“If wonder and adoration are lacking, there is no road that leads to the Lord. Nor will there be the synod, nothing.”
To prepare for the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2023, the Church is engaging in a worldwide consultation. This is an opportunity for the Church around the world to be prayerfully guided by the Holy Spirit in the areas of communion, participation and mission.
Pope Francis has made clear:
What is under discussion at synodal gatherings are not the traditional truths of Christian doctrine. The Synod is concerned mainly with how teaching can be lived and applied in the changing contexts of our time
The Diocese of Brentwood has completed the first stage of its Synodal Pathway as part of this consultation. We heard from the parish, focusing on the following questions:
During the pandemic, what strengths did you find in your faith and in your Parish? In what ways did the grace of God most clearly touch and uplift you? How were you disappointed or sorrowful?
What gives you joy in belonging to your Parish?
What areas of mission and outreach do we need to develop in our Parish?
Please take the opportunity to pray the prayer of the Synod:
“Adsumus Sancte Spiritus
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.”
Our survey has closed. We collated the responses anonymously as a ‘parish synthesis’, which contributed to the overall Diocesan picture in February 2022.
