NEW DIRECTIONSArchdiocese of Adelaide

18/11/2014

Christ Centred:• “The longer you look at Jesus, the more you will want to

serve him in his world.” (N.T. Wright)

• …Attention…Desire…Action…

A Theology of Abundance• We begin from a theology of generous and self diffusing

goodness:

• “God is good, all good, perfect good, all the time and to everyone”

Four Questions:• What’s changed and changing?

• What do those changes mean?

• What options, directions are available for the Archdiocese to go in?

• What practical steps can we take?

Adelaide Analysis:• Rapid change is the ‘new normal’• A perception of diminishment: economy, youth, work

opportunities, church attendance, clergy and personnel numbers

• 29 diocesan priests, 13 religious in parishes; one pre-seminarian; small aging pool of lay leaders

• Retirement of large number of key clergy in four years time

Young people and families: • Millennial generation is positive, connected, altruistic, but

not in church• Fundamental issue: engagement and evangelisation of

the young: re-jigging boundaries and parishes is NOT the key issue

• …”the next generation of Catholics has gone missing”…• This will not be resolved by the old ‘traditional vs. liberal

debate…

Young people and familes:

• But by a “dialogue on what works to shape a fulfilled and satisfying life in the very complicated situation of young adults and young families.” (‘Builders’ and ‘Boomers’ met the experienced needs of their generations, we presently do not in the same way for the “Millennials and Mosaics”

Communion: Relationship and Direction

• Adelaide a “warm, friendly, hospitable community”• …but perhaps what is needed first is not new

programmes, but strengthening relationships: between priests, people and leadership

• Theologically: a focus on ecclesial communion

An Operating Vision:• “A new operating vision is needed and it must be rooted in

communion.” e.g.:

• “A Christ centred, welcoming, nourishing, thriving and evangelising community of faith in the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide.”

New Directions

1. A Pastoral Plan for Parish Development

2. Building Communion in the Archdiocese

3. Clergy Care

4. A New Vocations Promotion

5. Theological Formation

The Joy of

the Gospel

1. A Pastoral Plan for Parish Development

• Given the issues we face, and Pope Francis’s call to evangelization - to create parishes that are welcoming, nourishing, thriving and evangelizing because they are Christ-centered

• Making not just parishioners but disciples• Parishes that can engage - powerful liturgies, solid prayer,

inspiring preaching, good music, not just occasionally but every Sunday

•  For this to happen: a wholesale new effort on parish development has to occupy the imagination and efforts of everyone in the Archdiocese

1. A Pastoral Plan for Parish Development

• Pastoral planning: not simply about reshaping boundaries and consolidating administration - Clustering and merging efforts are not enough anymore.

• Reorganization to be seen totally within evangelization - especially of young adults

• Recommendation: the development of a Task Force that will tackle this issue forthrightly and holistically

• Made up of priests and laity with a deep and practical understanding of strategic planning mechanisms

• With a mandate to study and make recommendations on parishes moving from maintenance to mission

• Focused on new and effective methods of welcoming and nourishing God’s people and building communion

1. A Pastoral Plan for Parish Development

•  Mandate to study how other dioceses are managing to re-envision parish in creative ways

• To consider the many positive options available to the Archdiocese and make their recommendations to the Archbishop within two years  

• The success of the Task Force will be directly related to the way they involve the laity with their priests in a deep, positive, collegial and respectful dialogue at every step of the way

• The values of transparency, accountability, participation, solidarity and mutual respect should guide the work

• Parish councils will need more training, if they are to contribute effectively in this effort 

1. A Pastoral Plan for Parish Development

• .One immediate step that could be considered is the development of an Office of Parish Development that would begin to oversee how to help parishes thrive even now

• Providing support in ministerial formation for those considering parish ministries but also the ongoing formation of those already in ministry, especially those leading multiple parishes

• Providing assistance and formation for parish councils

2. Building Communion in the Archdiocese

• Gatherings with the Archbishop with the people of the archdiocese

• Regular assemblies of priests, deacons, and perhaps pastoral associates, with the Archbishop

• The “intentional presbyterate” (Fr Ronald Knott of St Meinrad’s Seminary, Indiana)

3. Clergy Care• Preparing for the “wave” of retirement – clergy care team• Care for active priests• Particularly pastors of multiple parishes – new leadership

training or coaching, and forms of mutual support for an unchartered role

• Consideration of new roles for senior priests, mentoring, supporting parish priests

• Further robust outreach for priests from other countries; proven inculturation methods; inclusive practices in the presbyterium

4. Vocation Promotion• Need for the appointment of a full-time Vocation Director

who is energetic and enthusiastic• Study latest effective methods from around the world that

rise to the highest level of scrutiny• With full involvement of Archbishop, VG, Deans,

Consultors, Council of Priests, Diocesan Pastoral Council; congregational leaders; parishes, schools, universities

• Empowering priests, religious and laity to appreciate their vocations fully and take up their part in this work

• More of an intentional presbyterate consciousness, including positive stories

4. Vocation Promotion

• Money is needed: An endowment to be pursued• Social Media is critical• Consider help from a reputable PR firm• Eucharistic Adoration• Begins now

5. Theological Formation – A New Diocesan Structure and New ACU Short Courses

• Fr James McEvoy: Creative work on secularization, its new possibilities, and the discipline of dialogue

• 1. A new diocesan place for engaging in theological dialogue - Exploring how the practice of faith offers a deeper fulfilment than consumerist culture

• Importance of Catholic schools and RE• Help situate lay formation, lay ministerial formation and

diaconal formation• 2. ACU Short Courses – opening up theological education

to the wider church in Adelaide

New Directions

1. A Pastoral Plan for Parish Development

2. Building Communion in the Archdiocese

3. Clergy Care

4. A New Vocations Promotion

5. Theological Formation – A New Diocesan Structure

“A Christ-centred, welcoming, nourishing, thriving and evangelizing community of faith in the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide”

• I dream of a “missionary option”, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.