Membership
The Council for Pastoral Renewal and Adult Faith Development has four episcopal members:
The Advisory Board comprises representatives of the dioceses nominated by region, and of:
The following are the members of the Advisory Board who begin a term of three years in September 2008:
- Dioceses of Dublin, Ferns, Kildare and Leighlin, Ossory and Meath
Sr. Anne Frances Carroll, Fr. Lar O’Connor and Mr. Joe Tynan
- Dioceses of Tuam, Achonry, Clonfert, Elphin, Galway and Killala
Ms Mary O’Connell and Fr. Muredach Tuffy
- Dioceses of Cashel, Cork and Ross, Cloyne, Killaloe, Limerick, and Waterford and Lismore
Sr. Emmanuel Leonard and Ms. Noirin Lynch
- Diocese of Armagh
Mr. Brian McKee and Fr Andrew McNally
- National Director for Catechetics
Mr Brendan O’Reilly
- Conference of Religious of Ireland
Sr. Marianne O’Connor OSU
- Irish Missionary Union
Fr. Eamonn Aylward SSCC
- Knights of St. Columbanus
Mr Charles McDonald KSC
Work of the Council
Ecclesial Movements and Lay Associations
The Pastoral Conference 2008, hosted by the Council, took place in Marino Conference Centre on 29-30 September. Participants included diocesan and parish pastoral workers, members of religious congregations, lay associations and movements, pastoral agencies, and education and training institutions. The two-day event was an exercise in dialogue and collaboration. Dr Oonagh O’Brien’s thought-provoking paper was published in the November issue of The Furrow. The World Café process (see www.theworldcafe.com), introduced by Fr. Tom Sweetser SJ and Sr. Peg Bishop OSA was helpful and energising. As a follow-up to this event, representatives of 16 ecclesial movements and lay associations met in Maynooth On 4 March 2009 at an event chaired by Bishop Lagan and facilitated by John Colgan, pastoral adviser, Newcastle, Co. Down. The keynote speaker was Dr. Tony Hanna. See Annual Report 2009 for a detailed account of this event. Pastoral AreasIn May 2009, the Annual Convention of Diocesan Representatives took place in Maynooth. At the request of the Council the topic of developing pastoral areas was explored – the beginnings of a national conversation on this very live theme, facilitated by Fr. Eamonn Fitzgibbon (Limerick). A task group is being convened to build on the conversation so far and to locate what is happening here within a theological framework and pastoral practice here and elsewhere. Framework Document for Youth MinistryAlso in May the Council, in partnership with the National Committee of Diocesan Youth Directors, launched Called Together, Making the Difference, a framework document for youth ministry in Ireland. This document was developed out of consultations over a two-year period involving a wide community of people in youth ministry in particular and in pastoral ministry in general. Fr. Michael Kelleher CSsR who facilitated the process was also the main author of the publication. An Implementation Group is being established (October 2009) in which Diocesan Directors, second-and third-level education, religious congregations with special commitment to youth ministry, youth movements and pastoral renewal will all be represented. Parish-oriented Adult Faith Development As follow-up to his work in 07-08 (see publications section below), Domhnall O’Neill has developed on behalf of the Council an intranet system for diocesan personnel in pastoral renewal and adult faith development, which was launched in September 2009. Its purpose is to facilitate communication and the sharing of reflection and resources between the members, who were introduced to the system at a series of regional meetings. EvaluationA full-scale evaluation of the work of Council has been carried out, in line with the remit it received at its launch in January 2005. The evaluation was directed by Fr. Joe Dargan SJ and facilitated by Mr. John Colgan. An interim report has been presented to the Bishops’ Commission and a full account will be prepared for the December meeting of the Episcopal Conference. |
