Co-responsibility — Profiles of several diocesan councils and commissions that advise the bishop

SCROLL THE ARROWS to see photos of council and commission members

CLICK HERE to read a related article.

CLICK HERE to read Bishop McKnight’s “Making Connections” column on co-responsibility.

Diocesan Pastoral Council

The Diocesan Pastoral Council assists the bishop in his governance of this diocese.

Its mandate comes from the Second Vatican Council, which called for a pastoral commission to be established for each diocese, made up of specially-chosen clergy, religious and lay people.

“The duty of this commission will be to investigate and weigh pastoral undertakings and to formulate practical conclusions regarding them.” (“Christus Dominus,” #27)

The council enables the laity and clergy together to assist the bishop in the ongoing discernment and implementation of an effective diocesan pastoral plan.

Its tasks include: investigating, considering and proposing practical conclusions about those things that pertain to pastoral works in the diocese; serving as a channel for communication from parish pastoral councils and deanery leadership for proposals that might benefit from the bishop’s consideration; and helping and cooperating with the deans in their function, especially regarding the deanery parish leadership meetings.

“When we look at the challenges the Church faces, such as ‘how do we bring the Church into the world?’ and ‘how do we bring the world into the Church in a positive way?’ — namely by drawing people back to church, it’s not that the bishop doesn’t have great ideas for how to do these things,” said Diocesan Pastoral Council Chair Colleen Abbot.

“But in order for him to make good decisions that impact the life of the people, he needs those voices of the laity,” she stated. “He needs them from a variety of different parishes, from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences of our faith and perspectives on what’s happening in the Church.”

Laypeople also get to hear what their fellow laypeople are saying in their parishes.

“We listen to what our fellow churchgoers have to say and bring that to our deliberations,” said Mrs. Abbot.

Stewardship Council

The Stewardship Council helps the bishop promote the spirituality of stewardship throughout the diocese.

The council, together with the staff of the diocesan Stewardship Office, collaborate to help pastors in the ongoing planning, implementation and cultivation of the stewardship way of life in the parishes and communities of the diocese.

The council investigates, considers and proposes practical solutions in matters pertaining to the stewardship way of life; serves as a channel of communication from the leadership of each deanery for proposals that might benefit from consideration by the bishop; and helps and cooperates with the Stewardship Office, especially regarding diocesan-wide stewardship events and initiatives.

“Co-responsibility and stewardship go 100-percent hand-in-hand,” said Anne Hackman, vice-chair of the Stewardship Council. “Because co-responsibility allows our parishioners to use the gifts that God gives them to participate fully in the Church.

“God never gives one person all the skills we need to carry out the Church’s mission,” she stated. “He gives each of us our own special set of gifts. When you put that all together, you have this teamwork and support, and we’re finding solutions to everyday challenges, and we can help make a living and thriving Church — a more complete Church.”

Diocesan Review Board

The Diocesan Review Board is a confidential, consultative body that advises the bishop on policies and responses to allegations of violations of the diocese’s Code of Pastoral Conduct, the U.S. bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and the Essential Norms that augment the Charter.

In doing so, the Review Board plays a crucial role in the diocese’s efforts make sure the Church is a consistently safe environment for children and anyone else who’s vulnerable.

The board’s members include attorneys, counselors, educators, pastoral ministers, pediatricians and psychiatrists; people from the criminal justice, human resources, law enforcement and social services professions; as well as a priest, a deacon and a religious sister.

The Review Board also regularly examines policies and procedures and makes recommendations to the bishop about maintaining safe environments throughout the Church for children and vulnerable adults.

“Knowing that the best decisions are being made is critical to people’s faith in the Church and ultimately their faith in God,” said Review Board chair Patricia Joyce, a retired circuit judge and attorney.

She said it’s essential for the bishop to have a committed group of mostly laypeople to advise him in these difficult situations.

“And with the number of different disciplines and persons who have a deep faith, we really get to bring our experiences to help the bishop make the best decisions possible — to treat the person accused with fairness, and foremost, protect those who cannot take care of themselves,” she said.

Diocesan Building Commission

The Diocesan Building Commission plays a vital role in helping the bishop oversee major construction, renovation and repair projects throughout the diocese by reviewing designs and specifications for projects on Church property throughout the diocese.

The commission advises the bishop and parish leadership throughout the diocese on major construction, repairs and renovation projects.

The commission also assists parishes in forming long range plans and implementing major repairs and construction.

“We all have different gifts and talents to serve the Lord and his Church,” said Father Jason Doke, Building Commission Chair. “So, when we gather as a commission, we can all contribute our gifts and talents to make something that’s complete.

“When we do that, we can better serve the needs of the Church, and we get a better result,” said Fr. Doke.

Liturgical Commission

The diocesan Liturgical Commission exists to help ensure that the splendor and majesty of authentic Christian worship shine forth more fully, “transforming and invigorating the Christian faithful to continue their baptismal mission of Christian witness in the world.”

The commission works with the diocesan Liturgy Office and other diocesan offices in preparing for the various diocesan liturgical celebrations throughout the year: including the Rite of Election, the Chrism Mass, prayer and liturgies for pastoral days and the Priests’ Institute.

The commission provides workshops at the parish and regional levels, as requested. Topics include: the Eucharist and other sacraments; the liturgical seasons; the Order of Christian Funerals; and art and architecture.

The commission also offers formation and training opportunities for parish liturgy committees, as well as for parish leaders of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA); consultation on various liturgical matters, including a review of liturgical presence and style for priests/deacons or other ministers in the parish; and training for parish lectors, cantors, ushers and other liturgical ministers in the parish.

Consultations are also provided for any parishes planning to build or renovate churches or worship spaces.

 “The Liturgy — communal worship — it’s the essence of who we are,” said Father Daniel Merz, SLD, chair of the Liturgical Commission. “How we participate in these things is a matter of our salvation.”

He said that just as the Church calls for laypeople to take on all the responsibilities that are proper to them in the celebration of the Mass, the participation of competent laypeople in the work of the commission is equally important for the mission of our diocese.

“It’s not about one person doing everything,” Fr. Merz noted. “Everyone has a part in this. And when we encourage people and show them how to do these things, it fosters their gifts and helps them become better Christians.”

It’s sometimes more difficult and time-consuming to train and form people to serve in these roles.

“But when we fail to do this, you have fewer voices being heard and fewer gifts being used. And not only our local Church, but the people themselves are diminished,” said Fr. Merz. 

School Advisory Council

The School Advisory Council offers guidance to the bishop and the diocesan superintendent of schools about important questions facing the diocesan school system, including the formulation of policy and the addressing of issues as they come up.

It provides a structure in which pastors, parents, administrators and teachers can speak candidly about matters pertaining to Catholic education and its place in carrying out the Church’s mission to evangelize.

The council is a means of bringing representatives of the Church — primarily laity but also involving clergy — to help the bishop address significant questions pertaining to Catholic schools from a broad and diverse perspective.

“We’re blessed to have members who represent various entities,” said Connie Hesse, chair of the council. “We have parents of elementary school children and of high school children. We have a retired principal and people who are very involved in their parish.

“It’s wonderful to see the various perspectives and the amount of knowledge and experience that’s present when we gather,” she said.

Diocesan Finance Council

The Diocesan Finance Council works with the diocesan Chief Financial Officer to help the bishop ensure that the finances and temporal goods held by the diocese are properly managed with transparency and accountability.

Church law (Canon 492-493) requires each diocese to have a Diocesan Finance Council, consisting of at least three members of the Christian faithful who are truly expert in financial affairs and civil law, outstanding in integrity and appointed by the bishop.

Each year, according to the bishop’s directions, the Finance Council is to prepare a budget of the income and expenditures that are foreseen for the entire governance of the diocese in the coming year, and at the end of the year examine an account of the revenues and expenses.

“I’m a firm believer, and so is our bishop, in transparency and accountability,” said Finance Council Chair Gary Wilbers. “With that commitment to transparency, you can be assured in knowing that your sacrificial gifts to the Church are being put to use in a prudent manner.”

Mr. Wilbers said co-responsibility serves everyone in the diocese when laypeople put forth their skills and experience and the bishop takes those ideas and insights to heart, “leading us to better results.”

Youth Advisory Council

The Youth Advisory Council’s twofold purpose is to allow the bishop to hear from the young Church while giving young Catholics the tools and opportunities they need to move from merely receiving ministry to effectively participating in ministry.

Members are high school age, with two young adults serving as leaders and role models.

The vision for this council is based on “Christus Vivit,” (“Christ Lives”) the apostolic exhortation Pope Francis released at the conclusion of the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment.

The council serves as a forum for young voices to be heard while also actively equipping the young people to be disciples in the Church.

Members participate in leadership opportunities at diocesan youth events including the diocesan Youth Rally, the National Catholic Youth Conference, summer camps, ‘Totus Tuus’ summer experiences at parishes and Confirmation Retreats.

“Young people aren’t just the future of the Church, they’re every bit as much of the Church right now as the rest of us are,” said Mary Madelyn Mertes, assistant director of catechetical formation for the diocese, and one of the council’s young adult leaders.

“And this Youth Council gives the opportunity for young people to exercise their voices as full and active members of the Church and to bring into that forum their unique perspectives about the issues they’re facing,” she said.

The council also gives young people opportunities to be formed as leaders and to learn how the Church works, how to listen to each other and to the people of their parishes, and step into leadership roles within the diocese, she stated.