SUMMARY OF PARISH SYNOD SYNTHESIS/REPORT

 

HOW ARE WE JOURNEYING TOGETHER AS A PARISH?

Recalling our experience as a parish community

 

What experiences of your parish community stand out for you?

• Celebration of Mass

• Hospitality – all are warmly welcomed

• Togetherness in fellowship

• Involvement of Youth

• Service of counselling

 

 

What joys did these parish experiences bring you?

• Happiness, joy and appreciation

• Sense of belonging to the family of God

• Encouragement to attend Mass

• Growth in faith and closeness to God

• Hope for the next generation

 

 

What difficulties or obstacles have you encountered in your parish?

• Sense of not belonging; equal treatment is not extended to all

• The older heads are not willing to step down

• Poor attendance at Mass

• Absence of youth to serve in the smaller communities

• Lack of willingness to volunteer/work along with leaders 

 

 

What wounds or hurts have you encountered?

• Lack of trust as issues from childhood are not resolved

• Feeling of being ostracized, betrayal, abandonment and jealousy

• Rejection – if not active in ministry then ignored or treated as an outsider

• Feeling side-lined after serving in all aspects

 

 

What do these wounds/hurts tell you about your parish?                                       

• Church is not inclusive

• Poor communication skills among members and communities

​

​

Gather the fruits to share

 

In these experiences, where is the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking most to you?

• In building family through prayer and fun

• In loving and caring

• Creating a holistic development

 

​

What do you think the Holy Spirit is asking of us?

• To listen and not be judgemental

• To respect each other

• To create an inclusive Church

 

​

Where do you think change is needed?

• Self – more introspection

• Young and Old need to learn to work together

• Hospitality - must understand its role and value

 

 

 

What steps can be taken to bring about this change?

• Faith formation  - emphasis on the Word

• Attend to the needs of the poor – physical, spiritual and social

 

 

Whose voices are left out? Who is being marginalized?

• The poor

• The different and the indifferent

• God/Word

​

​

​