Let me introduce myself - I'm John (Moffat) and was asked to be the Parish representative of Holy Family at the Liverpool Archdiocesan Synod.
Together with my wife Karen, who was also a Synod representative (health), we held parish meetings and presentations between 2018 and 2021, to gather and feed back what the Holy Spirit was saying to us at Holy Family about the way forward. This process was undertaken by all parishes in the Archdiocese, and many thousands of responses were collected and gathered, resulting in the Pastoral Plan which was released in Advent 2021.
Remember that these are not thoughts from a committee, but collected, listened, and discerned ideas and views from communities throughout the Archdiocese, gathered over 3 years.
The result of listening to the Holy Spirit can be summarised in the following six points.
- Becoming a church which accompanies people through life.
Many people are happy to come to the church for life events, like baptisms or marriage, but church seems less relevant in their everyday life. We can walk alongside them on our journeys.
How will we do that? - Becoming a church that honours the vocation of all the baptised.
We all have a vocation, a calling, and are called to use our gifts in the service of others, to give glory to Jesus. The baptised need the opportunity to identify and use their vocation.
How will we do that? - Becoming a church where synodality is embedded. Synodality is not a very usual word in conversation but means walking together on the road of life, listening from the heart, and being guided by the Holy Spirit. As a community we desire to respect and listen to all people, even where we differ.
How will we do that? - Becoming a church which reviews structures and property to serve mission.
We are faced with a changing parish and clergy landscape, together with a stock of buildings, not all of which are fit for purpose, or economically viable. A review must also take environmental issues and sustainablilty into account.
How will we do that? - Becoming a church where young people and young adults flourish.
We must accompany the young on their journey, establish links with schools, encourage young people to fully participate in their church, have their voice and find their vocation.
How will we do that? - Becoming a church which cares for its priests.
Our priests need support, to encourage active communities and enable them to flourish in the face of reducing numbers and geographical spread.
How will we do that?
With the new Deanery boundaries we are now in the Sefton Coast North Deanery which covers a wider area than before, from Ince Blundell to Churchtown, and the Synodal Council within this Deanery is formed from a mix of lay people and clergy with a lay chair appointed by Archbishop Malcolm.
I can almost feel the following question being asked far and wide...
"Why is this necessary"
If you've made it this far, then thank you. There is more...
CLICK HERE to read the next part