AFTER the 5.30pm Mass, Sunday November 18, some 30 parishioners gathered to discuss the question – ‘What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?‘
They broke up into four groups and the following are points raised.
Group 1
- Break down the barriers /go outside and embrace the “lepers”
- Not be exclusive
- Deeds speak louder than words = community service
- Sell the positive message of what the Church already does in the community
- We need a different model of Church – more community and less authoritarian
- Priests need to be spiritual leaders but not running a business such as a parish.
- Let clergy focus on the spiritual aspects
- Change Canon law to empower parishioners to live their vocation – embraced the reforms of Vatican II
- Share the good news of faith and empower people as communities, not as individuals
- All are called in different ways and have different talents
- Seek to heal the broken people in society
- Tap into the (need for) a sense of peace and community
Group 2
- How can we better live out our faith in a secular society?
- What steps can we take to connect with the wider community especially in the area of spirituality and prayer?
Group 3
- God asks us to help the marginalised
- Be active
- Reach out
- Service
- Participate
- Be accepting
- Enjoy life
- Find positivity
- Finding goodness in all things and all people
Group 4
- To put the emphasis on relationships rather and buildings and rules
- To be more inclusive in every sense
- To be more innovative – put plans in place to implement the desired changes
- Pride in being part of the Catholic community whilst acknowledging our mistakes and failures
- More emphasis on youth involvement through youth groups sporting clubs et cetera
- Church connecting more with our local community – in this case Greythorn
- Is there a real desire on the part of the hierarchy for the laity to have a meaningful involvement?
- What limitations have been placed on involvement
- Is this just a window dressing exercise? God would appear to be calling for this not to be the case.