“When they were at table, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognised him.”
(Luke 24:30-31)

How is God calling us to be a Christ-centred Church in Australia that is prayerful and Eucharistic?

As we move into this second stage of the Plenary Council journey we continue to seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Beginning in July 2019, we are called to reflect on Scripture, Church teaching and our contemporary situation, in order to discern the answer to this question. The fruits of what is discerned during this time will help shape the agenda of the first session of Plenary Council in October 2021.

This National Theme for Discernment is inspired by the voices of the People of God who shared how deeply they treasured the Eucharist and the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church. There was a call for stronger and more engaging preaching, with an emphasis on the Word of God and connection to daily life, some seeking a uniquely Australian expression of prayer and Eucharistic celebration, drawing from the wisdom and rituals of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and also bringing together the many migrant communities which make up the Church in Australia. There were many divergent expressions of ways in which people and communities encounter God through their experiences of prayer, music and liturgy, and a desire for catechesis, training and formation for those in ministries related to these.

Responses to Discernment (Phase 2)

Read the Responses to Discernment for this theme so far.

Snapshot Report

See a sample of the voices and answers that inspired this theme. Use this to help your group during communal discernment.

More Reports

Download Diocesan Reports and "Listen to what the Spirit is Saying - Final Report for the Plenary Council Phase 1: Listening and Dialogue"

More Reports

Access the Thematic Paper by the Writing and Discernment Group or see papers for the other themes.

Chair

Catherine Connors 43, QLD

It has been inspiring to bear witness to the passion that the People of God in Australia have for change as they seek ways to strengthen their relationship with God and each other.

Our group are listening deeply to the ‘sensus fidelium’ as we discern how we are being called to be a Christ-centred Church that is prayerful and Eucharistic.

Members:

*Sr Clare Sciensinki PBVM, former chair of this group, has since passed away. We are thankful for her leadership and the spirit she brought to the team in the days that she spent with us. She will be greatly missed.

What people talked about

Disclaimer: Colour and size of text were randomly generated for aesthetic purposes and must not be taken as data visualization