Over 80 parishioners from over 30 parishes across the Archdiocese have stepped up as representatives in this historic Synod. They started a programme of training this week with an introductory talk on what is meant by a ‘synod’, the synodal process, the timeline, and the role of parish representatives. In their second session next week, they will look at how to organise and run a parish meeting and how they might encourage prayerful listening and discernment. The synodal process is for each and every one of us and we hope we will use the opportunities we are offered to listen to each other.

Questions to think about: How do we journey together, listen to each other? To the Holy Spirit? What is your dream for the Church, your parish, so that it becomes more missionary, more outward looking?

Fr Matthew

So to start us off, from the Synod documents: “The fundamental question that guides this consultation of the People of God”… is the following:

A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together.”

How is this “journeying together” happening today in your particular Church?

What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together?

We are invited to:

• ask ourselves what experiences in our parish and / or diocese the fundamental question calls to mind
• what joys did they provoke?
• what difficulties and obstacles have they encountered?
• what wounds have they brought to light?
• what insights have they elicited?
• where, in these experiences, does the voice of the Spirit resound?
• what is the Spirit asking of us?
• what are the points to be confirmed, the prospects for change, the steps to be taken?
• what paths are opening up?

Dear friends and parishioners

Diocesan coordinator Madeleine Walters from St Teilo’s and her team are now asking each church community for at least two people, to be representatives in enabling parishioners to reflect, share and respond to the questions of the Synod.

It’s disappointing that only one person volunteered last week, and it would be tragic if we all were prevented from making our contribution by a lack of coordinators.

If you would like to serve our churches in this historic event, please email Fr Matthew at matthew.jones@rcadc.org within the next three days. The diocese will supply training next week, and info will continue in forthcoming newsletters.

Fr Matthew

Here are extracts from Pope Francis’ address for the beginning of the Synod process. Please take time to read it and capture something of Francis’ vision.

Diocesan coordinator Madeleine Walters from St Teilo’s and her team are now asking each church community for at least two people to be representatives in reflecting, sharing, and responding to the questions of the Synod.

If you would like to serve our churches in this historic event, please email Fr Matthew at matthew.jones@rcadc.org within the next three days. The diocese will supply some training, and info will continue in forthcoming newsletters. Meanwhile, once more we print the Synod prayer:

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;

Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time,

in the communion of the Father and the Son,

forever and ever. Amen