Diocesan Pastoral Council

Diocesan Pastoral Council

The Diocesan Pastoral Council exists to serve the mission of the Church in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains by listening deeply to the People of God and helping the Bishop discern how we respond to the hopes, challenges, joys, and needs of our community. There are three levels of Pastoral Councils that our Diocese has developed and endorses to support conversation, reflection and prayerful planning across the Diocese, working in collaboration with clergy, religious and lay people who are committed to living the Gospel in everyday life.

At its heart, the Council is about synodality – walking together, sharing wisdom, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their discernment around matters of pastoral life in the Diocese. For many people who wonder how the Catholic Church is governed or what a pastoral council is, this is one of the places where leadership, consultation and faith come together. The Diocesan Pastoral Council offers advice to the Bishop on topics that shape pastoral priorities, formation, evangelisation, inclusion, mission and community engagement.

Walking Together in Faith and Leadership

The Council also forms part of a wider network of discernment and collaboration across the Diocese. Just as local parish pastoral councils support the life of our worshipping communities, the Diocesan Pastoral Council looks more broadly at the pastoral reality of the whole Church in Parramatta. For those who may be curious about what a parish pastoral council is or perhaps even thinking about joining a parish council, this level of community leadership is a reminder that every voice in the Church matters and every person is needed to contribute to the wider mission.

In this way, the Diocesan Pastoral Council provides a place for representatives from diverse backgrounds and experiences to share insight, raise emerging needs and help shape responses that reflect the lived reality of families, young people, migrants, First Nations communities, people on the margins, and all who form part of our diocesan family.

Through prayer, dialogue and thoughtful discernment, the Diocesan Pastoral Council seeks to support a culture of shared responsibility in mission and ministry. Its focus is not administrative; rather, it is pastoral, relational and deeply grounded in faith. By fostering open listening, and keeping mission at the centre, the Council supports the ongoing formation of the Diocese’s people and the Diocesan character, to grow as a community that welcomes, accompanies and serves.

In recent years, the Diocesan Pastoral Council has been involved in shaping the Diocesan Synod and the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church 2024-2028, and will continue to support the Christ-centred vision for our diocese.