Please click here to read the original document and preparatory notes
Pope Francis has invited the entire Catholic Church to take part in a synod
on the theme of Synodality. There are several phases beginning now
and concluding in 2023. We are now in the diocesan phase which means
us.
Synod is an ancient word which means “Walking Together” so quoting
from the Vatican’s introductory document “..synodality enables the
entire People of God to walk forward together, listening to the Holy
Spirit and the Word of God, to participate in the mission of the
Church in the communion that Christ established between us.”
“All of us are called by virtue of our Baptism to be active participants
in the life of the church.”
“The object of this Synodal Process is not to provide a temporary or
one time experience of synodality, but rather to provide an
opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to
move forward on the path towards being a more synodal church in
the long term.”
Everyone in the Church is invited to celebrate, reflect and respond to the
church’s needs, problems and issues in this Third Millennium. We are
encouraged to do this by listening to each other, listening to the Spirit, and
so become a listening Church.
Of the twelve themes suggested by the Vatican document our diocese
has chosen four under the headings Listening, Celebrating, Mission and
Dreaming, but this does not preclude anything that arises from our group.
The synod is not a legislative assembly or a doctrinal council, nor a
debate, but a consultative listening process guided by the Holy Spirit.
The four sessions in our church will be led by facilitators. We will begin
with a short liturgy involving prayer, scripture and silence, followed by
reflection on chosen questions. Though answers, stories and thoughts will
be recorded for feedback nothing will be attributed to any named person.
Every session will be secure and safe to enable people to practice how to
listen and know their voice will be heard
We very much hope you will join us if not for every session but as many
as you are able.
People can also send their own thoughts to the synodal feed-back office
in the diocese so that nobody feels excluded.
Please feel free to share this with people you know who may not attend
church for any reason so that their contribution can be recorded.
The sessions will take place in church before or after mass on either
Friday or Saturday afternoons.
| Session 1 LISTENING | Sat 11th Dec | 3.00 – 4.30 pm |
| Session 2 CELEBRATION | Fri 17th Dec | 3.00 – 4.30 pm |
| Session 3 MISSION | Sat 8th Jan | 3.00 – 4.30 pm |
| Session 4 DREAMING | Fri 14th Jan | 3.00 – 4.30 pm |
Final Quote from Pope Francis:-
‘We recall that the purpose of the synod, and therefore of this
consultation is not to produce documents, but “to plant dreams,
draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire
trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn
of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness
that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands.”’
Sincerely, your Parish Facilitators,
Deacon Terry Enright
Helen Enright
Pauline Laycock