 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pastoral
Letters
|
October 2004Growing Together in ChristDear Sisters and Brothers, When I reflect on the history of our diocese – and we are still relatively young – I am humbled by the thought of the precious legacy of faith and commitment that we have inherited. Most of our communities, our churches, our schools and our institutions are there because those, “who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith”, have courageously and consistently sought the face of Christ in deep faith and have built their lives on the rock of the Gospel of Christ and the good news that it brings. They have shared and passed on to our generation what they have received and today we are the beneficiaries. Legacies are usually best used when they are invented to build for the future and that is true for us with our legacy of faith. There are plenty of people in our very secular world who think that the Church has no future or nothing worthwhile to offer. If we can be faithful to Christ and live by the Gospel, as our priests and people have done in the past, I believe most passionately that they are wrong. Our future consists in constantly venturing into the deeper waters of the Lord’s call in our journey of faith, but for this we need a map or a chart. We need something that will enable us, as individuals and as a diocese, better to seek the face of Christ and respond to his invitation to holiness in communion and mission. We need a pastoral strategy. This is not something that I can impose from on high. A pastoral strategy for the diocese, which has credibility, needs to come from all of us, working and praying together. Only then can it belong to us all. Only then will we own it and be able to work for its implementation with real enthusiasm and commitment. The discernment necessary for pastoral strategy needs a process; this has already begun and so we are not starting from scratch. Already our parishes and communities are preparing for a series of discussions and consultations that will be taking place this autumn and next spring. I have written a framework document – “Growing Together in Christ” – for this purpose and copies are available for everyone who wants one. Excellent study material and suggested proposals for the forthcoming consultation are also now available in every parish. This process is designed to make us increasingly aware of the Lord’s call to us to be his disciples. Disciples are called to proclaim and live the Gospel and we need, therefore, to be asking ourselves searching questions about the why and the how we proclaim the Gospel. The process will help us to ask and answer these questions of ourselves, both individually and as a diocesan family, and I invite you all most warmly to share in it. My dearest wish is that when we come to the Diocesan Pastoral Assembly, being held in the University of Reading next July, we will be able to celebrate the fruits of the work and prayer of all who have participated in the process I have described. We will have a plan for the way ahead for our diocese and it will reflect your ownership, your input, your enthusiasm and your commitment to living out your call to discipleship. The Assembly will be a celebration of the fact that, under the guidance of the Gospel, we have arrived at a pastoral strategy for the diocese that will represent a real investment of the rich heritage of faith that we have received. In our turn, we will be building a treasure house of faith and commitment for those who come after us. This work is being undertaken in the way that we have planned because, at the end of the day, I want everyone to have the opportunity to speak out of their own faith and commitment, have their voice heard and so make their contribution to this great enterprise But please – and this is a most urgent plea – do not ever forget that nothing of lasting value will come out of this venture unless it is profoundly grounded in prayer. I have a particular prayer in mind that is very appropriate for our needs. I commend it to you for your private use. I commend it to all parishes and communities for regular inclusion in your prayers of intercession. I commend to you all, whatever your circumstances, because in a very particular way it places before the Lord all that we are hoping for in this crucial moment in the history of our diocese. Father, pour
our your spirit on our diocese May God bless you all, +Crispian To be read and made available at all Masses on the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd 2004 |
