By our baptism, we are made “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people” (1 Peter 2:9). By our baptism, we are called to share in God’s mission: we are sent by God to proclaim the Gospel by our lives of loving service.
Formation is the invitation to focus our minds and hearts on the person of Jesus Christ, and to grow and develop our gifts so that we can better serve God’s mission. Formation is an intentional, ongoing process, helping us to reflect on our lived experiences, to grow in spiritual awareness and theological understanding. Formation teaches us ways to discern the movements of the Spirit in, through and among us as we travel our synodal pathways together.
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all things in Him, Christ, who is the head.”
– Ephesians 4:15
The Diocese of Parramatta commits to:
- Educate the People of God about the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith.
- The ongoing development of formation insynodal leadership and practices for all who exercise leadership within and across the Diocese. Formation programs will include three synodal modules: Communion, Participation and Mission.
- Grow our capacity to be a synodal community through embedding synodal practices such as Table Talks and Spiritual Conversations into the practice of each parish, ministry, and agency.
- Create a spirit of hospitality and welcome for new clergy from overseas and across Australia by providing them with formation and training in local customs, cultures and the diverse and rich tapestry of our Diocese.
- Work with priests and liturgists to develop liturgical resources that prioritise community engagement and effectively support participation in the liturgy.
- Work with priests, deacons and adult faith formators to explore and establish formation and training opportunities for enhancing homilies, building towards local ‘best practices’, with guidance provided in Evangelii Gaudium.
- Provide seminarians, clergy and faith leaders with formal studies in interfaith dialogue, recognising that we live in one of the most multicultural and multi-faith dioceses in Australia.
- Continue partnerships with experts and adult faith formation providers to produce high-quality programs that draw on Biblical studies, diverse Catholic spiritual traditions, Church history, theology, and Catholic social teachings. Emphasising prayer, scripture, and liturgy, we will continue to prioritise face-to-face formation, while also offering virtual options.
- Sponsor equal numbers of women and men from the Diocese in studies of ecclesiology, theology, models for pastoral care, leadership and ministry.
- Resource the ongoing expansion of youth ministry across the Diocese with a focus on faith formation and accompaniment towards leadership, service and mission.
- Promote liturgical training for ministries like lectors and acolytes, with a particular focus on increasing the participation and representation of women in these roles.
- Ongoing formation in ecological spirituality, which integrates faith with environmental stewardship, learning to live in harmony with creation, and actively working towards the care and preservation of our common home.
Local inspiration
Resources
The journey of Mary, Joseph and the unborn baby Jesus is really quite remarkable! Have you ever considered how you might have handled the same situation? Experience the story through the eyes of a child and the reflections of young parents and a ‘mum-to-be’.
How can we empower the average parishioners to take up the baptismal call to be a welcomer of others? Grounded in contextual theology and informed by a homegrown grassroots evangelisation initiative The FaithFeed, Donnie shares insights & tips.
A short reflection for parents preparing to have their child baptised in the Catholic Church.
For Kristina, collaboration is a key part of her work and a source of passion in life. She enjoys connecting with people and accompanying their developing ideas.
Fr Gregory Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, is an acknowledged expert on gangs, and shares how compassion and kinship is critical in accompanying these people on the margins in our communities.
Divine Mercy Sunday is about praying for our world while reflecting on the way Jesus gave his life for us. We hope you can use this song to help you memorise the “conversion prayer” entrusted to St Faustina, and that is recited at the beginning of the Divine Mercy chaplet. Maybe listen to it as you begin the chaplet. An original by Catholic Youth Parramatta’s Rosie Drum MGL and produced by Matthew Bretania, it’s an easy piece of music to play on guitar or piano with only four repeating chords – Em, C, G, D
Do you have an idea or initiative that would support our commitments? Get in touch with us!
Download a digital copy of
“Behold, I am with you always” Diocese of Parramatta’s
Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church 2024 – 2028