Diocesan Pastoral Council

IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY GROUP

FINAL REPORT

Diocesan Pastoral Council: Final Report is published by the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.

For more information about the Final Report please contact:

Archdiocese of Perth Office of Communications

Location: 21 Victoria Square, PERTH, WA 6000

Post: PO Box 3075, EAST PERTH WA 6832

Telephone: +61 08 9220 5900

Email: communications@perthcatholic.org.au

Website: www.perthcatholic.org.au

DIOCESAN PASTORAL COUNCIL IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY GROUP FINAL REPORT

MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Diocesan Pastoral Council Implementation Advisory Group (DPCIAG) is listed below.

• The Most Reverend Don Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, Co-Chair.

• Dr Debra Sayce, Manager, Mission Enhancement and Outreach, Diocesan Agencies, Co-Chair.

• Fr Adalbert Imperial OCD, Spiritual Accompaniment.

• Dr Selma Alliex, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Notre Dame Australia.

• Sr Joanne Dickson RSM, Professor of Psychology and Mental Health, Edith Cowan University.

• Mr Geoff Mills, Retired Catholic Education Western Australia Principal.

• Mr Tony Giglia, Executive Officer.

“ ... unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12

INTRODUCTION

The Diocesan Pastoral Council Implementation Advisory Group (DPCIAG) was appointed by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB following the completion of the Archdiocese of Perth Diocesan Assembly which was held on Saturday, 13 July 2024.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The following Terms of Reference were approved by Archbishop Costelloe to guide and inform the work of the DPCIAG.

1. To review the final report of the Diocesan Assembly Reference Group.

2. To draft Interim Statutes for the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

3. To discern and consider options for the appointment process for Diocesan Pastoral Council Members.

4. To make recommendations to Archbishop Costelloe of those to be appointed as members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

The group met on seven occasions, with the first meeting involving a briefing from Archbishop Costelloe on his hopes and vision for the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC).

Archbishop Costelloe reflected on his experiences at both the Plenary Council and the Synod of Bishops on Synodality and proposed that someone be appointed to provide the DPCIAG with spiritual accompaniment. As a result, he appointed Fr Adalbert Imperial OCD as a member of the group.

The DPCIAG was tasked with working within the Terms of Reference and also including prayer, reflection, listening and discernment in its methodology. That is, the group was asked embrace synodality and synodal practices.

Terms of Reference One

To review the final report of the Diocesan Assembly Reference Group.

The group reviewed the material provided in the final report and some of the data collected as a result of the listening and discernment at both the Formation Day and the Diocesan Assembly.

Group members noted that both the final report and the data provided valuable information on significant pastoral needs existing in the archdiocese. This would be an appropriate starting point for the DPC when established.

In addition, group members noted the emphasis placed on the following:

• There was strong support for the reestablishment of a DPC in the archdiocese;

• There was strong support for a re-established DPC to be underpinned by synodality; and

• There was strong support for there to be an open transparent process to be adopted when appointing members to the DPC.

Recommendation for Consideration

1. That the DPC consider the data generated by the Formation Day and Diocesan Assembly in discerning an initial agenda for its work.

Terms of Reference Two

To draft Interim Statutes for the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

The group members were presented with an example of draft statutes. These were based on statutes in use in other dioceses, particularly Adelaide and Sandhurst.

Particular attention was paid to ensuring the requirements of the Code of Canon Law were clearly articulated.

Most of the group’s discussion centred on the sections articulating:

• the role of the DPC;

• the composition of its membership; and

• the personal attributes required for membership.

One point that received ongoing reference during the deliberations of the group was the need to be clear that prospective members were not “representatives” of one particular group but were being asked to consider the pastoral needs of the whole Archdiocese, however, it was noted that each person will bring important perspectives on a range of issues.

There was also comment on the need to provide Archbishop Costelloe with flexibility to add to the membership should he discern that there were gaps in the membership at any given time.

Group members indicated that it would be important to review the statutes after a period of time to ensure that they were fit for purpose and once the DPC initial membership had consolidated its operations.

Recommendation for Consideration

2. That the Draft Statutes Version 3 be adopted for use by the DPC.

3. That the DPC Draft Statutes Version 3 be reviewed within two years.

Terms of Reference Three

To discern and consider options for the appointment process for Diocesan Pastoral Council Members.

Appointment Process

Term of Reference 3 occupied most of the group’s deliberations.

The following steps were seen as being part of the process:

• Regional information sessions;

• Public advertisement for expressions of interest;

• Interview;

• Recommendations submitted to Archbishop Costelloe; and

• Announcement of membership.

There was emphasis placed on the need to ensure that an open and transparent process was being adopted in inviting people to offer themselves to serve on the DPC.

This principle has been referred to in the outcomes of the Plenary Council, the Synod of Bishops on Synodality and in “The Light from the Southern Cross: Promoting Co-responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia.”, a publication of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia.

An open and transparent process was also a strong theme emerging from participants in the Formation Day and Diocesan Assembly. (Diocesan Assembly Synthesis Report).

It was therefore agreed that a communications plan would be essential to ensuring that the community was fully informed on the establishment of the DPC and the appointment process to be adopted.

Communication to parishes and with the clergy was seen as being of critical importance.

Discussion took place on the important role to be played by the clergy of the archdiocese in supporting the re-establishment of the DPC, in communicating information to the parishes and in encouraging suitable people to submit expressions of interest for membership. There was discussion on the possibility of calling the clergy of the archdiocese to a special meeting to brief them on the progress of this initiative.

Regional Information Sessions

One of the proposals to emerge during the group’s deliberations was the provision of regional information sessions prior to advertising for expressions of interest.

These could be offered on a weekend, possibly a Saturday morning (half day), with two or three being offered in the metropolitan area and one in Kalgoorlie.

The programme could include both a period of formation followed by input regarding the role, purpose, membership and operation of the DPC and provide opportunities for questions to be answered.

Ongoing Involvement of DPCIAG Members

There was discussion on the future role of DPCIAG members with particular reference to the process to be undertaken in making recommendations to Archbishop Costelloe on those to be considered for membership.

There was agreement that group members had been fortunate in enhancing their understanding of synodality and the complexities of re-establishing a DPC. The ongoing involvement of group members in the appointment process was suggested as a possibility should this be considered appropriate and useful.

Name of the New Council

A brief discussion took place on the inclusion of the word “mission” in the title of the re-established council. While no definitive position was reached, there was some attraction to the name “Diocesan Council for Mission”.

Recommendation for Consideration

4. That an open and transparent process be used in inviting expressions of interest and process for membership of the future DPC.

5. That an appropriate person to provide spiritual accompaniment to the DPC be added to the membership of the DPC in an ex-officio capacity.

6. That the possibility of a special meeting with the clergy of the archdiocese be considered. The purpose of the meeting to include an update on the re-establishment of the DPC and the role they could play in supporting the initiative.

7. That consideration be given to offering initial tenure of membership on the DPC for one, two or three years.

8. That a formation programme be developed for the DPC.

9. That regional information sessions on the role, purpose and operation of the DPC be conducted.

10. That the re-established DPC be called the Diocesan Mission Council.

Terms of Reference Four

To make recommendations to Archbishop Costelloe of those to be appointed as Members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

No work was undertaken on Term of Reference 4 as it was considered premature to do so.

It was considered important for Archbishop Costelloe to consider the deliberations and recommendations for consideration submitted by the DPCIAG to him prior to any further work being undertaken.

That the DPC consider the data generated by the Formation Day and Diocesan Assembly in discerning an initial agenda for its work.

That the Draft Statutes Version 3 be adopted for use by the DPC.

That the DPC Draft Statutes Version 3 be reviewed within two years.

That an open and transparent process be used in inviting expressions of interest and process for membership of the future DPC.

That an appropriate person to provide spiritual accompaniment to the DPC be added to the membership of the DPC in an ex-officio capacity.

That the possibility of a special meeting with the clergy of the archdiocese be considered. The purpose of the meeting to include an update on the re-establishment of the DPC and the role they could play in supporting the initiative.

That consideration be given to offering initial tenure of membership on the DPC for one, two or three years.

That a formation programme be developed for the DPC.

That regional information sessions on the role, purpose and operation of the DPC be conducted.

That the re-established DPC be called the Diocesan Mission Council.