Diocesan Priorities
“Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.” But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, “How wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring Good News!”
(Rom 10:13-15)
Vision
We are called to be a faithful, evangelising community, united in one family, witnessing faith in daily life and sharing God’s love with our neighbours.
Mission
Equipped with missionary spirit and empowered by God’s love all members of our communities are sent to share the Good News (evangelise) in the Domestic Church; to build small faith communities by reaching out to those who have lost their way to God or to those who have never encountered God in their life. Called to be missionary disciples we deepen our faith by our activities and ministries and we open our hearts to welcome all who want to join our worshipping communities.
Purpose
• raising missionary disciples for Domestic Church (evangelisation), • journeying from maintenance (self-preservation) to mission (going out), • supporting Families by Parish/School/Centacare/Aged Care.
Is a big word, sometimes misunderstood or misinterpreted, yet simply can be described as sharing our faith with those around us. We want to bring Jesus’ message (Good News) into everyday life by:
- proclaiming his Word
- worshiping in the community
- building and strengthening current and new communities
- witnessing and welcoming
- serving one another
Evangelisation can be directed internally, supporting current church communities (maintenance), and should be extended to those beyond our boundaries (mission).
Acting internally calls for ongoing conversion both individually and as Church. It nurtures us, makes us grow, and renews us in holiness as God’s people.
Acting externally calls for reaching out to those who have not heard the Gospel or who, having heard it, have stopped practicing their faith and also those who seek the fullness of faith.
Both aspects of evangelisation are equally important. We should support our local communities and empower our members to go out and share their faith with others in everyday life.
*************************
Is commonly understood as a family, but we want to extend its meaning to all households; parents, children, single, elderly and young because we are all members of God’s one family called to participate in evangelisation. In the Domestic Church we pray together and share our faith with each other. Our homes should be open to our neighbours, especially those who have lost their way to God or to those who have never encountered God in their life. This way we can extend our Domestic Evangelisation and build small faith communities.
In the times where the word “Family” is neglected we should provide support and direction to strengthen our families. Many people experience challenging times in their families and sometimes the bond of unity is broken. We should not abandon them and in this difficult time, provide them with spiritual and fraternal support, as it is in our families that we first learn about God. Families are the fundamental ‘building block’ of society; similarly, families provide a foundation for the continuation and strength of the Church among the faithful.
Extending our evangelisation and support through the Domestic Church to those who have lost their family, or to those who live a single life is a wonderful expression of God’s love for His people.
We are
- engine to encourage and equip its agencies with missionary zeal,
- source of resources for Domestic Church,
- coordination/promotion centre of pastoral initiatives and ministries,
- centre of formation of formators.
Evangelisation – proclaim, worship, build, witness, serve
(DPC to develop Tasks and Actions, samples below)
Internal
- Build on Prayer – establish common prayers and liturgies for diocese.
- Cooperate in Synodality:
- DPC cooperates with PPCs to listen and share direction and priorities,
- Diocesan Assembly – not only to listen but also share the vision,
- DFC develop plan for supporting our pastoral ministry.
- Establish/review Formation:
- PPC to cooperate and listen to one another and the communities,
- Clergy – synodality, liturgy, leadership, preaching.
- Create Diocesan Formation Team (formation of PPC, Parish Leadership, Missionary Disciples)
- Delegate Diocesan Mission Committee to coordinate and implement plan.
- Establish/review Ministry: Family, Youth, etc.
- Cooperate with Catholic organisations in the Diocese (SVdP, CWL, Knights, etc.)
- Rebuild the image of the Church – to be proud of being Catholic!
External
- Establish/review Ministry: Aboriginal, Ecumenical, Prison.
- Specify Diocesan charitable commitment (option for the poor).
- Connect care for our land with the care for our people – Spiritual Ecology.
- Provide resources and directions (online resources to parishes and organisations)
- Palliative care vs VAD,
- Rite to Life vs abortion,
- Pregnancy assistance,
- Family in Crisis.
We are
- places to encounter God through sacraments, liturgies and prayers,
- centres of healing wounds,
- centres of formation/education of missionary disciples,
- churches which commission/entrust its members with mission.
Evangelisation – proclaim, worship, build, witness, serve
(PPC to develop Tasks and Actions, samples below)
Internal
- Develop Mission Plan – including variety of ministries (ALPHA, Hospitality…).
- Connect parishioners with different ministries (common responsibility for parish mission).
- Encourage/empower/commission parishioners to evangelise (participate in the mission).
- Worship: parishes as a source and encouragement for spiritual growth of people.
- Celebrate different cultural and ethnic diversity.
- Sharing faith activities with school – e.g. visit school during assembly.
- Support PP in ministry (advice, supervision, clarifying directions)
External
- Establish Renewal programs: ALPHA, RCIA, Divine Renovation
- Involve cooperation with charities (specific parish charitable goal/plan)
- Connect care for our land with the care for our people – Spiritual Ecology
Domestic Church
(PPC to develop Tasks and Actions, samples below)
- Implement Sacramental preparation in families with practising Godparents/sponsors/parishioners.
- Strengthen the importance of Family prayer, teach and provide resources!
- Support families facing difficulties, marriages under stress.
- Home/Family Masses or liturgies in small home groups
- Encourage/empower lay to be missionary in their homes, prepare home evangelising materials (simple), parishes providing formation to missionary disciples,
We are
- evangelising agent by teaching beliefs and sharing faith,
- channels of communication with families and students,
- centres of staff formation to become missionary disciples.
Evangelisation – proclaim, worship, build, witness, serve
(SB to develop Tasks and Actions, samples below)
Internal
- Establish Staff prayer for each other and community.
- Create/encourage Children’s individual prayers for one another.
- Establish Children/Youth Ministry (e.g. YCS, afterschool?).
- Cooperate with Parish – spiritual, pastoral (e.g. music ministry).
- Share faith activities with parish – e.g., Sunday sharing in church.
External
- Encourage participation in charities.
- Establish/encourage ALPHA for staff.
- Connect care for our land with the care for our people – Spiritual Ecology.
Domestic Church
(SB to develop Tasks and Actions, samples below)
- Sacramental preparation in families with school support.
- Share the importance of Family prayer.
We are
- charitable arm of Christ, helping and caring hands,
- centres of prayer for each other,
- expression of God’s love for people in need.
Evangelisation – proclaim, worship, build, witness, serve
(Boards to develop Tasks and Actions, samples below)
Internal
- Develop common prayer of service,
- Begin action with prayers/liturgies,
- Sharing info about activities across Diocese,
- Implement Catholic Social teaching.
External
- Provide support to families in need.
- Connect care for our land with the care for our people – Spiritual Ecology.