“How should the diocese follow up on its ‘Road Map’ strategic plan?” “What can the church do to strengthen marriage and family life?” “How can we encourage more young people to get involved in church leadership?” “What is happening in your vicariate?”
These are some of the questions Bishop Larry Silva has asked his Diocesan Pastoral Council over his past seven years as bishop. And the 16-member group of advisers — mostly lay people — has had a lot to contribute to the discussion.
If you have pondered questions like these, if you have an interest in what’s going on in the diocese and your neighboring parishes, if you would like to share your wisdom with the bishop, you may be a candidate for his pastoral council. It is looking for a few good women and men.
Tracy Hoevel is a council member representing Windward Oahu’s six parishes.
“When I applied for the DPC I wasn’t sure this would be a good fit for me,” she said. “But now that my term is almost up I am glad that I had this opportunity to share my ideas with the bishop and others on the DPC.
“Not only did we discuss things of importance to the church, I developed a better understanding of my faith and the issues we face as Catholics,” she said.
The pastoral council meets for one-and-a-half days, four times a year, at St. Stephen Diocesan Center. A session begins with Mass on Friday evening and ends on Saturday afternoon.
Airfare and room and board are provided for neighbor island council members. Terms are for three years.
Kristine Cabudol is a Leeward Oahu representative and one of the young adults on the DPC.
“The DPC has allowed me to see firsthand the work of our Bishop Larry, and to collaborate with different individuals from all the vicariates,” she said. “I will use my experiences to empower young and old to not be afraid to take leadership in anything they do.”
Five vicariate positions on the council will open this summer. Needed are representatives from East Big Island, West Big Island, Maui, Leeward Oahu and Windward Oahu. A nomination packet sent to every pastor in these vicariates includes a copy of the DPC guidelines and a nomination form.
If you are interested, ask your pastor for a copy. Applications are due in the bishop’s office by April 12. You might also talk with the outgoing member of your vicariate to find out what his or her experience has been. The current members are listed on the diocesan website www.catholichawaii.org under “About Us” and “Consultative Bodies.”
You can also contact Sharon Chiarucci at 203-6733 or schiarucci@rcchawaii.org.
Hoevel recommends it: “I encourage you to take a look at the DPC and consider submitting an application. It’s truly a rewarding experience and a great way to share your ideas about things that concern the church and schools here in Hawaii.”
