Listening Process Progresses

Posted on 19 October 2012

The Cluster Conversation Process is continuing with the various clusters Pastoral Leadership teams coming together to review the reports from the Spring meetings and begin to formulate a vision for the future of the Church in the Killaloe Diocese. The Pastoral Development Team have begun to cross the Diocese again.

Cluster Conversation in Mid Clare Notrh

On Monday October 14^th, members of Parish Pastoral Councils and the priests from the Mid Clare North came together at the Bellbridge Hotel, Spanish Point, as part of the Listening, Reflecting and Conversation Process. A report has been prepared from the Cluster Conversations held during the Spring which was presented at the meeting by members of the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Team. The meeting felt that the Report reflected accurately the conversations held during the Spring. The second part of the meeting focused on a vision for the Diocese for the future and on where the Spirit of God is calling us as Church in the Killaloe Diocese at this time. Many people felt that this was a time for us to have courage as a Church, a time for reminding ourselves of our roots and going back to the spirit of the early Church. One person used the image of the Good Samaritan to describe her vision for the Church now. ‘We are called, she said, ‘to be a Church which does not pass people by on the road of life.’

Cluster Conversation in Mid Clare South

The first gathering of the Mid Clare South Cluster was held on Wednesday October 17^th last when members of Parish Pastoral Councils came together to reflect on the Report of the Listening Reflecting and Conversation Process. The meeting was held in Lissycasey. Fr. Albert McDonnell, newly appointed Moderator was present along with Fr. Tony Casey and Maureen Kelly from the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Team. A lively discussion took place, following the presentation of the Report. It was clear from the conversations that people expect that the Church of the future will be a smaller Church but will still have an important role to play. There was a call for lay people to take their place with confidence in the emerging model of Church. People wanted too to see an inclusive model of Church which is open to everyone. One person used the story of the Prodigal Son to describe her image of the Church of the future. ‘It must be a forgiving Church,’ she said ‘one that reaches out with both hands to everyone.’