We are now in the Lenten season and the Diocese of Broken Bay is preparing itself for a Year of Discernment in which the focus will fall upon the practice of discernment in service of Catholic life and mission.
Following a year of listening and dialogue in which some 10,000 people in Broken Bay responded to the invitation of the Plenary Council process, the Diocese’s Office for Evangelisation will make available a number of initiatives to encourage and support discernment in the ways in which God’s people live out the call to holiness, whether in parishes, schools, everyday work and in relationship.
Daniel Ang, who serves as Director of the Office for Evangelisation, notes: “Discernment is integral to mission as it speaks to our capacity to read the signs of the times in the light of faith, to recognise, interpret and choose paths of renewal that are at work in our own life and our shared life as an ecclesial community. Pope Francis has underscored that the call to move outwards demands attentiveness to the Holy Spirit in our midst, a Spirit that keeps us faithful to Jesus and responsive to new possibilities and emerging challenges within a fragmented world.
“The experiences of uncertainty and dislocation and the desire for renewal are not simply ‘out there’ beyond us but can also be experienced closer to home, in our own relationships, communities and itineraries of faith – this is why personal discernment emerges as the foundation and the lynchpin of a renewed mission and outreach to others.”
In this vein, a new lectio divina has been launched for Lent entitled “Discerning the Way of Jesus”, a resource which has been taken up by the parishes of the Diocese as well as communities beyond its borders. It offers a method of prayer that seeks to cultivate a familiarity with Jesus and dialogue with his Word.
In May, the Diocese will host the founders of the ‘Messy Family Project’, Mike and Alicia Hernon, who will lead and share in a Catholic conversation on marriage and family. The mission of this ministry and the aim of the two seminars to be held is to empower parents, strengthen marriage and bring families to a fruitful encounter with Christ.
In July, a Holy Spirit retreat will be held for young adults, an initial step of preparation for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Perth at year’s end which will take up the theme of Plenary Council 2020, “Listen to what the Spirit is saying” (Rev 2:7).
Then in September Sherry Weddell, acclaimed author of Forming Intentional Disciples, will lead two days of formation at the Caroline Chisholm Centre at Pennant Hills, starting with a day for catechists and sacramental coordinators within the Diocese on discerning discipleship in the practice of ministry. A second day will be open to the general public and focus on making disciples in the Catholic parish.
“Many parishes are seeking a vision that is mission-minded and directed at personal relationships as the context of evangelisation,” says Daniel Ang. “Sherry will bring great insight and encouragement to the development of such a vision and parish culture”.
Also in September, the Diocesan Administrator of Broken Bay Fr David Ranson will speak on ‘The Holy Spirit, Discernment and Discipleship’ with young adults, while Francine and Byron Pirola will lead a marriage retreat for the Diocese in that month, sharing refreshing insights and pathways to reinvigorate marriages as the heart of the family.
October will see the annual Bible Conference in Broken Bay focus on the Holy Spirit in Scripture, with theologians Professor Ormond Rush, of St Paul’s Theological College and Australian Catholic University, and Dr Debra Snoddy of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, exploring further the theology around discernment and the movement of the Spirit today, drawing from the biblical texts.
In late October, parish teams and ministry leaders will also be invited to a workshop on developing strengths-based ministry, engaging the Gallup ‘Clifton Strengths Finder’ tool to discover natural talents and empowering teams to develop areas of need and support collaboration by a strengths-based approach. This will be facilitated by Renee Doyle from the Emmanuel Community in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Then, in December the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, hosted by the Archdiocese of Perth, will engage the life and voice of young Catholics and equip them to live out their faith in the world, in mission.
“Our common dedication to dialogue and discernment as a part of the journey of Plenary Council 2020 expresses our faith that God is at work in human history, in the events of our life, in the people we encounter and those who share life with us,” added Daniel.
“Together as the People of God we are called to listen to what the Spirit suggests to us and to discern the movement of God, so we can choose and accomplish the good that God wants and live God’s mission ever more faithfully in the midst of the world.”
More details of the Year of Discernment in Broken Bay can be found at the diocesan website: www.bbcatholic.org.au
