New ordinary’s vision of how consultation works shared with pastoral council
The Visitor
By Sue Schulzetenberg-Gully
Since his Nov. 7 installation, Bishop Donald Kettler has been acquainting himself with the St. Cloud Diocese and its procedures.
At the Jan. 18 meeting of the diocesan pastoral council meeting, he learned how the council functions and discussed the role he would like it to have in his ministry.
Bishop Donald Kettler
The council — which focuses on pastoral issues throughout the diocese — is a consultative body to the bishop, along with the presbyteral council, which represents priests.
“I value a great deal the presbyteral council and the pastoral council,” Bishop Kettler said. “You play an essential role in what we do.”
Bishop Kettler said he especially would like to hear the comments and concerns of the people that the council members represent.
“I want you to talk to people out there so when you come here you are not just representing yourself and your own views, which are very important, but you also say, ‘These are the issues that we’re hearing are out there,’ ” he said.
The pastoral council is comprised of lay representatives from each of the seven deaneries in the diocese, a women’s religious representative, a men’s religious representative, a presbyteral council representative, a deacon representative and five at-large representatives.