At the end of the 2022 Diocesan Assembly in October, it was announced that Regional Assemblies would be held across the Archdiocese in 2023, with Diocesan Assembly to follow in 2024. In addition to the Diocesan contributions to the 5th Australian Plenary Council and the 2023-24 Synod on Synodality, as well as the re-establishment of our Diocesan Pastoral Council and Bishop’s Council of Priests, the Regional and Diocesan Assemblies were to deepen the commitment and practice of being together on the way. The 2023 Regional Assemblies are a continuation of the 2021 and 2022 Diocesan Assemblies and involve a greater number of people at the local level in participation, communion, and mission. The Regional Assemblies were to offer Parishes, Communities and Schools an opportunity to engage in mutual listening.
Later in the year a committee was formed between Adelaide Hills Catholic Parish and Mt Barker/Stratalbyn, included Neil Mc Goran, Mt Barker Parish Pastoral Council Chair, John Leeton Adelaide Hills PPC, APRIMS Oreste Farrugia, Kristina Farrugia, Principal John Low and Orla Wright from the Pastoral Services team. The date for the regional assembly was set for Sunday 29th October 2023 at Siena Hall at St Catherine’s School.
Finally, after so much preparation and discussions the Regional Assembly got under way. There was a good attendance of 60 people from both parishes
The Principal of St Catherine’s School, John Low welcomed everyone to St Catherine’s. Thankfully Sienna Hall was excellently set-up by the school. Lunch was prepared by Cathy Oswald and the Social Justice team of the Adelaide Hills Parish. Fr Fred led the opening prayer and the MC, Neil McGoran outlined the program for the afternoon. The main topics of the afternoon were:
1: Building our understanding of parish.
2: Enhancing the senses of welcome, hospitality and belonging in our parishes.
3: Growing our commitments to mission, outreach, and social justice as a parish
In the first session Father Philip Marshall, parish priest of Mt Barker parish, spoke about what do we understand by parish. He explained that the parish community is like a circle, but we need to look at the bigger circle beyond the parish. In other words, the need to do what Jesus did through his ministry by being open to everyone he meet without any distinctions.
The second session looked at enhancing the senses of welcome, hospitality and belonging in our parishes. John Leeton, Adelaide Hills PPC Chair spoke about on what we understand by being a welcoming church followed, Krystina Dawe APRIM’s, at Catherine’s, and Oreste Farrugia, APRIM at St Francis de Salle, on religious instruction and mission in our schools. They referred that our schools do so much About ecology and social justice and inclusion as today there are less Catholic Families in our schools and the majority of the teachers are not Catholic.
Fr Fred, spoke about the issue of what we can do for families to continue to come to church after their children receive the sacraments. Although there is no simple solution but there are moments in the life of the parish such as Baptisms, weddings and funerals where we can relate our Christian message to those who come to these special occasions. An opportunity to preach to the unchurched people and let God plant the seed.
The final session looked at Growing our commitments to mission, outreach, and social justice as a Parish. Both parishes spoke about their Mission statement and the recent the Mission statement of the Archdiocese. Then Deb Bates, Executive Officer, Aldgate Hut Community Centre gave a presentation on the opportunities they provide and raise awareness of the number of needy in our community at the Hills. She spoke about the increasing need due to mortgage stress, people sleeping rough in cars and tents and the problem of mental stress because of increasing number of people suffering from loneliness.
After each session the participants were divided into eight groups and discussed each session to set of prepared questions. At the end each group reported back to the assembly.
At the end Neil thank everyone present and he said that he will collect all suggestions form the groups of each session and to be sent to the Parish Pastoral Councils of each Parish.
