Diocesan Pastoral Council and Deanery Council receive name changes, other changes

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Changes were announced at a Deanery Council meeting, Aug. 8, affecting both the Deanery Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council — with their name changes, Deanery Pastoral Council becoming Deanery Council and Diocesan Council becoming the Diocesan Pastoral Council, being the first distinction made.

“Both councils go along with the notion of synodality,” according to Jamie Schroeder, chancellor, “as well as consultation and walking together in terms of decision making and discernment about issues that impact the diocese and the local Church.”

The Deanery Council — which consists of “deans” from each deanery in the diocese, two lay representatives from each parish and a representative of clergy and religious from each deanery as well — as well as the Diocesan Pastoral Council, consisting of two of the lay representatives as well as the Vicar for Religious and Vicar General, both communicate and collaborate with the bishop and the chancery regarding the needs of the parishes and the diocese at large.

Lay members of both councils are chosen typically from their parish councils, so that they may serve as direct liaisons.

The name change was done in an effort to “distinguish” between the two councils, according to Mrs. Schroeder, as the Diocesan Pastoral Council was established later by Bishop John Iffert to allow for more open dialogue with lay people — and the names had previously caused confusion.

In addition to the change of names, it was announced at the meeting that deans, while remaining in leadership positions, can now delegate leadership responsibilities, such as “the logistical and practical duties of leading the deanery council” to Diocesan Pastoral Council members as they deem fit or necessary at their discretion.

“So many things happen in the Church behind the scenes,” Mrs. Schroeder said, “and your average person in the pew doesn’t realize that that’s happening. I think it’s good when the lay people of the diocese can stay informed of these changes at work.”