What Happened at the Diocesan Pastoral Council?
The Diocesan Pastoral Council met on Saturday 18 February at Alexander
House, the administrative headquarters of the diocese. A special A4
summary of the Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting is has been sent to
every parish to distribute in parish newsletters.
The following is a resume of the discussions.
Following on from the Listening 2004 project initiated by the Bishops of England and Wales, Bishop Declan felt that the Diocesan Pastoral Council was ready to take back the ideas and suggestions generated from the Listening 2004 Report and implement some of them in parishes. This 3-year project is now looking at different ways in which to respond to the findings published in the Report: ‘Everybody’s Welcome.’
The aim of each year:
(i) Welcoming, family-friendly parishes (2006);
(i) Marital and family spirituality (2007);
(ii) Helping parents and grandparents to pass on faith in God (2008).
In 2006 we will try to:
ENCOURAGE members of the congregation to have a positive attitude towards each other;
BE AWARE of the spiritual, emotional, physical and social needs of its members, and others in contact with the church community, and seek to fill these needs;
PROVIDE a dynamic, inspiring and creative children’s programme;
ACTIVELY INVOLVE adults and children of all ages, both in the Mass and other liturgies on a regular basis;
SHARE OUT RESPONSIBILITIES so that no one family or person is over-burdened with church-related tasks;
TAKE CARE OF OUR CLERGY and their families, by protecting their need for family time too;
REACH OUT to other families in the local community, using an on-going project.
Church is about Mission. Family-friendly is more than being child-friendly. It is creating a Church where everybody feels welcome and comfortable, knowing that their individual needs have been considered. Bishop Declan emphasises the importance of Hospitality and Making People Feel Welcome, enabling people to experience this in their parishes. Some are attracted to the Church because of it, but many drift away due to a lack of it. All the needs identified in the Report are common to all parishes and we need to respond to them in a positive way. EVANGELISATION is Mission not Maintenance.
The father of a brain-damaged boy felt guilt and grief seeing no future for his son. The example of love and hope from priest and parish helped him to accept and rejoice in his son. Although his behaviour was unpredictable the priest let him read at Mass. Ambition fulfilled! After that he was one of the community. Respect given! Acceptance achieved!
Each Parish is asked to: (i) have their parish pastoral council (or team) work through the introductory material and gather views from as wide a distribution as possible and trying to include those who do not attend church on a regular basis; (ii) to undertake one or two projects that will help them become a more welcoming parish. It may be that some parishes may want to undertake joint projects with other parishes in the deanery, particularly when it comes to outreach work, or they may wish to work ecumenically.
Parishes cannot do everything BUT they can do something
Bishop Declan concluded by saying that the task of the whole Diocese is Mission and Renewal and therefore WELCOME & HOSPITALITY - a ministry for the whole parish. He concluded by urging everyone to Be Courageous and Go Forward!
The following is a resume of the discussions.
Following on from the Listening 2004 project initiated by the Bishops of England and Wales, Bishop Declan felt that the Diocesan Pastoral Council was ready to take back the ideas and suggestions generated from the Listening 2004 Report and implement some of them in parishes. This 3-year project is now looking at different ways in which to respond to the findings published in the Report: ‘Everybody’s Welcome.’
The aim of each year:
(i) Welcoming, family-friendly parishes (2006);
(i) Marital and family spirituality (2007);
(ii) Helping parents and grandparents to pass on faith in God (2008).
In 2006 we will try to:
ENCOURAGE members of the congregation to have a positive attitude towards each other;
BE AWARE of the spiritual, emotional, physical and social needs of its members, and others in contact with the church community, and seek to fill these needs;
PROVIDE a dynamic, inspiring and creative children’s programme;
ACTIVELY INVOLVE adults and children of all ages, both in the Mass and other liturgies on a regular basis;
SHARE OUT RESPONSIBILITIES so that no one family or person is over-burdened with church-related tasks;
TAKE CARE OF OUR CLERGY and their families, by protecting their need for family time too;
REACH OUT to other families in the local community, using an on-going project.
Church is about Mission. Family-friendly is more than being child-friendly. It is creating a Church where everybody feels welcome and comfortable, knowing that their individual needs have been considered. Bishop Declan emphasises the importance of Hospitality and Making People Feel Welcome, enabling people to experience this in their parishes. Some are attracted to the Church because of it, but many drift away due to a lack of it. All the needs identified in the Report are common to all parishes and we need to respond to them in a positive way. EVANGELISATION is Mission not Maintenance.
The father of a brain-damaged boy felt guilt and grief seeing no future for his son. The example of love and hope from priest and parish helped him to accept and rejoice in his son. Although his behaviour was unpredictable the priest let him read at Mass. Ambition fulfilled! After that he was one of the community. Respect given! Acceptance achieved!
Each Parish is asked to: (i) have their parish pastoral council (or team) work through the introductory material and gather views from as wide a distribution as possible and trying to include those who do not attend church on a regular basis; (ii) to undertake one or two projects that will help them become a more welcoming parish. It may be that some parishes may want to undertake joint projects with other parishes in the deanery, particularly when it comes to outreach work, or they may wish to work ecumenically.
Parishes cannot do everything BUT they can do something
Bishop Declan concluded by saying that the task of the whole Diocese is Mission and Renewal and therefore WELCOME & HOSPITALITY - a ministry for the whole parish. He concluded by urging everyone to Be Courageous and Go Forward!
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