Plenary Council 2020

https://vimeo.com/275766428
 

Around 60 people attended the morning forum held at the Gungahlin Club, while a slightly larger number participated in the evening session at the same venue. Fr Richard Thompson, the dean of the Central Deanery, coordinated the meetings. He was joined by Philippa Brearley and Dennis O’Brien as the session facilitators.

Fr Thompson said felt encouraged by the first session. “The affirmation that came from the floor at the end of the meeting I was quite touched by,” he said. “The first one was always going to be a bit of a test run but I didn’t get any negative feedback from anybody on the floor in terms of the process.

“It’s long, it’s an involved process. They were engaged and respectful [and] I walk away happy with where we were able to lead them.” Mr O’Brien agreed with Fr Thompson.

“I think we managed to convey to those participating what the process involves,” he said. “That it is a long process of dialogue and discussion before any stage of implementation is reached.”

Archbishop Christopher Prowse attended the sessions and offered his encouragement, while all prayed the official Plenary prayer. It was followed by a set time to reflect.

Eight areas or ‘umbrellas’ of the Church emerged for further discussion they included – Church governance, Liturgy, Ecumenism, The Relevance of the Church in society, The Church in its Post Royal Commission stage, Education, Evangelisation and the Role of the Laity.

Those who haven’t made it to a Listening Session yet can still do so. Session details are listed below

Submissions to the Plenary Council can be made via http://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/.

Three Year Timeline (pdf - 239.91 KB)

Plenary Council 2020 Listening and Dialogue Sessions in Canberra
Session 1	Tuesday June 19 from 10am to midday at Eastlake Football Club Gungahlin
Session 2	Tuesday June 19 from 7pm to 9pm at Eastlake Football Club Gungahlin
Session 3	Thursday June 21 from 10am to midday at Eastlake Football Club Kingston
Session 4	Thursday June 21 from 7pm to 9pm at Eastlake Football Club Kingston

Read more

 
Plenary Council Listening & Dialogue Sessions Canberra (pdf - 401.95 KB)

 

PASTORAL LETTER

Pastoral Theological Reflections of the Australian Plenary Council (2020/2021)
By Archbishop Christopher Prowse – Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Download the Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter here