Baumert Named To Council

 To Advise Catholic Church Leaders

By Kaaren Valenta

When Duane Baumert retired from Union Carbide, he had every intention of becoming a business consultant. What he discovered, however, was “a call to service” that has placed him on the volunteer boards of many civic and church groups.

The most recent appointment came earlier this month when the 62-year-old member of St Rose of Lima parish was one of 14 Catholics from the Diocese of Bridgeport named to a new body of lay people who will advise Bishop William E. Lori on better ways to fulfill the church’s mission in the world.

In a letter to the 375,000 Catholics in the 87 parishes in Fairfield County, Bishop Lori announced the creation of the Pastoral Council for the Diocese of Bridgeport.

“The principal objectives of a Pastoral Council are to reflect the views of the Catholic people of the Diocese of Bridgeport on effective ways to fulfill the church’s mission, and to dialogue together on the issues, opportunities, and problems that we all face today,” Bishop Lori said. “Above all, the Pastoral Council will enable me, as bishop, to understand more profoundly the pastoral needs of those I am pledged to serve.”

According to the diocese, the lay council is an advisory body required to be convened by all bishops since Vatican II. It is separate from the sexual misconduct review board that was set up last year to look into complaints against members of the clergy.

“When I was in the Archdiocese of Washington, I worked closely with the Pastoral Council and found it to be a very effective body, the very ‘eyes and ears’ of the diocese,” Bishop Lori said. “There are many examples already in place in our diocese and working well: at the Diocesan, parish, or school levels; on ministry teams, councils, and boards.”

The Pastoral Council will meet three times a year, or as needed, beginning on May 28.

Duane Baumert learned three months ago that he was being considered for the position.

“I was called for an interview while I was on vacation,” he said. “I had been nominated by the parish.”

A eucharistic minister at St Rose, Mr Baumert had served as chairman of the Parish Council in the 1980s and was chairman of the Faith in the Future Fund Drive six years ago. He chaired the 1999 Millennium Committee that helped the parish come up with a list of ten recommendations for improvements in facilities and services.

He is on the board of the Shelter of the Cross in Danbury, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Newtown Rotary, where he served as president. A resident of Newtown since 1978, he is married to Dorothy (Dot) Baumert. The couple has four grown children and are expecting their eighth grandchild.

Mr Baumert sees the diocese’s new Pastoral Council as an opportunity for “two-way communication of issues that we see in the parishes and the diocese. It also will be a sounding board for Bishop Lori’s ideas and programs.

“I am honored to be selected. I regard this as an extension of my faith, and a call to service,” he said.

Mr Baumert said he is a pro-life advocate who is particularly interested in state and federal legislation as it affects the church. He has worked to oppose late term abortions and same sex marriages.

Planning for the Pastoral Council began last fall, overseen by Marylee A. MacDougall, chancellor of the diocese and the first lay person to hold this position. Nominations for members were solicited from all 87 parishes. The new council includes 11 lay people, one parish priest, one permanent deacon, and one religious sister. Bishop Lori is chairman.

The Rev Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose, said Mr Baumert’s experience, both professionally and in the local congregation, made him an excellent choice to serve on the committee.

“It’s really a recognition of his work on the Millennium Committee for the parish and his professional background,” Father Weiss said. He has a great understanding of parish life – the workings of a parish – and can evaluate fairly, and develop a plan for the future.”