Parish Secretary – Sacred Heart Catholic Church

For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission

A two-year ‘synodal’ process is taking place across the Catholic Church. This is an important moment in the life of the world Church.

The Synod is an invitation to people across our community of faith to ‘walk together’, with every member of the Church encouraged to participate.

Bishops will play a key role, listening to the people of God in their particular Church and, under the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear and discern what is being said of that Church. Each local Church is a fundamental part of the Universal Church, so what is shared within each local Church is important, contributing to the whole.

You are encouraged to participate in our own parish discussions taking place via zoom on three Thursdays: 13th, 20th, 27th January at 8pm.

Clare K’s Zoom Meeting Time: This is a recurring meeting

Any queries email Clare Kent: mapleclare@aol.com Join zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81448351070?pwd=cWllVTNVL0laNHYzNUlRblp1L1R0UT09

Meeting ID: 814 4835 1070 Passcode: 8MFD45

Responses from across our Diocese will be collated throughout February. Bishop Richard will present a summary of the feedback received during an online meeting on 9 March at 7.30pm. To register to attend this meeting

https://abdiocese.churchsuite.com/events/8yaw6pon

You may wish to reflect on the questions to be covered in the first session:

I. Journeying Companions Think of those who form our parish community as we journey together. Which people or groups are on the edges of our community? Whom do we know who no longer walks with us, those who used to and now we don’t see? How do we engage with those for whom the experience of Covid has prompted thoughts about faith? How do we welcome people

II. Listening Do we listen to each other? How do we best do this – people to people, clergy to clergy, bishops to bishops? How do we deepen our listening, making it a “a listening of the heart” and not just of the issues and subjects at hand? How do we ensure that the Church responds to the culture and needs of society?

III. III. Speaking Out What is the communication like in our group/parish/diocese? Do we have the freedom to speak freely, openly, and respectfully? How am I living out my Christian life?

Link to A&B Synod information page: https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/synod

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place each year between 18th & 25th January. The theme and material this year has been prepared by the Churches of the Middle East. Background information and prayers for each day can be found using the following link: https://ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022/.

Churches Together in Wadhurst will have a daily prayer session, using the suggested themes, taking place online via Zoom from 5.00 pm. The sessions should last around 30/40 minutes and you are invited to leave your details in the Parish Office mail box or emailparishsecretary.sacredheart@gmail.com and we will ensure that you receive a link for whichever day/s you would like to attend.

The prayer sessions start on Tuesday 18th January and end on Tuesday 25th January(including Saturday and Sunday 22nd, 23rd).