UPDATED: Invitation from Bishop Martin to Our Conversation on Our Faith into the Future

Our Conversation on Our Future in Faith

Bishop Martin has initiated a conversation in the Diocese of Kilmore on our future in faith which will help to determine pastoral priorities for the diocese in the time ahead. 

This conversation arises from Pope Francis’ invitation to Catholics worldwide to voice their experiences, dreams, ideas and concerns at this time.

A special video featuring Bishop Martin’s invitation to people to engage with the conversation process and the reasons behind it may be viewed at the following link

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f6atxj91y8ibefp/AAAuMk1Ouwr2h4FqvHyj_yvya?dl=0 or Bishop Martin Hayes’ Facebook page.

The conversation in the Diocese of Kilmore will focus around the following key questions:

  1. How has faith helped you in your life?
  2. How can the Church support and encourage more active participation?
  3. How could the laity be listened to and be heard (especially women and young people)?
  4. How, as a faith community, can we address issues that trouble our society? What is the Holy Spirit asking of us now?

Every Parish Pastoral Council in the diocese and the wider community is being invited to take part in the conversation.  Each Council is asked to ensure it is represented at one of the four interactive facilitated information Zoom sessions being offered and to register in advance by emailing [email protected]

The details of the sessions are as follows:

  • Monday 18 October 2021 at either 5:00p.m. or 8:00p.m.
  • Tuesday 19 October 2021 at either 5:00p.m. or 8:00p.m.

Each will last for approximately one hour.

At these Zoom events, Councils will be asked to undertake their own initial conversation and then to meet with another group of their choice within their parishes (e.g. older people, youth, sport organisations, community groups, various ethnic communities, etc.)– to take place during the month of November 2021.

During December 2021, the Diocesan Working Group[1] will then compile a summary report based on the submissions from Parish Pastoral Councils and their own engagement with focus groups which, in turn, will form part of the national synodal response to Rome and provide direction for pastoral initiatives and strategies in the diocese in the years ahead.

In the meantime, you can learn more about the Synods from the following websites:

As this process seeks to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be – with the focus being not just on problems but also on signs of hope and challenges – the guidance of the Holy Spirit is invoked as the Diocese embarks on this new and significant journey.

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.[2]

1] The Diocesan Working Group is chaired by Bishop Martin.  The members of the group are: Seán Coll, Savina Donohoe, Francis Keaney, Martin Kennedy, Fr. Ultan McGoohan, Mary Nethercott, and Bronagh Prunty.

[2] Taken from the Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus Prayer of invocation to the Holy Spirit for the 2023 Synod

 

 

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