The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst values collaborative governance and leadership, and the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) embodies synodality in the local Church.

Members of the SMPC, represent the entire Diocese and are eager to hear your thoughts and ideas. Feel free to reach out to them via the email addresses below.

Meetings 

The SMPC Members meet in Shepparton four times a year.  Reports of these meetings can be found here. 

Members 

Joining Bishop Shane Mackinlay and Fr Joe Taylor VG on the Council are: 

Bishop’s Appointments

Ms Kate Fogarty, Executive Director, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd

Mr Jean-Marie Mupenda, St Brendan’s Parish, Shepparton

More about the SMPC 

• default Statutes (345 KB)
• default Final Report (3.03 MB)
• default Volunteer Position Description for Membership of the Sandhurst Mssion and Pastoral Council (95 KB)
• default Responsibilities of Volunteer Form (98 KB)

Contact 

Leslie Cooper
by phone 03 5441 2544
by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Statutes 

The Statutes for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council are based on:

• The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church
• pdf Go Forth Report (508 KB)  
• The Decrees of the 5th Plenary Council of Australia
• pdf The Sandhurst Diocesan Synthesis for the Synod on Synodality  (511 KB)

History

27 April 2022 - Year of Preparation and Consultation began

15 February 2023 - Diocesan Assembly, in Shepparton

10 March 2023 - Expressions of interest closed

24 March 2023 - Members of the SMPC announced

4 April 2023 - Members of the SMPC commissioned (Chrism Mass)

28 - 29 April 2023 - The inaugural meeting of the Council was held in Shepparton.    

Pray 

Please pray for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council, and for our Diocese, as we seek to become “a more missionary and pastoral Church”.