Nearly 300 people gathered for the Archdiocese of Adelaide’s 2024 Diocesan Assembly, with Archbishop Patrick O’Regan calling for local faith communities to become “schools of communion”. Source: The Southern Cross.
The Diocesan Assembly was held at the city’s Vietnamese Catholic Community on June 14 and 15.
The invited attendees came from parishes, schools, religious congregations, communities, chaplaincies, diocesan ministries and Catholic agencies in the Archdiocese of Adelaide.
On Friday night, young hosts James Ellery, from the Dernancourt parish, and Michaela Howard-Jones, from the Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults, led a celebration of the diocese’s journey over the past four years. Videos highlighted many of the achievements borne out of the 2021 Diocesan Assembly, including the recent regional assemblies.
Archbishop O’Regan spoke about the centrality of “communion” to the work done at the assembly and in local parishes, schools and communities.
“Communion means being ‘together on the way’ and is to make our lives, our parishes and communities, wherever we are, schools of communion,” he said.
Peter Bierer, assistant director, Pastoral Life and Mission, and Sarah Moffatt, executive director, Pastoral Life and Mission, spoke on the “art of listening” and told stories about how their children have helped them to become better, more intentional listeners.
Saturday’s proceedings began with celebration of the Eucharist in the Vietnamese Community Church. The day was devoted to conversations in the Spirit, a structured listening and dialogue process used at the Plenary Council and Synod on Synodality.
“It was great to connect with people again at the Diocesan Assembly,” said Monica Conway, chair of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.
“There was positive energy, robust and thoughtful discussion and deep listening. I think we all walked away with a deeper understanding of synodality and what we can work on together. I look forward to the action that will follow.”
In the coming weeks, the group feedback and a preliminary report will be made available. The Diocesan Pastoral Council, Bishop’s Council of Priests, and other leadership teams and ministries in the Archdiocese will continue to discern and prioritise the Diocesan Assembly outcomes. parishes, schools and communities have been encouraged to do the same in their own context.
At the completion of the 2024 Assembly, it was announced that the Archdiocese will be working toward a Diocesan Synod in early 2026, in accordance with the Plenary Council decrees.
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Committed to building communion (By Katie Spain, The Southern Cross)
