Pastoral Regions

Most Recent News from the Regional Pastoral Council

Posted on Tuesday March 25, 2008

March 25, 2008 Agenda

RPC Agenda for March 25, 2008

The mission of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Regional Council is to assist the Regional Bishop in creating a more collaborative Catholic ministry by implementing the six priorities of the Los Angeles Synod of 2003 and by assisting our parishes and other Catholic Communities to worship, evangelize, develop and serve the people of our Region.

1. Opening Prayer (7 P.M.)…Deanery 3.

2. Approval of Minutes.

3. Amendments to the agenda.

4. Open Discussion on Cardinal’s Presentation on Settlement.

5. Discussion on possible RPC Video Conferencing Committee.

6. Report from Deaneries and Office of Synod Implementation/Stewardship.

7. Continued discussion on potential issue list for 2008. Bishop Curry will again present his purpose for this discussion. (A list of potential issues for consideration this year follows. Many of these issues are complex and difficult and need a great deal of thought, research and discussion. The point to bring them forward now is to begin work on such a list to refine it and prepare ourselves for further discussion in the months to come. Discussion ended at item J at the November meeting)

NOTE: There is no priority attached to this list at this time.

A. How should the Region approach communicating to the parishes the Archdiocese response to the problem of the sexual abuse lawsuits and the settlement related to them?

B. Are there ways for our Region to better use communications media available, including radio and TV, to get our message to the faithful and others?

C. Have we been Christ like in discussing and caring for the many Catholic illegal immigrants in our Region? What are some ways we could improve their situation? (Similar for AIDS victims, homeless, etc.)

D. Hispanic populations have been known to lose their faith to the numerous Hispanic Pentecostal/Evangelical groups in our Region. What is the best way for the Region, acknowledging our limited resources, to address this issue?

E. Our Regional Pastoral Council, unlike the other four, has reorganized along the basis of our four deaneries. What should be the position of the Deans in this reorganization, if any?

F. Joining in the praise of God through singing our hymns at Mass is limited at best in most of our parishes. What are some ways we can encourage our parishioners to sing (with/without a choir.) Should we appoint a Regional Music Consultant to assist in this effort?

G. Everyone is in favor of the Archdiocese Respect Life effort. What, if anything, can the RPC do to assist in this work? Should the Regional Respect Life Coordinator be assigned a subcommittee of RPC members to work with?

H. Evangelization is our foremost mission as Church. What can the Region do to promulgate an evangelist attitude? Can our newly formed Deacons and our diaconate program assist in this area?

I. While we have programs like “Together in Mission”, there appears to be little in the way of intra-parish teamwork or information sharing. Is this a problem? If so, is there a role here for the RPC?

J. Sunday collections are parishes a fundamental measure (proxy measure) of success. While every parish is different, with different levels of economic advantage, can a pastor evaluate his own parish’s collections based on the estimated income level of the parish? Would this information be useful for finance councils or parish councils?

K. Discussions on a school of ministry/faith formation have been ongoing for some time. What ways should the Council consider advising the Bishop to test implement some of these models?

L. Many Catholics do not know Catholic doctrine such as the Real Presence in the Eucharist or our teaching on contraception. What are some ways the RPC could address this and help the Faithful know and understand the predominate factors of the Catholic faith?

M. What is the future of Catholic Education in our Region? How many Catholic Schools have closed over the past ten years? What schools are borderline now and which are robust? What is the difference? Are there ways the RPC can help?

N. Vocations to the priesthood are abysmal. What are some ways the RPC could help in this effort?

O. The SBPR ordained 60 new Permanent Deacons in June 2007. A new class has started with 70+ more aspirants. What can the RPC do, if anything, to help utilize this wonderful and unique resource?

P. Other……….

8. Brief Announcement on “Partners in Service,” SB Catholic Charities.

9. Request from “The Tidings,” for regional, volunteer contacts.

10. Bullet Items from the Region.

11. Closing Prayer (Deanery 3)/Adjourn.