On 27 April 2022, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Patron Saint of our Diocese,  Bishop Shane announced a year of Preparation and Consultation for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC). 

Since then, Dr Chris Cotter, Sandhurst Director of Mission and Pastoral Life and Ruth Lawlor, Sandhurst Youth Ministry Coordinator, have facilitated meetings with Chancery Staff, Catholic Education Staff, and 28 parishes and 11 schools across the Diocese.  

The meetings aim to ensure a broad understanding across the diocese of the proposed Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC), its purpose, how it will function and how it will be established.

If you missed the meeting in your parish or school, you can now attend an online session via Zoom. There are two sessions to choose from ─ both on 13 December, either at 9.00 a.m. or 7.00 p.m. 

Each meeting will run for no more than 90 minutes.  During these meetings, you can expect to: 

• find out about the SMPC
• participate in a ‘Listening and Dialogue’ process (as used in the first phase of the Plenary Council) 
• provide feedback and ask questions, which will contribute to the establishment of a structure which will support synodality in our diocese. 

All are welcome!  

9.00 a.m. 13 December 2022  

7.00 p.m.13 December 2022 

JThe establishment of a diocesan Mission and Pastoral Council was a key recommendation of the 2020 Go Forth Review of the Diocese.  

The Seventh Decree of the Australian Plenary Council, which was formally approved by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference last week, calls for all Australian dioceses and eparchies to establish a diocesan Pastoral Council.  

“ all dioceses and eparchies to establish a Diocesan Pastoral Council and affirms the continuing work of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the National Centre for Pastoral Research to develop guidelines and provide resources for the establishing and flourishing of Diocesan Pastoral Councils, Parish Pastoral Councils, and other appropriate synodal structures (The Light from the Southern Cross, recommendations 50–55);

17 November 2022