Kilcullen Parish Assemblies next month will inform 2023 Synod

A series of Parish Assemblies will be held in Kilcullen in the second half of March, as part of a global process to inform next year's Synod of the Church in Rome, called by Pope Francis, writes Brian Byrne.

The Assemblies will be open to all 'people of goodwill' in the parish, from every age group, including church goers and non-attenders, baptised christians and others.  "This includes those who feel alienated from the church, for whatever reason, and those who would like to be included, but were never invited before," says Robert Jordan, one of three 'Animators' of the Kilcullen Assemblies. The others are Evelyn McKenzie Smith and Howard Berney.

The process will require a number of parishioners to act as Small Group Facilitators, and anyone interested is asked to contact one of the Animators, or one of the priests in the parish, with details before 6 March, to take part in a training evening on 10 March.

The Assemblies themselves will be in the form of participants being asked to consider their 'experiences of church' through two questions being addressed each night. An important element of the meetings is that there will be no debate or discussion. Those present will take notes, anonymously, which will later be collated under themes.

"These will then be summarised in a format to be provided by the diocese," says Robert Jordan. "These will then be submitted to Rome, through the Archbishop. In this parish, we also intend to publish our own summary for everyone to see. This can then inform the mission of Kilcullen parish as we move into our shared future."

A full background to the Assemblies process will be published in the March Bridge. In addition, the three Animators will be speaking at the masses in the Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish this weekend.

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