You are here:HomeNewsLatest News 20 April 2021 Bishop Anthony Randazzo along with Plenary Council delegates and animators from the Diocese of Broken Bay gathered for the first time since the pandemic began, to discuss the re-enlivening of the Plenary Council initiative. The afternoon of formation organised by the Evangelisation Broken Bay team on Saturday 17 April in the Light of Christ Centre Waitara, included prayer, discussion, formation from Bishop Anthony, and the presentation of resources. It concluded with Mass at which Bishop Anthony commissioned the four delegates for the Diocese of Broken Bay - Fr David Ranson, Alison Newell, Raj Rajasingam and Danny Casey. The Plenary Council that depends heavily on gatherings of the faithful and interactive discussions suffered a blow during 2020 when local and national meetings were not possible. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference steered the Plenary Council through these uncertain times but has remained committed to seeing it through. Tomasz Juszczak, Director of Evangelisation for the Diocese began the day by acknowledging that Diocese of Broken Bay had been one of the highest responders to the Plenary Council initiative before the impact of COVID-19. Bishop Anthony in his presentation emphasised the need to stay connected locally, nationally and internationally as we seek the will of God for our Diocese of Broken Bay. “As we gather to re-animate our participation in the Plenary Council, we are mindful we are part of a holy communion,” said Bishop Anthony. “Our local Church is part of the Universal Church and we are one body in Christ.” “The journey towards the Plenary Council has been an engagement in connecting communities of believers from all over Australia. Thus far it has been an exercise of listening.” Bishop Anthony noted that the theme of the Plenary Council, ‘Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches’ is repeated seven times in the Book of Revelation. “This listening,” he said “has become the predominant guide for the Australian Catholic Bishops when we called the Plenary Council”. “The Plenary Council is not a parliament. It is not a convention nor is it a political congress. It is an instrument of the Holy Spirit, who guides the community of the Church to embrace a holy listening, a truthful speaking, a dialogue of love.” As Bishop Anthony commissioned the four delegates to the Plenary Council he emphasised the responsibility of all the baptised to nurture a life of holiness and engage with the mission of the Church. “Along with our enthusiastic animators across the diocese, we will engage together in the exterior and interior listening that leads us to genuine renewal and reform centred around conversion in Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Anthony. Part of the day involved prayerful meditation upon the icon of Mary Star of the Sea, patroness of the Diocese of Broken Bay. All participants received a framed image of the icon by iconographer Michael Galovic to take home, and were invited to continue to use it in their prayer along the journey of the Plenary Council. Watch Bishop Anthony’s Plenary Council formation presentation below. Prev Next