The future of the Catholic Church in our diocese requires lay people in the parishes and faith communities along with the priests who minister to them to work closely together in new ways.
A married woman and a mother of three children will lead two gatherings in the diocese in May where she will share the experience she has from working with parishes across America.
Julianne Stanz, a native of Co Carlow and now resident in Wisconsin, USA, was invited by Bishop Fintan Gavin to help address the challenges for our parishes identified by lay people and clergy at recent meetings.
Recently writing to all priests of the diocese Bishop Fintan says “This next step where priests and lay faithful work together also flows from the synodal gatherings in the Diocese in May 2022 and is very much part of the shared vision described in the resulting Diocesan Synodal Report,”
Bishop Fintan’s vision for the local Church was also conveyed in the Pastoral Letter Putting Out into Deep Waters - Transforming Parishes Together into Mission-Centred Faith Communities (August 2022) which acknowledges the request for more lay involvement and the development of strong teamwork with the clergy.
On the weekend of Pentecost Sunday (the birthday of the Church) two gatherings will take place. Julianne Stanz, a native of Co Carlow and now resident in Wisconsis, USA, is invited by Bishop Fintan to share her experience and help address the challenges for our parishes identified by lay people and clergy at recent meetings.
Writing to the priests of the diocese, the bishop has asked that a group of representatives are invited and registered by each and every parish to take part on Saturday 27th May in the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery or Sunday 28th May in Clayton Silversprings Conference Centre, Tivoli.
In his letter to parishes, Bishop Fintan says that in both diocesan gatherings, people will have the opportunity to engage with one another and share experiences.
“There will be a time of prayer, reflection and fellowship as we gather to build a shared vision for our Families of Parishes in the diocese.”
