ARCHBISHOP John Bathersby wants as many as possible of the more than 500,000 Catholics living in Brisbane archdiocese to help him plan the future of the Church through consultations leading up to the archdiocesan synod assembly in May 2003.
On June 3 (Pentecost Sunday) at 3pm, a ritual will be held in St Stephen’s Cathedral marking the beginning of the most wide-ranging consultation process ever undertaken in the archdiocese.
More than 20,000 Catholics are expected to participate in consultations through Catholic parishes, schools, communities groups and organisations. In particular, the archbishop is looking for ideas from young Catholics who will lead the Church of the future.
Catholics, not regularly connected to any particular group, will be targeted through an information campaign involving advertisements in local newspapers, by letterbox drops, and informal approaches through friends or relatives.
Synod Preparatory Commission chairperson, Bishop John Gerry, said, “It is important that people are given every opportunity to have their say about how the Church will mobilise the faithful to be ‘a Church on mission’ to the world, and grow to meet increasing demands for its services.
“Archbishop Bathersby is looking for creative ideas to assist the local Church effectively face the challenges of the new millennium,” he said.
Synod executive officer, Peter Carius, said that the initial synod consultation phase would stretch from June 3 this year to March 16, 2002, with consultations planned for more than 100 parishes and ethnic communities, and 150 school communities involving students, teachers and parents.
