Below is the message as delivered to parishioners on the weekend of 28th and 29th May 2022.
Click to access a copy of the Synodal Feedback Report issued to parishioners on the same weekend.
Good morning/evening everyone!
My name is……………… and I am speaking to you today as a representative of the Pastoral Parish Council.
Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Before ascending to heaven Jesus gave the apostles important instructions on announcing the Gospel to all people and making them followers of Jesus. This is known as the Great Commission and is in Matthew chapter 28, verses 19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus invited the disciples to be witnesses to the good news they had learned. As Jesus’ disciples today we too are called to be witnesses to the Good News. It is one of the reasons Pope Francis asked each one of us to reflect about Church in preparation for the World Synod in 2023 in Rome.
Recently in March and April, we were all asked to give views on what makes us happy and sad about Church, and what experience of Church brings us hope or fear.
The results of this process have been collated a report identifying emerging themes was submitted to the Archdiocese. Over 500 responses were received from congregations at all masses over 2 weekends and through engagement with individuals and groups who might not be regular attendees at mass.
We are grateful to all who took the time to consider these questions and give their views.
A high-level summary of the themes will follow here. You are encouraged to take a copy of the report home for further reflection.
There were 4 areas to reflect and give feedback on and these were Joy, Sadness, Hope and Fear or Anxiety.
Of those who responded to the question “What brings Joy…” many found joy in gathering as a community for prayer and belonging to and participating in that community.
When people responded to the question “What brings Sadness…” the prominent theme emerging was the failure to respond to the scandals in the Church and its struggle to respond to our ever-changing society and world.
The question of “What brings Hope…”, many found hope in the growth and building of our community of faith through leadership, faith development, a role within the community and inspiring and welcoming others.
Finally, the last question was “What beings Fear or Anxiety…” The main fear and anxiety raised was that the Church would become irrelevant, and voices would not be heard.
The overall message from the Synodal process is very clear – the church must introduce meaningful change to continue its mission of faith.
The Synodal Report is our response to Pope Francis. This feedback will form part of an overall response by the Irish Bishops to the Vatican for the Synod in 2023.
Like Peter and his companions, we are commissioned to proclaim the good news of what is happening among us. People responded to the Synodal Process with a range of issues, some of which are being addressed as we speak and others will require greater participation by all, through the next stage – The Building Hope Project.
Our own Archbishop, Dermot Farrell, in his Easter apostolic letter, states “It is time now for the whole diocesan family to travel further, by addressing the specific challenges we face as a diocese.” The Building Hope project is our opportunity to do this, as a Diocese and within our Pastoral Area.
Archbishop Dermot is inviting “each parish community, as part of the Building Hope project, to begin to reflect on how best to respond to the pastoral situation in which we find ourselves. It is very clear that the future will not look like the past. God is bringing forth something new. Our challenge – and it is ours – rather than simply reacting to events, is to shape the future in the light of the gospel.“
Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost and the birth of the Church. The Holy Spirit is constantly calling us to renewal to be a living church. Next weekend we will hear more about the diocesan Building Hope project. We invite you today, to take home the Synodal Feedback Report with further detail on the Synodal Report. We also ask you to begin praying the Building Hope prayer. Thank you.