The Pastoral Council for the Diocese of Sandhurst was formally established in 2004 with its inaugural meeting on Saturday 7 February.

The setting up of the council comes from one of the visions of the Second Vatican Council, in line with recommendations of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference for more active role of the laity and from the workings of several diocesan consultative groups, pastoral initiatives and agencies coming together.

Representation

The Diocesan Pastoral Council consists of two elected members from each of the six regions and the deans of the three deaneries, the Vicar General of the Diocese, the Chair of the Council of Priests and a Religious Order representative.

Membership (July 2010)

•    Bishop Joe Grech
•    Mr Mark Walsh (Chairperson)
•    Mgr John White (Dean)
•    Mgr Peter Jeffrey (Dean)
•    Fr Rom Hayes (Dean)
•    Sr Lucy Martinez (Religious Orders)
•    Em Lelean (Bendigo Pastoral Region)
•    Marguerita Goggin (Bendigo Pastoral region)
•    Mary Zobec (Echuca Pastoral region)
•    Terry McKiterick (Echuca Pastoral region)
•    Vin Frewen (Goulburn Pastoral Region)
•    Mary-ann Demase (Goulburn Pastoral Region)
•    John Hoban (Cobram Pastoral Region)
•    Tricia Newman (Cobram Pastoral Region)
•    Glenys Jackson (Wangaratta Pastoral Region)
•    Gerri Boldrini (North East Pastoral Region)
•    Alanna Kirley (North East Pastoral Region)
•    Paul White (Executive Officer)

Executive

•    Bishop Joe Grech
•    Mgr John White
•    Mark Walsh
•    Terry McKiterick
•    Mary Zobec
•    Alanna Kirley