It is the goal of the Diocese that we will gather for live, in-person “Listening Sessions” in our parishes. We know that at the heart of the synodal encounter is in the effort to hear the voice of the Spirit in our midst, with the restrictions in place, it is necessary to delay the sessions in the Families of Parishes and with other non-parochial groups. With the uncertainty brought about by the Omicron variant, it is impossible to say when these critical gatherings might be doable. It is to be hoped that larger indoor gatherings will be possible in late March – early April. Once the public health regulations currently in force are relaxed, the leadership in the Families of Parishes will be notified to schedule their “Listening Sessions”. In the meantime the diocesan committee planning and overseeing the synodal process will continue to prepare materials, to refine tools to be used in the “Listening Sessions” and to train volunteers for the roles of Coordinator and Session Leader. It is important for each Family of Parishes to designate a Coordinator or Coordinating Team to organize and stage the “Listening Sessions” in the family when the time comes. We are currently looking for volunteers from our parish—OLPH to be our Coordinator or on the Team. Is this YOU? If so please contact Christine Toffolon and she will forward your name on to Chrisandra Skipper, a member of the diocesan committee. The diocesan “Listening Sessions” offer great promise and possibility in discerning and responding to the movement of the Spirit in our local Church and in helping us to determine the course of our lived mission as disciples in the years ahead.

 

The Synodal Process is about . . .

• Listening to each and every one
• Reaching out and being inclusive and culturally aware
• Having an open mind to explore possibilities
• Bringing people together to dream big about the Church
• Spending time with the futureHearing what the Holy Spirit has to say to all of us

The Synodal process calls us to . . .

• Listen to the lived experiences of others in a context of prayer
• Listen with openness, with faith and with courageListen with the ears of the heart
• Listen to what the Holy Spirit wants to say to the Church
• Be open to each encounter with courage and a willingness and to allow ourselves to be challenged by the presence and the stories of others
• Provide an opportunity for everyone to speak freely, to tell their story, to recount their experiences and their spiritual journey
• Have the confidence to speak and the humility to listen

The Main Questions the Synod will Consider . . .

A Synodal church, in announcing the Gospel, ‘journeys together’. Our Diocese and the Church worldwide are being asked to . . .

• Embark on a process of profound renewal inspired by the Holy Spirit
• Respond to the main questions of the Synodal process as it applies to our Church today and the Church we envision for the future
• How is our ‘walking together’ in synodality realized today in the Church?
• What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow as we ‘walk together’?
• Actively reach out and listen to the voices and experiences of people where they are at, especially those who are often excluded or who are not involved in the life of the Church