Youngsters share vision of Church
Synod
Age is no barrier when it comes to having a say on the future of the local Church, as students at St Bernadette’s School in St Mary’s discovered when they participated in a pre-Dialogue Week session recently.
A group of 17 children from the primary school gathered for an impromptu dry run for the mass group conversations that ran throughout schools, parishes and communities in the Adelaide Archdiocese from February 22-28.
Under the guidance of principal Michelle Starr and Year 5/6 teacher Marlo Draper, the students were encouraged to think about the Synod theme of ‘listening’ while a large TV monitor posed the question: How can we walk in the footsteps of Jesus to help our world be more loving and just for everyone?
Ms Draper talked briefly about the concept of Dialogue Week under the theme of ‘Listen’.
Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, via a pre-recorded video, then told the children a little about what the Synod means and why it matters.
“They saw the Archbishop on the screen talking to them and it makes it real,” Ms Draper said.
“It puts a face to a name.”
The students broke into small groups for deeper discussion, including on the values that support Dialogue Week and the Synod, which begins in May.
Serena focused on forgiveness. “It’s always good to give a person another chance,” she said.
Respect, inclusion and compassion were mentioned with Sophie talking about the importance of “dedicating your time to those in need”.
Jonathan, who attends the Syro Malabar Mass at St Theresa’s Church, felt Dialogue Week would allow students to “learn more about God and be closer with your family”.
He said Dialogue Week meant “we have a voice”.
St Bernadette’s has 220 pupils, up from 84 eight years ago and still growing.
The school reflects the changing demographics across Australia, comprising children from 28 different countries.
Ms Draper taught for four years in the public school system in Victoria and has been at St Bernadette’s for the past four years.
She said she would not contemplate teaching anywhere other than a Catholic school now, because of the values taught to, and taken on board by, the pupils.
The video featuring Archbishop O’Regan was one of a series of videos produced for Dialogue Week. Others featured executive director of Catholic Education SA Neil McGoran and Diocesan Pastoral Council chair Monica Conway.
A podcast, ‘What is Dialogue Week?’ featuring Archdiocesan and Catholic education representatives, unpacked what synodality means and why listening deeply matters more than ever.
Traffic generated via the Synod website togetherontheway.au has increased by more than 200 per cent in recent months with visitors coming from across Australia as well as from the USA, Germany and Rome.
“Every family needs to sit down and talk,” said the Archbishop in his first video which focused on hope.
“Every human being is programmed both to speak and to listen. When a family comes together in a synod, it’s a great opportunity to build on the skills we’ve already been using in learning to both listen and speak and dialogue week is a particular way by which we do that.
“We exercise the best of our humanity but we also realise that it’s the best of being a disciple as well.”
Ms Conway said her hopes were centred around the opportunity it would give to many people in the Catholic community across all ages to share their vision for the Church and to express their reality and their hopes.
“The idea of a focused time of dialogue across the Archdiocese, parishes, schools and community is very exciting and has value in itself,” she said.
“Genuine dialogue is so important as part of the synodal Church as well as providing feedback into the Synod on this occasion.”
Dr McGoran filmed his video at St Raphael’s School in Parkside.
“The hopes in Dialogue Week are that everybody who has an interest in what the future of the Church in Adelaide might look like, has been invited to have a say to provide insights, ideas and suggestions,” Dr McGoran said.
“And to contemplate not only what everybody else needs to do but what each of us might be able to add ourselves.”
The information and thoughts gathered from Dialogue Week will be used to inform the members of the Synod, drawing from as many voices as possible.
