Pastoral Associates, Lay leaders and Clergy gathered at Kyabram for their annual diocesan group meeting on Wednesday 24 August. It was an opportunity to catch up with pastoral associates, lay leaders and clergy from parishes across the Diocese and hear updates directly from Bishop Shane, Fr Boyle and the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Life team, and discuss the sustainability of lay leaders.
Alma Limbrick, Pastoral Associate at Kyabram for over 25 years, said it gave her hope to see new lay leaders, especially the younger ones. "Carmel Fitzgerald and I were the first lay pastoral associates in the Diocese; before us it was mainly religious sisters who took on the role of pastoral associate. Carmel and I set up the Pastoral Associates Group many years ago."
At the meeting, Fr Brian Boyle gave an update on the Plenary Council and Dr Chris Cotter and Ruth Lawlor spoke about the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council and the preparation and consultation process.
In the afternoon, Paul Beirne facilitated a discussion about the sustainability of lay leaders in the Diocese. "It was very beneficial to have input from both clergy and pastoral lay leaders. It's only preliminary, and we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we've a great start to develop plans for the future and Bishop Shane agreed the sustainability of lay leaders will be an agenda item for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral council when it's established," said Alma.
