As Bishop David Zubik neared the end of his time as Bishop of Pittsburgh, he wanted to ensure the Next Generation had a seat at the table. "I felt a deep responsibility to ensure that the Diocesan Pastoral Council would continue to reflect the heart and voice of our Church,” he said. “That meant renewing the entire council membership and specifically inviting younger members—faithful, thoughtful Catholics—who are already stepping up in their parishes and communities.”
The Diocesan Pastoral Council advises the bishop through prayerful discernment of the Church’s pastoral needs. For Bishop Zubik, the council “must reflect the lived experience of our people—especially our young people, who are not just the future of the Church, but its present.”
Listening to the Next Generation
When Chancellor Anna Torrance stepped into her role two years ago, she began shaping this vision into reality. In the past, recruitment efforts drew the same demographic—parishioners over 50, often already active in the parish. To widen the scope, the diocese created an open application process that emphasized diversity of culture, gender, age, and geography.
The result was a council that looks and feels like the Church Herself — generationally diverse and united in mission.
With about twenty members evenly split between older and younger Catholics, the council includes clergy, religious, and lay leaders discerning together how God is calling the diocese forward.
When Young People Show Up
“I have been deeply moved to see young Catholics discern their place in the Diocesan Pastoral Council and give confident, humble guidance to me as the bishop,” Bishop Zubik said. “They lift us up as a diocese and bring new life and perspectives to our group in a way that stretches our perspectives and hearts.”
That energy has sparked a ripple effect. Younger members have hosted focus groups, created surveys, and reached peers in their 20s and 30s—including those who’ve stepped away from parish life.
When Bishop Zubik passed leadership to Bishop Mark Eckman, he knew the work would continue. “He knows them,” Bishop Zubik said, “and I am confident he will lead them as a true shepherd guides his sheep.”
Pittsburgh’s Diocesan Pastoral Council is more than a model for governance—it’s a reflection of what happens when the Church listens to her young people and they respond with courage, creativity, and love for Christ’s mission. It is, in Bishop Zubik’s words, “not only encouraging, but also essential.”
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