DIOCESE—The Diocesan Pastoral Council is the latest group to take up the discussion of the Faith Forward: Building Our Blueprint for Catholic Schools strategic plan.

At their regular meeting on Dec. 3 at the Diocesan Administration Center, the 31-member group met with Bishop David Malloy to talk about diocesan schools in the context of “where we are, where we are going, where we want to be educationally, financially, all in the framework of the Catholic faith.”

The group also discussed and suggested ways of accomplishing some of the goals set forth in the strategic plan document that is the result of 11 months of interviews and data collection from diocesan schools.

Bishop Malloy heard a wide range of feedback and suggestions both in regard to the strategic plan draft and moving forward to strengthen and fund Catholic schools now and in the future.

The DPC agenda also included brief reports on the Hispanic Year of Mercy gathering, the Youth Summit, Ministry Day and some preliminary results from the annual Mass count taken in October.

The DPC is made up of lay, religious, deacon and priest representatives from each deanery of the Rockford Diocese. Members assist Bishop Malloy by providing advice as requested in regards to the pastoral care of the diocese.

Each council member serves a three-year term and meetings are held four times per year. To learn more about pastoral councils and the role they play in parish planning visit http://www.rockforddiocese.org/parishplanning.