Living with Strength and Kindliness

The First Assembly of the Plenary Council

The first session of the Plenary Council was held last week.

The First Assembly is a focal point for the Catholic Church in Australia. Considerable preparation has taken place to lead us to this point. Parishes across Australia have had the chance to provide feedback into the council about issues that they would like to see discussed at the meeting.

The last Plenary Council was held in 1937 so this is a very special occasion. A Plenary Council is a formal meeting of the bishops and other representatives of all the dioceses of the Catholic Church in Australia. Its purpose is to discern what God is asking of us in Australia at this present time. While the church aims to be asking that question continually, a Plenary Council is a particular opportunity to ask questions in an intentional way. Asking these questions in an official Council also allows for any changes to laws and rules that may need to take place.

Themes to be discussed across all the Plenary Council Assemblies include how to make Australia’s Catholic Church more: Missionary and Evangelising, Inclusive and Synodal, Prayerful and Eucharistic and Humble and Healing. 

If you would like to watch Bishop Shane’s summary of the proceedings of the First Assembly of the Plenary Council then click here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMvmubI-gXI . Bishop Shane provides a simple and clear summary of the purpose of the assembly and some of the outcomes of the discussions.

The second session of the Plenary Council will take place in July of 2022. 

If you would like to know more about the work of the Plenary Council please visit:

https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/

Kirrilee Westblade

Catholic Identity Leader