History is being made this week as people throughout the Geraldton Diocese in Western Australia gather for the diocese’s first Synod assembly.
The assembly began last night outside St Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral in Geraldton and will continue through to a concluding Mass at 5pm on Friday.
Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey said the Synod was a “special way of bringing people together to listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit is calling us to be as people of God in this place.”
“Under Pope Francis the entire Church is being reminded that we all have a role to play in the Church as baptised believers,” he said.
Leading up to the Synod, the diocese hosted listening sessions that gave rise to a working document that formed the basis of the assembly.
The theme for the Synod is “The door is open, the heart even more”, inspired by a script above the Mullewa Presbytery door built by Msgr John Hawes, a reminder for him to remain open-hearted to each person who knocked on his door.
Assembly delegates are representing all the parishes of the diocese, as well as ministry areas such as aged care, social services, education and health.
Observers from other Christian faith traditions will also attend, joined by seven youth delegates from Nagle College.
“This is not an event, or a conference”, said Dr Mark Copland, chief facilitator for the assembly. “It is a way of doing or being Church, in which we deeply listen to each other – clergy, religious, lay, young and old.”
Bishop Morrissey said the assembly was the “culmination of hours upon hours of prayerful discernment and respectful conversations between so many good people of faith”.
“We will be seeking the wisdom and the courage of the Holy Spirit as we gather this week for the assembly.”
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Historic First Synod To Be Held in Geraldton Diocese (Geraldton Diocese)
