Diocese_Of_Sandhurst_YearInReview_2021

37 Spiritual conversations of the First Assembly covered a broad range of thoughts and topics from, Baptism being the place for fundamental conversion, to the need for the Church to tend to its past and current failures. The process for communal discernment followed the centuries-old practice of “spiritual conversations”. The themes for National Discernment were developed from the responses to the Listening and Dialogue Phase of the Plenary Council. The voices of over 222,000 people in 17,457 submissions were listened to, and considered. From the hopes, questions and diverse yearnings of these voices, six themes for discernment and 16 questions were developed and categorised into six themes. “The Spiritual Conversation Process that we are experiencing is an incredible experience ... it makes us slow down, it provides space ... to stop, to listen to other people, to speak and to reflect on what we are hearing. I really encourage you to give it a go with your communities.” Ruth Lawlor, Plenary Member “One of the concrete proposals we will need to work on is the way in which we can be more aware of the people in the peripheries, who are desperately trying to find their own place, find their voice in the Church; and that, attentive to the voice of the Spirit, we can recognise that and make such people welcome and feel enriched by their presence amongst us." Fr Brian Boyle, Plenary Member “ The role of the assembly facilitator is to assist the group to listen deeply to the voice of the spirit that is present in each member, but also among the members and to assist that bringing forward concrete proposals that will help the church in Australia to truly be the Church that she is called to be – the Missionary Church.” Dr Chris Cotter, Facilitator What is God asking of us in Australia at this time? Sandhurst Members and Facilitators attending a morning session of the First Assembly in the Bishop McCarthy Boardroom at the Chancery.