Diocesan Pastoral Council

The Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC), guided by the principles of synodality, collaborates with the bishop to discern and promote the pastoral mission of the diocese through prayerful listening, dialogue, and shared responsibility between clergy, religious, and the lay faithful.

Purpose and role

The DPC exists to support the bishop in his pastoral leadership and his threefold ministry of teaching, sanctifying, and governing the People of God entrusted to his care. In particular, the role of the DPC is to study and weigh those matters that concern the pastoral works of the diocese.

As a consultative body, the DPC does not make decisions on behalf of the diocese but provides a prayerful space for discernment, dialogue, and shared wisdom.

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Meetings

The DPC meets at least three times per year in locations throughout the Diocese. The purpose of these meetings are for the Council to:

  • Discuss current pastoral challenges and opportunities
  • Reflect on the direction of initiatives and priorities
  • Contribute to strategic pastoral planning
  • Foster unity and shared mission among our communities

Walking together in hope

The DPC plays a vital role in our journey of synodality – walking together as a Church that listens, learns, and responds with love. Rooted in prayer and guided by the Gospel, the DPC helps shape our diocese, that is truly missionary and Christ-centred.

If you’d like to learn more about the work of the DPC or how voices from across the diocese are being heard, please contact us.

Members

James Baby (Kyogle) is a deeply committed Catholic family man, who brings the richness of his Indian cultural heritage to parish life, having emigrated from Kerala several years ago. In India, he was actively involved in a range of parish committees, offering a strong witness of humility, inclusion, and community‑building. James holds a bachelor of economics and an MBA, and has professional experience across both government and corporate sectors.
 
Judy Brady (Macleay Valley) is a mother, grandmother, and educator, and has lived in Kempsey for 35 years and works at St Joseph’s Primary School. She is a long-standing member of the All Saints Parish, Macleay Valley, and has served in a wide range of ministries including Eucharistic minister, reader, altar server coordinator, and Baptism preparation team member. Judy has served on the Parish Pastoral Council for many years and is currently its secretary. She has a strong understanding of the diocesan renewal project and is committed to supporting parishes in their renewal journey.
 
Adam Gallagher (Kingscliff) has a deep commitment to the Church and its mission, seeking to serve wherever his gifts are most needed. He is an excellent communicator and works collaboratively with the Parish Pastoral Council at St Anthony’s Parish, Kingscliff, where he has been an active member since completing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program ten years ago. Adam runs a small business in corporate governance and, over the past decade, has held officeholder and executive roles across several ASX‑listed technology companies.
 
Gerard Lewis (Nambucca Valley) is a retired principal and educational leader who is passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential. Much of his career has been devoted to helping disadvantaged children achieve success. He has recently relocated to the mid-north coast of NSW and is a parishioner at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Nambucca Heads.
 
Emma McDonald (Casino) is a young Catholic woman from a deeply committed Italian Catholic family. She is prayerful, thoughtful, and forward-thinking. Emma serves as secretary of the St Mary’s, Casino, Parish Pastoral Council, and is involved in the Parent Assembly. She has three young children and works in a leadership role in Allied Health.
 
Maxine Miller (Bellingen) has been married for 50 years and is the mother of five children and grandmother to six. Raised in the Hawkesbury District of NSW, she moved to Urunga ten years ago. She has been active in parish life for decades, serving in various ministries including choir, pastoral support, and parish-based family services. A social worker and counsellor by profession, she has worked across child and family support, domestic violence advocacy, and student counselling in both primary and secondary schools. Maxine is an avid reader and a recent criminology student at Griffith University. She currently serves on the Parish Pastoral Council at St Mary’s Parish, Bellingen.
 
Peter Murphy (Wauchope) is a long‑standing parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wauchope, where he serves on the Parish Finance Council. He has been part of the Wauchope Parish community for 34 years and has previously served as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. Peter has worked for St Agnes’ Parish, Port Macquarie for 15 years, initially as an accountant and now as the payroll manager. He has been married to his wife, Lyn, for 41 years, and they have three children.
 
John O’Brien (Casino) is the coordinating principal at St Mary’s Primary School and St Mary’s Catholic College in Casino, and is well known for his energy, innovation, enthusiasm, and dedication to the local community. He celebrated ten years as principal of St Mary’s Primary School in 2025. John holds a bachelor of education and a master of education from the Australian Catholic University. He is married with three children.
 
Br Bill Sullivan (Lismore) is a Marist Brother with more than 30 years’ experience as a principal and secondary teacher. He has served for eight years on the leadership team of the Marist Brothers and was most recently Director of the Retreat Centre in the Southern Highlands of NSW. He is currently guiding the development of the Marist House of Light, a house of prayer and retreat centre in Lismore. A qualified spiritual director, he offers retreats and reflection days. Br Bill also has a passion for sport and has spent many years as a Rugby League referee.
 
Christine Wightley (Murwillumbah) has many years of dedicated service to the Sacred Heart Parish, Murwillumbah, contributing to both the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance Council. She brings a strong diocesan perspective through her involvement with the Regional Parish Collaboration Team and the Tweed Valley Parishes Cluster Governance Team as part of the Diocesan Renewal. Christine is the mother of five children and grandmother to eleven.

Ex officio members

Madeline Beveridge (Alstonville) is the pastoral projects leader at the Chancery office at the Diocese of Lismore. She holds a PhD in education and a master’s degree in religious education and theology. Madeline is an active member of the St Joseph’s Parish, Alstonville, and is married with a young son.

Fr James Foster (Macleay Valley) is chair of the Council of Priests and parish priest at All Saints Parish, Macleay Valley. He is actively involved in the prison chaplaincy ministry at the Kempsey Correctional Facility. 

Fr Paul McDonald (Kingscliff) has served as a priest of the Diocese of Lismore for 42 years and holds a bachelor of theology. He is the vicar general of the diocese and parish priest at St Anthony’s, Kingscliff. He is also a trustee and consultor of the diocese and a former chair of St Vincent’s Hospital, Lismore. In addition, Fr Paul is an orchestral musician with the Lismore Symphony Orchestra.

Adam Spencer (Tweed Heads) is a member of St Anthony’s Parish, Tweed Heads and has worked within the Diocese of Lismore for 25 years. His career includes roles in private enterprise and Catholic Education Western Australia. Before his appointment as Director of Catholic Schools (CEO) for the Diocese of Lismore, Adam served as CEO of St Agnes’ Assist Ltd and St Agnes’ Care and Lifestyle in Port Macquarie. He holds qualifications from the University of Queensland and the Australian Catholic University, an MBA from the University of Melbourne, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Frequently asked questions

The Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) is a group of people from across the diocese who meet to advise the bishop on matters of pastoral life and mission. It’s a way for the people of the diocese – clergy, religious, and laity to share wisdom, listen to the Holy Spirit, and help shape the future of the Church in our local area.

The council prays, reflects, discerns, and discusses key issues facing the diocese. It offers the bishop insight and advice on pastoral priorities such as evangelisation, youth ministry, parish renewal, outreach, and more. Its purpose is to listen deeply to the people of the diocese and discern how God is calling us to respond.

The DPC is not a decision-making body or a governance board. It doesn’t manage finances or replace the work of other diocesan offices. Instead, it offers a space for dialogue, prayerful reflection, and consultation, reflecting an understanding of synodality  – journeying together as a people of God.

The idea comes from the Second Vatican Council, which emphasised the shared responsibility of all the baptised in the mission of the Church. The council reflects the Church’s understanding of synodality – walking together in communion, participation, and mission.

Members are a diverse group of laypeople, clergy, and religious from different regions and ministries of the diocese. They are chosen for their faith, wisdom, and commitment to the Church. The DPC includes both appointed and representative members to reflect the richness of the diocese.

Some members are invited by the bishop, while others are appointed through a process of expression of interest and nomination, with three representatives from each deanery. A deanery (also called a vicariate forane, deanery, pastoral zone or prefecture) is a subdivision of a diocese that groups several neighbouring parishes together for the purpose of fostering common pastoral action and facilitating the bishop’s oversight of the clergy in that area.

The aim is to ensure a wide range of voices and experiences are heard – from young adults to experienced leaders. To help with this we use a capability matrix, which supports the process of appointing a balanced and diverse council that reflects holistically the diversity present in the diocese.

The DPC meets at least three times a year, with locations varying around the diocese. Meetings include prayer, formation, discussion, and discernment. Between meetings, members may also engage with their local communities or participate in working groups.

A parish pastoral council advises the parish priest and focuses on local parish matters. The DPC  advises the bishop and looks at broader issues affecting the whole diocese. Both councils share a pastoral focus but serve different levels of the Church.

Yes, the DPC is a standing body, but membership may change over time. Terms of service are typically for three years, with the opportunity for serving multiple terms, so that new voices can continue to contribute.

You can speak to a DPC member from your region or ministry, or contact the Chancery office at the diocese directly. The DPC values listening to the experiences, questions, and dreams of people across the diocese. You’re encouraged to contribute. Your voice matters, walk with us in hope.

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