The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst has a history of collaborative governance and leadership, including the establishment of a Diocesan Pastoral Council. The shape, form and function of this leadership, including the Council, has varied according to the needs of the time. In our current time, the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC)is understood as an expression of synodality in the life and mission of the local Church of Sandhurst.  As reprsentatives of the entire Diocese, members of the SMPC are keen to hear your thoughts and ideas for the Diocese, please feel free to contact them via the email below. 

Meetings of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC)

  default Minutes of Meeting 1 (27-28 April 2023) (158 KB)

  default Minutes of Meeting 2 (14-15 July 2023) (1.27 MB)

  pdf Minutes of Meeting 3 (25-26 August 2023) (257 KB)

  pdf Minutes of Meeting 4 (17-18 November 2023 (223 KB) )

Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC)

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

Goulburn Valley Deanery

Mrs Alana Brennan, St Augustine’s Parish, Kyabram

Mrs Jobelle Collier, St Brendan’s Parish, Shepparton

Mrs Angela Finn, St Augustine’s Parish, Kyabram

Reverend Father Jackson Saunders, St Brendan’s Parish, Shepparton and St Mary’s Parish, Dookie 

North Eastern Deanery

Mrs Gabrielle Downie, St Joseph’s Parish, Benalla  (CHAIR) 

Mr Stephen McKinley, Sacred Heart Parish, Wodonga

Mr Michael McLinden, Sacred Heart Parish, Wodonga

Reverend Father Vijay Bandanadam ALCP/OSS, St Joseph’s Parish, Benalla 

Western Deanery

Mr Mick Chalkley, St Therese’s Parish, Kennington

Mr Miggy Podosky, St Kilian’s Parish, Bendigo

Mrs Christine Sebire, St Mary’s Parish, Echuca (representative to attend College of Consultors Meetings)

Reverend Father Stephen Bolling, St Liborius Parish, Eaglehawk and St Mary’s Parish, Inglewood 

Bishop’s Appointments

Mr Paul Desmond, Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd

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

The Diocese began preparation and consultation for a SMPC in July 2022 and visiting almost every parish of the Diocese.  In March 2023 Bishop Shane Mackinlay announced the members of the SMPC and commissioned them at the Chrism Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in April 2023. 

The first meeting of the Council was held in Shepparton on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 April.  The second meeting was held in Shepparton on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July 2023. 

Please pray for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council, and for our diocese, as we seek to become “a more missionary and pastoral Church” (from the ‘Prayer for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council’).

More about 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 

Tim Nolan or 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)

A Year of Preparation and Consultation for the SMPC
27 April 2022 to 27 April 2023

27 April 2022 - Year of Preparation and Consultation began

15 February 2023 - Diocesan Assembly, in Shepparton

10 March 2023 - Expressions of interest close

24 March 2023  - Members of the SMPC announced

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

27 April 2023   - First meeting of the SMPC (Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel)