On 30 August, in a packed auditorium at Holy Family Church in Menai, the future of the church in Sydney was prayerfully and thoughtfully discussed as more than 200 faithful gathered on a cold, but thankfully dry, winter’s morning for the first regional synod consultation.
In his welcome, Bishop Daniel Meagher touched on the three longings identified by the people of Sydney over 15 years of consultations; for a more “mission-oriented church, for more prayerful liturgies and for a more Christ-centred church.”
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP welcomed the diverse group of parishioners and highlighted the history of the synodal process. He emphasised the importance of the consultations by reflecting on two decades of challenges faced by the archdiocese.
But His Grace then offered the signs of hope, of a ‘second spring” of faith, that the church is experiencing, noting the increase in converts and reverts now identifying as Christian and highlighting a nearly 30 per cent annual increase in adult converts over the last five years.
The archbishop’s words set the auditorium abuzz with the possibilities for change and hopes for renewal, as parishioners of all ages and backgrounds prepared to share their practical ideas for a vibrant future.
David Scott, 74, from St Catherine Labouré parish in Gymea, came armed with a cache of ideas. “’I’ve got a big list of things I want to bring to the table, mainly in the area of teaching and being able to share the riches of the church.”
Anne Marie Fensom from St Declan’s in Penshurst was also ready to share, “I’d love to talk about bringing more young people into the church and I’ve recently started doing Alpha which is a great way to meet people and bring Catholics together. I’d like to see Alpha in more parishes,” she said.
Best mates Tristan Agyei and Ralph Okoakawa, both 18, were ready to seize the moment.
“We are the future of the church, it’s important we have a say,” said Tristan, who attended with his youth group from St Joseph’s parish in Belmore. “I’m here to learn, to listen and to contribute,” added Ralph.
For the next two hours, the 200 parishioners were each given an allocated time to present their ideas, inspired by the three longings.
Facilitators were on hand at each table to ensure everyone was able to have their say in an ordered fashion, sticking to the 90-second allotted times for each parishioner, on each longing. They were also invited to make a formal submission of their ideas later in the day.
Facilitator Sandra Lynch from All Hallows parish in Five Dock was encouraged by both the focussed passion and forethought shown by those at her table.
“They’ve thought creatively about what they want to say, so that makes it a little easier to capture it in brief, as we’re supposed to do. It’s uplifting to hear their ideas, to see people responding to one another’s ideas. And there’s a lot of similarity in what people say,” she noted.
“It was a very positive start,” said Varun Perera, Sydney Synod Project Officer.
“I think it’s laid a really nice groundwork for how future consultations will run. People were joyfully bringing their ideas, sharing the things that are working in their communities to work towards building a more vibrant church across our archdiocese.”
The presence of His Grace who sat with parishioners at their tables to listen and join in the discussions was something parishioner, Bruce Strath, from Sydney City South Parish found encouraging.
“It’s a lovely vote of confidence that he is here. It’s always nice to have the boss showing an interest in his people,” he said.
“In terms of what ideas people really stressed; the importance of going back to basics in terms of evangelisation by personal invitation, there was a lot of emphasis on Eucharistic adoration, so returning to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and in terms of liturgy, a lot of ideas looking at music,” he reflected.
“I think it’s there’s always benefit in gatherings like this, to hear people’s ideas,” said Fr Paul Smithers, also from Sydney City South parish.
“It was very focussed; there was no time for fluffing around. People had a good grasp of the issues, there was no ideologies, just genuine ideas.”
In his closing remarks, Archbishop Fisher expressed his great joy, saying the positive start bodes well for the next two consultations at St Mary’s Cathedral on 14 October and All Saints Liverpool Parish on 16 October.
“This is the first of our regional consultations and it will help to shape subsequent ones with all of the things we learned from this experience today,” he said.
“I really sensed that around tables today the people of Sydney have something beautiful to offer. Lots of thought went into this day today, and I’m very grateful. I was pleased to see candid and heartfelt conversation. Listening to each other. And trying to listen to God in each other.
“It’s a good time for us. The church in Sydney has so much for which to be grateful to God. And this gives me great confidence.”
