The Assembly, the Holy Spirit and a metanoia experience
Alison Weeks and Archbishop Prowse
I wasn’t very impressed with the Archbishop’s call for an Archdiocesan Assembly this October. I saw it as just another talkfest, an excuse for not doing anything.
But he has slowly convinced me of the true potential of this event to transform our Church here in Canberra and Goulburn.
Australia’s Plenary Council in 2021-22 encouraged me to think that we would soon hold a Synod and advise the Archbishop to make some key changes to his Archdiocese in important areas such as First Nations spirituality, women’s roles, caring for all of God’s creation, welcoming all and, finally, and important to me, becoming accountable and transparent in our finances and co-responsible in our governance. That still might hap- pen, but not as a first step in transforming our Archdiocese’s mission.
And this is why: while advising the Archbishop in 2022 on forming an Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, I read the reports of all previous meetings, Assemblies and Synods held in this Archdiocese. Although inspiring, the messages remain unchanged. It’s a tough realisation to acknowledge that we’re still grappling with the same issues: young people drifting away from the church, families facing challenges, schools struggling to embrace their Catholic mission, many feeling excluded from the sacraments, and women not always receiving equal treatment. It makes us wonder – what have we been working towards all this time?
Pope Francis may have a good part of the answer. He proposes that as clerics and laypeople, we have been talking past one another rather than really listening. It’s as if these two passionately faithful groups have been moving in parallel lines rather than working together to inspire and support one another.
The Pope’s revival of synodality as a “way of being church” is an exciting intervention. All participants sat at round tables rather than in a hierarchy, and using the framework of Conversation in the Spirit, they listened with their hearts and ears. Together, many new pathways were forged to fulfil the Church’s mission to bring Jesus to the world.
Archbishop Christopher has argued very powerfully that we, too, must learn to truly become a synodal archdiocese, listening with love and respect to one another and walking together with the Holy Spirit. As the Pope has emphasised, we are on a journey – and how we travel matters.
Archbishop Christopher has designed this Assembly, the first of possibly two or three, to focus on the process of learning to be synodal. We all need to listen and respond with heart and understanding and identify a way forward together.
So, while I am anxious to see decisions and actions, I certainly do not want this to be just another gathering, just like all the ones in the past, which did not move the dial on the key concerns of the local Church.
So, let’s try doing it differently. Let’s practice synodality, conduct conversations in the spirit and participate in an Assembly which can transform our hearts and minds and prepare us for new ways of being Church. I’m ready!
- Archdiocesan Assembly: 18- 20 October 2024
I attended the Synod for Parramatta Diocese and the Holy Spirit was definitely present. It was a great learning session for all who attended. Everyone was very respectful of other people’s views. We all felt very enriched at the conclusion.
I agree with Alison’s description, as a generalisation, of the clergy & the laity moving in parallel lines. But I see both lines are made up of three strands – Progressives, Regressives & The uncommitted. Within a couple of years after Vat2, especially among the Bishops, three strands emerged – Reformers, Traditionalists & Fence-sitters. So much time & energy has been wasted as the Reformers & the Traditionalists battle for power & influence in a shameful duel. I’m for Francis. I’m against Francis. This duel is most obvious in the Catholic Church in USA. I don’t think the degree of polarisation is the same in Australia but we do have quite a few Fence -sitters in clerical ranks & uncommitted in the laity. The latter no longer come to church.
Elegantly put! May the process be blessed!
Thanks Alison for your honest reflection. I also think that this assembly is an important step on the journey and pray that many of us choose to gather together in this different way.
it will be another event where God’s will is a poor cousin to Societal Ideology…if a prayer of worship to indigenous forbears occurs. So many wasted opportunities. This author and her sisters have pushed their barrow enough. Equality is not word of God, uniquely gifted and obedient in Word is completely different.Ephes.3:20 Glory be to Him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine
You lost me when you referred to “First Nations.” I think you meant Aboriginals, our brothers and sisters in Christ. Exhibiting a woke mentality is anathema to conservative Christians.