Diocese_Of_Sandhurst_YearInReview_2021

12 From the Director of Mission and Pastoral Life “I believe that we have so much to look forward to, secure in the knowledge that we can face reality and respond with an attitude that is open, f lexible, adaptive and led by the Spirit.” It is my pleasure to write the inaugural report from the office of the Director of Mission and Pastoral Life. The for - mulation of the role was a key recommendation of the 2020 Go Forth review. My primary objectives are to support the Bishop of Sandhurst with the missionary focus and aspira- tions of the Diocese through co-ordination of the activities of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council, the parish visitation program, engagement with the Plenary Council and the existing roles of Adult Faith Education, Youth Ministry and Communications. It is such a privilege to be working with the people of God here in the Sandhurst Diocese, clergy and lay alike, as we participate in God’s life-giving mission. I began as Director of Mission and Pastoral Life in mid-July, a few days after the fifth lockdown of the pandemic was announced by the Premier of Victoria. In the followingweeks I met and established working relationships with the members of the Chancery Mission and Pastoral Life Team (Lyn Breen, Ruth Lawlor and Katrina Strong), the network of Pastoral Associates and the Council of Priests. All of this happened online. It was very strange. In other ways it was also very familiar, with the ongoing disruption to our life in common and particularly as Church since March 2020. Many of the recognisable rituals relating to the practice of our faith have been stopped, curtailed, interrupted for a while, or seemingly permanently modified in some way or other. In the face of all this there is an understandable yearning to “get back to normal”, as things were before the pandemic. Whether we ever do “get back to normal” or not, seems to me to be out of our control. Perhaps there is another way to face the reality of a pandemic that imposes a “new normal” on us? Last year the Holy Father, Pope Francis said that the time of the virus can become a kairos time for the Church, a favourable moment of which to take advantage. At another time he observed that: “… this is the propitious time to find the courage for a new imagination of the possible, with the realism that only the Gospel can offer. The Spirit, who does not allow himself to be locked up or used within fixed or transient schemes, modalities and structures, proposes to unite us to his movement capable of ‘making all things new’ (Rev 21:5).” At our annual Priests and Pastoral Associates Meeting (on Zoom of course!) in September, we invited participants to consider how the ongoing pandemic had shifted parish priorities now and into the future. It was a rich and challeng- ing conversation, with clergy and lay leaders offering many different perspectives and an extraordinary witness to their faith. These included: an invitation to wait and sit in uncertain- ty, a conviction that the parish “will not be the same”, an exhortation to “live in the present moment, [and] take time to listen to and share people’s stories”, and one who “looked to the Plenary Council to give hope”. I would like to highlight a couple of ways in which the Plenary Council has already given us hope. First, the fact that we were able to celebrate the First Assembly in early October amid lockdowns and restrictions was quite miraculous. A year ago, we would have thought it impossible or at least improbable that the 276 Members would be able to actively participate in a momentous week of prayer and discernment online. This demonstrates what is possible when we, as a Church, face reality with imagination and creativity and are prepared to do a whole lot of work. Of course, the Plenary Council journey is ongoing and there is still much to do. I am very grateful to the Chancery staff, many of whom gave up their office spaces and worked from home to allow the five Sandhurst Members (Bishop Shane, Father Joe Taylor, Father Brian Boyle, Cathy Jenkins and Ruth Lawlor) and the three Facilitators (Audrey Brown, David Walker and me) to form a local hub in the Chancery at Bendigo whilst we were under restrictions. I am also grateful to Lyn Breen and Katrina Strong for providing liturgical and communications support, both prior to and during the Assembly week. Second, the Plenary Council has influenced the process for the 16th Ordinary Synod of Bishops. Taking a lead from the Listening and Dialogue phase of the Plenary Council, the Synod has undertaken a massive global consultation on what it means to be a “synodal” Church. The determination of the Synod to listen to the voices of the people of God everywhere is unprecedented and indicates that a Universal Church can learn and find new ways of doing things. I am very grateful for the work of the Chancery Mission and Pastoral Life Team: Lyn Breen (Adult Faith Education Coordinator), Ruth Lawlor (Youth Ministry Coordinator) and Katrina Strong (Communications Officer). Lyn, Ruth, and Katrina model an adaptive, flexible and good-humoured approach to their diverse and demanding ministries. After sixteen years as Adult Faith Education Coordinator Lyn Breen will retire in late January 2022. A woman of deep faith, Lyn has served with commitment, passion, and skill. Many parishioners have had their experience of faith deepened and enriched thanks to the resources, programs, seminars, and reflection days that Lyn has developed, facilitated, and organised. REPORTS