Bishop Terry has issued the following message concerning preparations in our diocese and beyond for the forthcoming Synod of Bishops…
I am sure that many of you will be aware that our Holy Father Pope Francis has convened a Synod of Bishops for 2023.
The title of the Synod is “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. The Holy Father wishes that we should “journey together” (the meaning of the word ‘Synod’) in order to prepare for this event in the life of the Universal Church.
In September this year, the Secretariat for the Synod will produce a questionnaire for all the local churches and their constituent parts to participate in. It will also issue a Vademecum of the synodal process.
In the meantime, each local church is to appoint a named person who will be the contact and a team to assist them.
I have nominated Canon Derek Turnham as the contact person for this diocese and we have formed a small team to help him. This team could very well be expanded as time goes on and circumstances dictate.
The infographic above explains more about the synodal process…
I intend to send out a Pastoral Letter the first weekend of September and as soon as I receive the questionnaire form Rome and the Vademecum, I will forward them on to each parish and apostolic organisation of the diocese.
It is important that the consultation via the questionnaire is preceded by prayer, underpinned by prayer and sustained by prayer. This whole process is under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
You will also find some information about the Synod and the timelines involved. I would hope that every parish, religious community, and apostolic organisation in the diocese will be able to, in some way, to participate in this process.
The Synod opens in Rome on October 9/10 and in each diocese on October 17 and continues until the celebration of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2023.
Please keep the intentions of the Holy Father and this Synod in your prayers and encourage everyone to do the same.
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