A statute of the Second Synod of the Diocese of Allentown calls for the
establishment of a Diocesan Pastoral Council to facilitate the implementation
of Synod statutes concerning the restructuring and consolidation of parishes and
ensuring the fiscal feasibility of Catholic schools.
According to the Synod
statute that called for creation of the Diocesan Pastoral council its purpose
"shall be to investigate, consider and propose practical conclusions about
those things which pertain to the pastoral works in the Diocese as determined
by its bylaws."
Membership on the Diocesan Pastoral Council consists
of 26 people from all across the Diocese who have been appointed by the Most Reverend
Edward P. Cullen, D.D., Bishop of Allentown. There are 16 lay people, 8 priests,
one woman religious and one deacon.
The
Diocesan Pastoral Council members are:
Beth Beers, Esq. of Bath,
President
Reverend Eric Arnout of Whitehall, Vice President
Ms. Joan Wassell
of New Philadelphia, Secretary
Mrs. Mary Ann Anceravige of Mahanoy City
Mrs. Kathleen Appleton of Mohnton
Doctor Carmina Magnusen Chapp of Limeport
Reverend Monsignor John Chizmar of Lake Harmony
Reverend Monsignor Joseph DeSantis
of West Reading
Sister M. Francine Garganta, O.S.F. of Bethlehem
Mrs.
Anne Girard of Coaldale
Mr. Robert Gowell of Allentown
Reverend Monsignor
David James of Allentown
Mrs. Catherine Juna of Lansford
Mr. Lawrence
Lonergan of Pottsville
Doctor Carolina McCluskey of Bethlehem
Mrs. Judith
McMahon of Reading
Deacon John Murphy, Jr. of Sinking Spring
Reverend Monsignor
Edward O'Connor of Pottsville
Michael O'Connor, Esq. of Frackville
Reverend
Monsignor James Reichert of Martins Creek
Carlos Rodriguez, Esq. of Allentown
Reverend Monsignor Alfred Schlert of Allentown
Gretchen Sterns, Esq. of Orwigsburg
Mrs. ToniMarie Zeleniak of Lehighton
Reverend Monsignor Edward Zemanik
of McAdoo
Advisors to the DPC
Mr.
Philip J. Fromuth, Secretary for Catholic Education
Mr. Mark E. Smith, Secretary
for Temporal Affairs
Deacon Gerald R. Schmidt
DPC
Bylaws
DPC
Committees