A seamless first session of the Archdiocese of Adelaide Synod
News
Finally, after months in the planning, 100 members of the Synod got together on Saturday 30 May for the first of two plenary sessions to discuss the future direction of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.
Led by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, who opened the day by asking all members whether they accepted the responsibility entrusted to them in their role as representatives of the people of the Archdiocese, the gathering at the world renowned Serafino winery in McLaren Vale proved an instant success.
The formula for the members, who comprised clergy and lay people – the code of canon law sets out the people obliged to attend the Synod with lay members chosen by the Council of Priests and Diocesan Pastoral Council, as determined by the Archbishop – was straightforward if initially a touch complex.
Each of the 12 tables of members, all with a mix lay and clergy, discussed the first Synod theme – Becoming Missionary disciples – before the room was split in half with each table discussing a further two themes made up of: Communion in grace – Sacrament to the world; The mission of Catholic education and being Church together; Formation for mission and leadership; Structures and planning for communion, mission and participation.
With prayer and song complete, theme number one came with a few teething problems that caused some initial bewilderment but once ironed out, the discussion proved seamless.
UNITED: One of the 12 tables of members – with Bishop Greg O’Kelly to the fore – in McLaren Vale on 30 May.
The format was simple: each table was given an overview and consultation feedback (from discussions with the wider Church community earlier this year) along with specific recommendations to be addressed. At which point the day proper began.
Every member on every table was allocated two minutes to talk about what they felt was integral to the theme and why. A digital clock on the screen above the stage counted down by the second with members instructed to stop talking immediately the time count went to zero. And once the urgency was grasped, it worked seamlessly.
A greater pressure still arrived with members then given one minute (again with a countdown) to relay what they had heard their counterparts say, followed by a 15 minute round the table debate to try and reach a consensus of sorts.
Intended or otherwise, the nature of the formula proved a natural ice breaker and the ensuing two themes – one held in each of the day’s three sessions – went by without hitches of any sort.
Emceed to perfection by the Pastoral Services team leaders Sarah Moffatt and Peter Bierer who reminded the members that a further online meeting will be held on 16 June to further look at the recommendations required to head into the second, and final, session in Hahndorf on Saturday 27 June.
The current working document will then be the subject of a vote among the Synod members on 27 June, with the final document – as approved by the Archbishop – to provide the groundwork for the Archdiocesan pastoral plan.
A detailed account, and photographs, of the opening session of the Synod will be available in the July print edition of the Southern Cross.
