Planning council reviews initiatives

The Diocesan Pastoral Council met last weekend to review year one initiatives based on the pastoral plan Come to the Light.
This was the first meeting of the DPC since Come to the Light was published. The initiatives now in progress had been recommended by the Presbyteral Council/College of Consultors. Newly hired diocesan division directors and managers were also introduced to the DPC.
On Friday, Jan. 11, Bishop George Leo Thomas shared his reflections and photographs from his Catholic Relief Services trip to Senegal early in December 2007.
The next morning, Jan. 12, Chancellor Father John Robertson provided information on the program for the preparation of the permanent diaconate. The permanent diaconate formation board met Jan. 14 to recommend to Bishop Thomas candidates for the aspirant year. Following the aspirant year, candidates will complete three additional years of formation.
DPC members received updates on the recently conducted diocesan capital campaign feasibility study from Michael Goodwin of Guidance in Giving, the company that conducted the study. New staff member Glenda Seipp, Development Services stewardship manager, gave a brief presentation on the Diocesan Offertory Program and the fall Son Light event. Beth Yeakel, Foundation Services director, explained the relationship between The Foundation for the Diocese of Helena Inc. and the diocese. And Father Carl Deitchman, Development Services adviser, was introduced to the DPC.
Saturday afternoon, Doug Tooke, diocesan youth minister, presented the vision and direction of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, an office within Catholic Formation Services. Tooke was co-missioned a member of the DPC before accepting his current position, and will complete his term on the DPC.
Pastoral and Renewal Services director Mark Frei reported on areas of his responsibility from the pastoral plan, including evangelization, the Guatemala Mission, and the pastoral needs of rural and Native American parishes.
Sister Rita McGinnis, SCL, Pastoral Planning Services director, gave an update on several ad hoc groups – vocations, equitable distribution of priests, and communications – that will provide recommendations for initiatives to the Presbyteral Council/College of Consultors.
“It was very gratifying to bring together the group that initially recommended the initiatives in the pastoral plan to share with them the progress that has been made. Much is moving forward and more is in the preparation stage,” Sister McGinnis said.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 24, No. 1, January 18, 2008.