Australian Catholics contribute to Synod
National
Australia’s Catholics have provided a wealth of ideas on how to improve the way the Church listens to the faithful and promotes its message in the community.
Australia’s Catholics have provided a wealth of ideas on how to improve the way the Church listens to the faithful and promotes its message in the community.
From February to April, hundreds of Catholics contributed their thoughts to the Australian Summary, an eight-page document which has been sent to the Vatican ahead of the October Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
National Centre for Pastoral Research director Dr Trudy Dantis said those who took part in the process had appreciated the opportunity to listen to differing opinions in a deep and respectful way, as well as contribute ideas about how to become a synodal Church in mission.
“One thing that was acknowledged widely was the changing nature of the Catholic Church in Australia through migration and differing patterns of engagement,” Dr Dantis said.
“There were many comments on finding ways to encourage the involvement of all cultural groups in the mission of the Church, improve the awareness and enactment of co-responsibility and overcome barriers by deeper listening.”
Social media, liturgy and faith, reaching out to families and young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ministry, the equal dignity of women and men, working with other churches and encouraging the use of peoples’ unique gifts were themes emerging from the consultations.
Fifteen Australian participants, including Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, will attend the second assembly from October 2-27, 2024.
Peter Bierer, assistant director of Pastoral Life and Mission, said while the National Pastoral Research Office had the difficult task of synthesising all of the Diocesan feedback into a single eight-page report, themes and voices from the Adelaide Archdiocese’s feedback were included.
“Our ‘diocesan testimony’ which describes our experience with synodality in the Archdiocese of Adelaide, has been sent in its entirety directly to the Synod office,” he said.
The full document and testimonials can be found at catholic.au
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