|
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At the beginning
of Advent two years ago, I presented my vision for the
Diocese. Some of you will have seen the DVD. It is a
vision of us as a people who are confident, confident in
God and confident in one another. It is a vision of a
community who can, with that confidence, enter into a
conversation with God, with one another, and with people
of other faiths and none. It is a vision of us engaging
in confident conversations and making real connections
with one another and with the community we serve in the
name of Jesus Christ
The thinking
behind my vision was shaped in prayer, in listening to
many priests and people, and in response to two pressing
issues. Firstly, religion is being removed from the
public square. Secondly, the number of our priests is
reducing. In the course of 2009-2010 seven of our
priests are retiring or moving elsewhere. There is only
one replacement Thanks be to God, a third priest from
the African Missionary Order of St Paul is coming to the
Diocese.
Now this Advent and into the New Year, I would like you
to reflect on your parish and the parishes in your
Pastoral Area, and identify what makes them thriving
Catholic communities. Then I would like as many of you
as possible to contribute to produce a plan for the
future shape of the parishes and schools in the pastoral
area. I hope that each Pastoral Area will be able to
present me with their groundplan around Eastertime. Then
there can be some input at Diocesan level prior to
approving the plans, under God's providence, as a way
forward in the coming years.
In themselves those plans will only be a tool to assist
the continuing life and mission of the Church in our
Diocese. What matters much more is that we deepen our
living and our understanding of the faith. In
particular, I wonder how better we can support family
life and the commitment of husbands and wives in
marriage. How can we bring our young people to value the
preciousness and holiness of marriage and of family life
on, and also have a real love for our Catholic faith.
For it is only in that context that vocations to the
priesthood and the religious life can really flourish.
So, this Advent is a time for us really to engage with
the life of our Catholic community, and to ask God to
strengthen our faith as we prepare for the coming of the
Lord.
That agenda is very different from the focus of most of
the people around us at this time of the year. So, there
is a challenge to operate on parallel tracks, to join in
festivities around us that anticipate Christmas, and at
the same time prepare a way for the Lord. Remember Our
Lord's words in the Gospel, "Stay awake, praying at all
times."
During this season of Advent may God make you steadfast
in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in love.
With my prayers and every blessing for Advent and
Christmas,
|
