In 1638 John Milton produced a pastoral elegy for a fellow student, a young clergyman, whose death prompted his criticism of the Anglican bishops of the time. He saw the young clergy as living their lives in response to the Gospel value of pastoral leadership and yet lacking the support of the episcopate. The model of the Good Shepherd was a staple of the Gospels and the comparison with those shepherds who did not know their flock and its needs was a constant in Jesus’ teaching.
Mini-Series on Synodality by Margaret Beaufort Institute
- Written by: Alex Walker
The mini-series is led by Dr Peter Coughlan and will be lecture, discussion, and smaller breakout group based. The cost is only £50 for 3 afternoons 4 to 6 PM, on October 6, 13, and 20th and all by Zoom online.
More information can be found here, with a link to Eventbrite for payment.
The Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology
Three reflections on For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.
- Written by: John Sullivan
- The objective of the current Synod is to listen, as the entire People of God, to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church.
[JS. Rather than assuming that the Church already possesses in full what God has to say to her, she opens herself to receive the communication of the Holy Spirit – ongoing, unending, continuing, unfinished, ever-new and creative, surprising and probably disturbing. This means that, instead of a backward-looking emphasis on preserving and reiterating something she already owns – and is often tempted to think – she controls – the Church recognizes the need to be open and vulnerable to what God still has to say – and require of us – today: new learning and deeper conversion is required from all of us.]
Read more: Three reflections on For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.
Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality
- Written by: Alex Walker
Official Handbook for Listening and Discernment in Local Churches
This Vademecum is designed as a handbook that accompanies the Preparatory Document at the service of the synodal journey. The two documents are complementary and should be read in tandem with one another. In particular, the Vademecum offers practical support to the Diocesan Contact Person(s) (or team), designated by the diocesan Bishop, to prepare and gather the People of God so that they can give voice to their experience in their local Church. This worldwide invitation to all the faithful is the first phase of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, whose theme is “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”
https://www.synod.va/en/news/vademecum-for-the-synod-on-synodality.html
Cardinal Nichols sends best wishes
- Written by: Frank Callus
CARDINAL NICHOLS SENDS “PRAYERS AND BEST
WISHES” TO ACTA AHEAD OF THE NATIONAL
CONFERENCE.
The National Conference takes place via Zoom on
Saturday 16th October with a central theme of
Synodality.
The Board of Trustees have issued an invitation to all the Bishops of England and Wales to its National
Conference on 16th October. We recognised that in many cases, the diocese might wish to send a representative of the Bishop’s office. The Conference occurs at exactly the moment that dioceses will begin their individual synodal process and it was felt important that dioceses have the chance to hear about the process from our speakers.
Cardinal Nichols wrote to explain that the date of 16th October was when the Archdiocese of Westminster was launching its own synodal process. He sent his “prayers and best wishes” on the occasion of the National Conference.
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