Dr Elissa Roper threw a skipping stone into the waters of Sandhurst catalysing infinitely expanding ripples of synodality throughout the Diocese at the inaugural Sandhurst Assembly in Kialla on 15 February. In her keynote address, Dr Roper presented imagery of the Church as a series of ever-expanding and continuous concentric circles of inclusion and expansion. The inner circles, representing the Church looking into itself for nourishment in Christ and in Communion; the outer ever overflowing circles representing where the Church moves beyond itself in missionary and evangelising ways. 

Some 330 participants representing almost every parish, school and Catholic entity in the Diocese participated at the Sandhurst Assembly on 15 February, a major milestone in Sandhurst’s synodal journey. 

Addressing the Assembly, Bishop Shane invited participants to reflect together more deeply on Pope Francis’ call to synodality. Referencing the Synod on Synodality in particular, he said, “It’s a process that we are all part of, it’s not just about what will happen at the Assembly in Rome; the consultation process has involved people from all over the world.” 

Bishop Shane acknowledged the commitment, not only of those present at the Assembly, but also the hundreds of people who joined preparation and consultation meetings for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC), as well as listening and dialogue sessions for the Australian Plenary Council and the Synod on Synodality.  

He asked participants to consider how we are renewed and inspired by our Faith in Jesus, ways we can reimagine our commitment to journey together as Jesus’ missionary disciples and how we can truly be people who are committed to participation, communion, and mission. 

The day was divided into four sessions.  The first session was livestreamed across Diocesan social media channels and included Welcome to Country, the Liturgy and Dr Roper’s Keynote Address.  

In the second session, participants entered into Listening and Dialogue and reflected on feedback harnessed from preparation and consultation meetings for the SMPC; the decrees and decisions of the Australian Plenary Council; and, the contribution of our own Diocese to the Synodal process which, with contributions from people from all over the world, will be used to develop the working plan for the Synod on Synodality in Rome in October this year.   After this discernment process, participants were asked to submit one concrete proposal for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) to action. These submissions will be used by the SMPC to set priorities and direction for the Diocese.  

In the next session, participants worked in their parish, school or organisational groups to design Local Action Plans to enable their respective communities to implement the learnings of the day, ‘live synodality’ and further missionary discipleship in and beyond their communities. Bishop Shane then called for participants to consider submitting an expression of interest to become a member of the SMPC, or to encourage others to do so.

Water was a key theme of the day and references to our shared baptismal responsibilities flowed throughout the Assembly – in the keynote address, in the Liturgy, listening and dialogue, and music inspirationally led by Gen Bryant and the GB Team. 

Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung man and Educator, Troy Firebrace, welcomed participants to Country, inviting them to close their eyes and listen to the echo of the didjeridu as it “takes you and settles you into this Country”.  

As members of the Assembly prepared for a day focusing on change and renewal in the Church, Troy spoke about the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people who faced unwanted change which was violently and swiftly forced upon them. He welcomed participants in Yorta Yorta and then in English, “Walk with Spirit, walk amongst the waters, walk amongst the earth with fire in your hearts. We ask that you do this while you are here in Yorta Yorta Country, Welcome.”

Master of Ceremonies, Audrey Brown thanked Troy for his welcome and said that participants will certainly be walking with the Spirit on such an auspicious day of prayerful discernment, companionship, and renewal.  

In her Address, Elissa said Synodality requires us to be led by the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit which transforms us in, and through love, listening, compassion and renewal in the Church. 

Synodality requires us to listen. It requires us to “quieten our voices so we can listen … (and) to listen in ever-widening circles of interest with ever-softening hearts and intelligent minds,” said Dr Roper.

Synodality requires healing. “Synodality requires us to flow out beyond our parish and diocesan communities, to those who have experienced abuse, trauma or been rejected by the Church … We share a common baptism; therefore, we are all equal in God’s call to be loving, gifted, holy, yet we are a wounded body of Christ. We must attend seriously to a ministry of healing,” she said. 

Synodality requires us to live with our hearts. It requires us to move with compassion, the way we know Jesus responded to suffering and injustice, said Dr Roper.  In essence, it requires all the ingredients of friendship.  “‘I matter’ is what people experienced when they encountered the friendship of Jesus. I am loved,” said Dr Roper. 

Did you know that the Yorta Yorta word for the Goulburn River is ‘Kialla’;  the place where the Diocesan Assembly was held after the original venue was flood-damaged late in 2022?.  ‘Kialla’ is also the Yorta Yorta word for ‘father’, according to Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung songwoman Lou Bennet.