The Archdiocese of Perth is entering an important new chapter in its journey of synodality with the establishment of the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC).
Convened by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, the DPC is being formed as an advisory body with the aim of strengthening collaboration, discernment, and co-responsibility in the mission of the Church.
Rooted in the spirit of Pope Francis’ call to deepen participation, dialogue, and shared decision-making, the APC will embody the principle that “the whole community, in free and rich diversity of its members, is called together to pray, listen, analyse, dialogue, discern and offer advice” on the pastoral life of the Church.
Background and Vision
The re-establishment of the DPC come following an extensive listening and discernment processes, including the Archdiocesan Assembly held in July 2024 and the work of the Diocesan Pastoral Council Implementation Advisory Group.
Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Co-Chair of the Implementation Advisory Group, explained to The Record that it has recommended a structure that is transparent, inclusive, and firmly anchored in synodality.
“Following extensive review of the listening and discernment process conducted in conjunction with the Archdiocesan Assembly, we have begun to understand what we can do to better support the pastoral needs for our Perth Catholic community through a Pastoral Council,” Bishop Sproxton explained.
“The draft statutes of the proposed DPC describe it as a consultative body to the Archbishop, charged with investigating, considering, and proposing practical initiatives for the pastoral works of the Archdiocese,” he continued.
“It will not be a representative parliament, but a body of prayerful discernment, where members contribute for the good of the whole Church in Perth,” he said.
Membership and Role
The Archdiocese will soon commence calling for expressions of interest from clergy, religious, and lay people across the Archdiocese who are committed to living the Gospel and serving the Church in contemporary Australia.
Members are expected to bring faith, leadership, openness to dialogue, and practical experience in communal discernment.
The role of each member will include participation in formation and prayer, listening to diverse voices—especially those on the margins—and helping shape strategies that respond to the needs of the local Church.
Council members will be appointed by Archbishop Costelloe for a three-year term.
Key Priorities
According to the draft statutes, the DPC will support the Archbishop in:
- Discerning the vision and mission of the Archdiocese
- Identifying emerging pastoral and spiritual needs
- Reviewing proposals for parish and structural change
- Developing strategies to implement outcomes from the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, the global Synod on Synodality, and local assemblies
- Convening diocesan assemblies and engaging widely with parishes, schools, and agencies.
A Synodal Process
The journey towards establishing the council has itself been synodal, involving widespread consultation, regional workshops, and an emphasis on transparency.
Archbishop Costelloe has emphasised that the council’s success will depend not just on structures but on a genuine commitment to listening to the Spirit and one another in humility and openness.
Looking Ahead
The Diocesan Pastoral Council is expected to hold its first meetings in early 2026, with formation programs and communication strategies already being developed.
Its establishment marks a significant milestone for the Archdiocese of Perth as it seeks to live out the vision of a synodal Church—one that listens deeply, discerns faithfully, and acts courageously for the sake of mission.
As Archbishop Costelloe expressed, this initiative is a call to co-responsibility: “an invitation to listen to what the Spirit is saying about the pastoral needs of the people of the Archdiocese”.
More information will be available at www.perthcatholic.org.au/dpc.htm from Monday 13 October 2025