Resources for Listening and Discernment
Checklist of resources you need to run a Listening and Discernment Session:
One of the six themes
Listening and Discernment resource (available in different languages)
Scripture for your theme
Snapshot Report for your theme
The Reflection Guide for Responding to the Thematic Discernment Papers
Missionary and evangelising
Inclusive, participatory and synodal
Prayerful and Eucharistic
Humble, healing and merciful
A joyful, hope-filled and servant community
Open to conversion, renewal, and reform
After downloading the different resources and conducting your sessions, you can send the Writing and Discernment Group Leaders your responses through a form (limited to 1000 characters) at the bottom of this page. These responses will inform and guide the discussion of the Writing and Discernment groups, who will meet and discern on the themes, responses and other materials from September 2019 to early next year.
Let’s gather and pray together
Access Acknowledgement of Country and the provided prayer by downloading the Discernment guide.
Download the Plenary Council prayer HERE.
Let’s reflect
Choose your scripture readings relevant to your theme. For at least 20 minutes, take time to reflect individually in silence, pray with the scripture passage you have heard, and reflect on the information about the National Theme for Discernment your group is focused on.
To find the complete breakdown and guide questions for this step, download the Discernment Guide
Let’s share & listen
After your time of individual silent reflection, regather together as a group, sitting in a circle. There will be three rounds of sharing, listening and reflection. This practice of Spiritual Conversations is taken from the Ignatian tradition. It is a part of the Communal discernment process and provides a way for groups of people to listen to God, by listening to one another.
To find the complete breakdown and guide questions for this step, download the Discernment Guide
Let’s think nationally
The whole group reflects in silence for 5 minutes. During this time, think about the concrete, practical steps which could be taken to move forward in the thematic area you have been focused on today. Each person in the circle takes 2-3 minutes to share their ideas with the group. Once everyone has shared their ideas for action, your group’s task is to identify 2 or 3 emerging actions that can form the group’s submission to the theme’s Discernment and Writing Group.
To find the complete breakdown and guide questions for this step, download the Discernment Guide
Let’s think locally
The group to discuss any ideas which might be acted upon locally, in your own lives, in parishes, communities or schools or in other parts of your local neighbourhood.
To find the complete breakdown and guide questions for this step, download the Discernment Guide
Let’s give thanks
You may like to say together the prayed provided in the Discernment Guide, or pray the Plenary Council prayer, or just speak to God from your heart.