Contents
2023 - 2024
2022
Diocesan Support Plan
2021
Process Overview
Diocesan Assembly
Diocesan Mission Support Team
Resources
Response Form for your Parish
Liturgy and Prayer
Videos
Becoming New in Christ
Parish Mission Renewal 2023 - 2024
Common formation refers to general formation for parishioners, made for delivery at Mass (generally at Homily time), but also usable by individuals and groups, online, at meetings, etc.
Common Formation Episode 1 - Overview
Common Formation Episode 2 - Going Deeper
Diocesan support has focused on assisting parishes to establish their new parish leadership groups (Common Direction 1), then accompanying and guiding the groups as they get underway.
Contact your parish Mission Renewal Advisor for support and assistance, 4726 3200
The new groups are:
Parish Mission Leadership Team
Parish Mission Council
Parish Mission Finance Council
See the Statutes for each group.
Establishing the new parish leadership groups
It is recommended that the parish uses a group of parishioners as a Transition Team working with the Pastor to guide the parish in moving from Pastoral Council/Finance Council to the new groups.
Here are guiding documents for use in conjunction with the Mission Renewal Advisor:
Parishioner Information Session: Sample slides in an information session for parishioners about Church and parish today, the new parish leadership groups, the reasons for them and the parishioner capabilities sought. Initially delivered by the Mission Renewal Advisor.
Nomination Form for a parish leadership group: For self-nomination or nomination by others
Nominees Information Session: Sample slides for a session that takes nominees more deeply into the roles of the new leadership groups. Initially delivered by the Mission Renewal Advisor. There is some repeated information here because not all nominees will have been at an earlier information Session for parishioners; and it may have been a while since some have heard the concepts. This session reminds Nominees of important insights and gives them more time to talk to one another and ask questions.
Common and particular qualities sought for membership of the leadership bodies
Other resources are also available through the Parish Mission Renewal Advisor, including
- methods for discernment of membership for the new leadership groups
- sample communications to the parish & individual parishioners at different times in the process.
The new parish leadership groups begin
Formation Resource supporting the first meeting of the new leadership groups, either as individual groups or altogether. Usually facilitated by the Mission Renewal Advisor.
Parish Mission Planning
While Leadership Team members get their heads around the scope of parish life and mission and upcoming parish events, and Finance Council members gain an understanding of all parish matters falling under their brief, the Parish Mission Council undertakes its first and most intense role – the preparation of the initial Parish Mission Plan.
Individual parishes will approach mission planning in distinct ways but there are common principles, frameworks and processes to help parish leadership navigate the path.
Resources and support are available through the Mission Renewal Advisor.
A sample resource can be seen here:
Support Book 1: What is the Mission?
Parish Mission Renewal 2022
Following Bishop Tim’s adoption of six parish Common Directions after the 2021 Diocesan Assembly he has released a Diocesan Support Plan for 2022 to assist parishes to implement the Common Directions.
Common Directions and proposed strategies for parishes and diocesan support.
Text of Bishop Tim's message to Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils.
Parish Mission Renewal 2021
2021 was a year of consultation, in parishes first and at diocesan level after that. Bishop Tim Harris is not asking parishes to jump into action straight away except for the action of reflecting on and discussing aspects of renewal in Christ that are key to a parish’s mission today. Using the wisdom emerging from our parishes and elsewhere Bishop Tim will put together a diocesan framework for revitalising the mission of our parishes. That will lead to action in 2022.
The parish consultation will include three themes - BELONG, BELIEVE and BECOME.
Why are we using Belong, Believe, Become to explore becoming new in Christ?
Here are the reasons:
- Each word captures an important part of the mission of a Catholic parish. See the boxes below.
- The words are positive and easily understood immediately - they are not Church jargon; yet, they have great depth. They will lead on to other important key words and concepts along the journey.
- It’s not only about the individual words but the sequence in which they are applied; the sequence Belong Believe Become is necessary for the mission of a Catholic parish today, but that is not what we tend to do. We all too easily do the opposite - Become Believe Belong – that is, we give people the message: ‘you become like us (fit in straight away) and we’ll show you what to believe, and then we might let you belong.’ This was not Jesus’ way, not what Pope Francis is calling for, and thwarts a major purpose (mission) for which the parish exists: reaching people who do not know Jesus.
If our parishes are to be renewed and revitalised it will not be brought about simply by a program, or a rationalising of resources (even though some of that will have to happen), or a plan (that will definitely need to happen). We have to renew and refocus our parish cultures (our routine ways of thinking, being and acting) to better serve Jesus’ mission, reaching outwards and growing deeper - Belong Believe Become in that order. Over time, this will take reflection, prayer, soul searching, conversation with each other, leadership, commitment and a whole-of-parish approach. This is both exciting and challenging.
