“The Church is not a community of perfect people, but of disciples on a journey, who follow the Lord because they know they are sinners and in need of his pardon.”
– Pope Francis
Reflection
We acknowledge the ongoing damage done to the People of God, particularly by clerical sexual abuse and by the abuse of power in our Church, in our communities, and in our families. As a Diocesan community, we commit to work for justice and healing and to recognising and responding to violence in all its forms.
We humbly acknowledge the truth of our nation’s founding story and the associated violence and dispossession suffered by First Nations peoples. As St. John Paul II recognised when he addressed the First Nations peoples in Alice Springs: “For thousands of years you have lived in this land and fashioned a culture that endures to this day. And during all this time, the Spirit of God has been with you. Your “Dreaming”… your culture, is your only way of touching the mystery of God’s Spirit in you and in creation… Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear… for us, you and the values you represent are precious.”
Community discernment questions
- How can our faith community learn to talk about the pervasive nature of violence and understand it as an abuse of power in any situation, including the family, the Church, and the workplace?
- How can we engage in deep listening and meaningful dialogue with local First Nations people and participate in the Diocesan Reconciliation Action Plan?
- How do we explore the riches of the many cultures that are represented in our local faith community? How can these enrich our local liturgical celebrations and our prayer together?
Local community action
Why parishes have a big role in stopping elder abuse
The Diocese of Parramatta has set up a new program to combat elder abuse by helping older people participate more fully in the life of their parish.
The program, Safeguarding the Elderly, was initiated by the Diocesan Safeguarding Council as a response to the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, after it recognised that older people were particularly vulnerable to abuse from family and others as they become more frail and isolated in their homes.
The program seeks to overcome this by reconnecting older people with others in their parish community, while also providing them with information and resources to know who to turn to if abuse occurs.
Got your own story of local action? We’d love to hear it! Complete the form below.
Resources
This guide provides a framework for Spiritual Conversations, which are at the heart of our synodal process.
Download a digital copy of
“Behold, I am with you always” Diocese of Parramatta’s
Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church 2024 – 2028