Participants welcome Archdiocese roundtables

A new era is building for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn as it prepares for its archdiocese-wide assembly later this year (18-20 October).

As part of its landmark Year of the Holy Spirit, the Archdiocese is halfway through a series of eight discussion roundtables that will help prepare for the assembly.

The roundtables are open to all, including laity, religious, and clergy. They are devoted to the core themes of family, the sacraments, youth and young adults, the environment, safeguarding, social justice, faith in public, reconciliation, and multiculturalism.

Participants found that the roundtables offer opportunities for listening, discernment, and sharing their views on the future of the church locally and beyond.  

“Let the Holy Spirit come to you and see what happens,” said Samantha Hazlett, a participant in two of the recent roundtables (Multicultural and Ecclesial communities, and Sacramental Initiation).

Selina Stanford

“It’s quite intimate. The roundtables aren’t too large. It’s very comfortable. There’s praying involved, but I really liked that the Holy Spirit was placed at the centre of it,” she said. 

Gabriel Joseph from Mary Help of Christians Parish, South Woden, participated in the Sacramental Initiation roundtable on 18 April.

“My group had people from various backgrounds, priests, religious leaders, youth group members and parishioners.

“It is a group of totally new people meeting for the first time and listening to one another. 

Gabriel Joseph from Mary Help of Christians Parish, South Woden

He welcomed that the roundtables were a time for anyone to contribute to the church’s future.

“That’s what it’s all about. How do we work with the Holy Spirit to get the help of the Holy Spirit?“ Mr Joseph said.

Selina Stanford was another participant at the two most recent roundtables and found them refreshing.

“They were the most prayerful discussions I’ve ever attended,” she said.

“It’s probably the only time I’ve actually thought we took the time to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Samantha Hazlett

“We had silence, we had prayer, we had listening while other people were talking. I found it a deeply prayerful, respectful, and reflective time. 

“It was a very beautiful experience,” she said.

Ms Hazlett encouraged anyone weighing up whether to participate in the roundtables to “just come along”.

“If you are open to the Holy Spirit, you’ll have something to offer,” she said.

• For more on the roundtables and the Archdiocesan Year of the Holy Spirit, see:https://www.cgevangelisation.org.au/roundtables/