Listening Stage
23 June 2023
Our Diocesan Synod continues to engage more people within our Diocese each week, as we seek to hear the stories and voices of all people from all walks of life during our listening stage. As we move through the listening stage, we’ll keep you updated each week.
Deanery Listening Consultations
We welcomed 180 people from the parishes of Central Deanery to a Deanery Listening Consultation on Saturday 17 June, to engage in a guided process of synodal listening.
Parishioners from St Luke’s Faith Community, Marsden Park at the Central Deanery consultation. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Bishop Vincent addressed attendees at the Central Deanery Consultation. Image Diocese of Parramatta.
Groups shared at the Central Deanery Synod Consultation. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Despite the large number of people in the large hall of St Andrew’s Marayong, there were profound moments of stillness throughout the evening, as everyone in the room respected the process, inspired by the Ignatian practice of spiritual conversations.
The video can be viewed here or on our Diocesan Synod YouTube playlist.
There’s still time to register for the final deanery listening consultation this Saturday 24 June 6.30pm at Holy Spirit Primary School St Clair. Register here.
Other consultations
On Tuesday 20 June, the Peace Justice Ecology Network met over two gatherings for their own listening consultations held at ACU’s St Josephine Bakhita Campus. Thanks to everyone who participated in the process.
Five weeks of parish consultations to go
Parishes around our Diocese have been holding their own local listening consultations and will continue to hold them over the next 5 weeks.
Consultations with youth
On Thursday 22 June, Catholic Youth Parramatta and Catholic Schools Diocese of Parramatta hosted LIFTED Breakfast with the Bishop¸ where almost 90 secondary student leaders from across our Catholic schools in Parramatta engaged in a listening session, where they shared their honest experiences from their years of Catholic schooling.
New Synod resources
Our Resource page has been updated with new resources and a new way to navigate through them, under the categories ‘Parish’, ‘Family/Friends’ and ‘School’.
- Synod at Home (PDF – also available in Vietnamese and Arabic)
- Synod at Home –Kids Version (PDF)
- Synod in the Workplace (PDF)
- Everyday Conversations – 5 Steps for Listening Together (Video)
- What is a Synod? (Video)
Get your submission in before 31 July 2023
Submissions close on July 31 and applications to be a member of the Synod in October will open in the coming week. Have a conversation at your parish, with a friend or with family about how we can walk together to become the Church that Christ calls us to be.
To find out more about the Synod go to parracatholic.org/synod2023
