Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC)

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 


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. 

 

PayerFront Image

Statutes 

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

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)

 

Wednesday, 15 November 2023 22:08

Get to know Mick Chalkley, SMPC and DFC Member

Mick Chalkley is a member of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Finance Council (DFC). A parishioner at St Therese’s Kennington and…
Wednesday, 20 September 2023 00:26

Get to Know Christine Sebire

Christine Sebire is a Member of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) and is one of three lay people (and the only woman) appointed…
Wednesday, 06 September 2023 09:04

Get to know Gabby Downie, Chair of SMPC

Benalla parishioner, Gabrielle Downie, is the chair of the Sandhurst Mission and Council (SMPC). Currently Principal of St Patrick’s Primary School in Wangaratta, Gabbie has…
The Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) met in Shepparton for the second time last month. After weeks of personal formation and preparation, members were…
The Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) held its inaugural meeting on Friday 28 April and Saturday 29 April. Council members spent time in prayer,…
  Themes which emerged from the fifty-two consultation meetings held in churches, halls and schools across the Diocese betwen July and December 2022 in preparation…
A key milestone of our preparation and consultation for the SMPC was the Diocesan Assembly on 15 February 2023.  
A prayer for the Sandhust Mission and Pastoral Council is available for download. 
Since they were commissioned by Bishop Shane in July 2022, Dr Chris Cotter and Ruth Lawlor have facilitated over 48 preparation and consultation meetings.
A key recommendation in the 2020 Go Forth Review of the Diocese was that Bishop Shane Mackinlay establish a Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Council. 
A Preparation and Consultation Plan to establish the SMPC is available for download. 
With the release of Interim Report on the consultation Phase of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC)  Ruth Lawlor reflects on her encounters with parishioners…