop’s diocesan strategic plan, has been well implemented in parishes. Many parishes have reached desired benchmarks. Council members also said the Road Map has galvanized and united parishes across the diocese, not only on Road Map issues, but on other parish concerns as well.

Also that evening, Bishop Silva highlighted issues and events on the forefront of his agenda. He reported that he had spent much time over the past weeks meeting with Catholic schools leaders, encouraging them together to tackle the challenges their schools are facing. The bishop also encouraged the schools to nurture their “Catholic identity” as they endeavored to bring Christ to their students. The evening’s discussions ended by looking at preliminary plans to introduce to the diocese the new translation of the Roman Missal, and ways to foster voter education in parish and civic communities.

On Saturday, the council discussed committee assignments and how it would collaborate with the Feb. 6 Marriage and Family Forum at Damien Memorial School. The forum is the result of a council meeting held last fall with representatives of local groups whose purpose is to strengthen and celebrate marriage and family life. These organizations include Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter, the Marianist Family Retreat program, Couples for Christ, the Marriage Tribunal and Beginning Experience.

Later, the council addressed “pastoral transitions” and suggested that the bishop create transition teams to help parishes going through a change of pastors. The team would make sure the needs of the parish and its incoming pastor are addressed during the transition period.

Part of the council’s Saturday was spent talking about “parish pastoral guidelines.” The group reviewed the results of a recent survey of pastors about their parish councils. Bishop Silva asked whether he should mandate parish councils. The council agreed that, if he did, parishes should be given the flexibility to create councils that would suit the parish’s individual needs.

The council also addressed the future of the diocesan Office of Worship and how it could be more of a help to parishes. Suggestions included the need for more education of parishioners on liturgy, rubrics and liturgical enculturation.

It was an energetic weekend as the Diocesan Pastoral Council shared St. Stephen Diocesan Center with 22 new deacon aspirants who were beginning their deacon formation program.

The next Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting is April 23-24. More information about the council may be found at www.catholichawaii.org under “Consultative Bodies.”