THE past two years spent out with the butcher’s paper and permanent markers in parish halls and small groups across Australia listening to “what the Spirit is saying” (Revelation 2:7) had been building up to this – 2020.
And there was still plenty to be done.
The Plenary Council National Facilitation team has opened up expressions of interest for those who want to be delegates of the local Brisbane church to the plenary council sessions.
“Delegates to the council in Adelaide in October 2020 and Sydney in June 2021 would contribute toward the renewal of the Church via discussion of the plenary council agenda, which is currently being developed,” Brisbane archdiocese Plenary Council 2020 co-ordinator Eric Robinson said.
Mr Robinson said the minimum age for delegates was 16 years old.
Other distinguishing characteristics of potential delegates would be:
l A demonstrated commitment to leadership in the Church and/or ministries (e.g. an active parish ministries leader, Catholic Education staff member/parent/student, Catholic Social Services worker or ecclesial movement leader, etc.);
l A commitment to living of the Gospel through both actions and prayer;
l An awareness of “the bigger picture” of Catholic faith, community and works in context of contemporary Australian society;
l Previous participation in/leadership of listening and dialogue, or listening and discernment encounters with the delegate’s community, workplace or family as part of the preparatory process toward the plenary council.
Mr Robinson said hundreds of thousands of people across Australia had already been involved and he encouraged them to stay involved as the Church approached the first session in October.
The Church is in the Discernment Phase of the journey, which will run until early March this year.
Action responses from these sessions have assisted and continue to assist the council’s national writing groups during this period of deep discernment.
The writing groups are developing the draft papers that will inform the agenda of the plenary sessions.
These draft papers will be released in April.
Expressions of interest to the council sessions are to be received by noon on February 10, 2020.
For more information visit www.evangelisationbrisbane.org.au/parishes/plenary/ or contact Evangelisation Brisbane at eb@bne.catholic.net.au
