PARISH SYNOD
Synod : Together on the way
The Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, is a consultation and reflective process aimed at making the Catholic Church more participatory and missionary, involving all members in the life and mission of the Church.
"Synodality" refers to the involvement and participation of the entire People of God in the life and mission of the Church. It signifies "a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform to make the Church more participatory and missionary".
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For anyone who wants to learn more about the Synod on Synodality and the final report, the School for Synodality is running an online book club to unpack the meaning and mission. You can register now to join the webinars live and they will be available on YouTube after the series.
Aims of the synod:
- to help the Church become more participatory, missionary, and rooted in communion.
- to create a Church that is more inclusive, where all members can participate and contribute to the mission of the Church.
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Pope Francis emphasizes that the synodal process is not just a momentary event but a continuous journey of listening, discernment, and transformation.
The synod emphasized the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit and discerning the path forward together.
What does this mean for us?
With the recent changes in the Diocese and Deanery (reflecting the realities of falling congregation numbers, fewer priests and economic challenges) and acknowledging that Fr Greg has now passed the important ‘first six months’ of no change, we have the opportunity to reflect on the nature and culture of our Church ... our parish here in Helensburgh.
It is a time to review and refresh our vision and mission: what kind of church do we want to be? How do we build joyful, supportive, faith communities? How do we move towards a shared responsibility, a collaborative ministry? To explore this we will be holding a Parish Synod, bringing parishioners together to build a vision and mission.
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When: Saturday 14th June
Time: 2.00 - 4.30pm
Where: Helensburgh Parish Church Hall, Colquhoun Square
Get involved: Speak to Fr Greg or Karen Morris if you would like to be part of our synod.
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You can also contribute by sharing your thoughts in advance of the day. Short questionnaires will be distributed at each mass this weekend or you can download a copy here.
Pray: that the Holy Spirit will guide and inspire us, that He will move the hearts of people to get involved and that we will all be open to the opportunity.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth.