Lay leaders to steer Pastoral Council
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Former Catholic education leader and Brighton parishioner Monica Conway has been appointed as the inaugural chair of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.
Public sector governance professional Stephen Bampton, from St Ann’s parish at Seacombe Gardens, will take on the deputy role.
Monica was an assistant director at Catholic Education SA up until last year and was an Adelaide Archdiocese member of the Plenary Council.
In her 10 years as assistant director, Monica had a range of portfolios and most recently led the Catholic Identity Section which includes teams that focus on Religious Education, spiritual and religious formation of leaders and staff, youth ministry and family faith formation.
Monica is an experienced school principal and Catholic education leader who worked at the Catholic Education Office for 17 years during which she led a number of identity, learning and school improvement initiatives.
An active member of Brighton parish, she has served on the Parish Pastoral Council.
In retirement, Monica is enjoying more time with husband Stephen and her children and grandchildren.
On her appointment to the role of chair of the DPC, Monica said she was looking forward to working with the members of the Council to actively respond to the Diocesan Assembly recommendations and Plenary Council decrees.
“Inspired by the listening, dialogue and discernment that has happened over the past few years and our commitment to synodality, I think we are in a very good position to be able to work together in response to the needs and desires of the people in the Adelaide Archdiocese,” she said.
“As a Diocesan Pastoral Council we will hold synodality as a central principle for our conduct and action and I look forward to sharing our progress with the wider Diocesan community as we move forward together.”
Stephen Bampton
Stephen said he felt a deep connection with the discernment processes used by the Plenary Council and the Diocesan Assembly.
“As a member of the DPC I hope to support the development of a culture that champions this process and through doing so, seeks to hear all voices including those at the margins of both our community and individual debates,” he said.
“Guided by the Holy Spirit, I believe we must support our Church leaders to read the signs of the times and translate them into a much needed message of faith, hope and above all, love.”
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