This evening at 8.00pm, in the Newman Institute, Ballina, Bishop John Fleming will launch the Killala Diocesan Assembly Listening Process. The objective of the Listening Process is to gather insights from across the diocese so as to inform Church planning for the future.
Speaking in advance of the launch, which is the first of its kind in the diocese, Bishop Fleming said, “the late poet John O’Donoghue said, ‘In modern Ireland, you’ll find the most searching and penetrating analysis of what is going on, and what we need to do, not among the priests or religious or theologians but among the people. So, we need to ask the people what they think and what’s going on’. These are important words in the context of our Listening Process here in the Diocese of Killala. It is our plan that, during the months of February and March, an extensive listening process will take place in all of our parishes. This is an inclusive initiative and I invite everyone to take part: the young and not so young, those who participate in Mass each weekend, those who attend occasionally and those who may no longer walk with the Church for whatever reason. In particular I am anxious to hear the voice of young people in this process.”
Bishop Fleming continued, “I wish to emphasise the importance of the listening aspect of this process, so that we really can hear what is being said. In what we are doing I am guided by the recent words of Pope Francis, ‘Communicating means sharing, and sharing demands listening and acceptance. Listening is much more than simply hearing. Hearing is about receiving information, while listening is about communication, and calls for closeness. Listening allows us to get things right, and not simply to be passive onlookers, users or consumers. Listening also means being able to share questions and doubts, to journey side by side, to banish all claims to absolute power and to put our abilities and gifts at the service of the common good.’ It is my hope that the Diocesan Assembly will meet in full session at the end of June, when the proposals which will emerge from this Listening Process will be put to its 300 delegates, who represent every aspect of Church life in the diocese, in order that they can be voted on. These proposals, when accepted, will then become diocesan policy and form the basis of our Pastoral Plan for the Diocese.”
Bishop Fleming thanked all those who had contributed to the process so far and encouraged everyone to avail of the opportunity offered by the listening process.
ENDS
- Bishop John Fleming is Bishop of Killala. The Diocese of Killala consists of 22 parishes and includes portions of counties Mayo and Sligo. Killala has a Catholic population of about 37,000 including 37 priests. Saint Muredach is the patron saint of the diocese. See www.killaladiocese.org
- The Newman Institute, Ballina, is a charitable organisation which works in conjunction with the Diocese of Killala. A core aim of The Newman Institute is to provide an opportunity for people to learn more about their faith through accredited and non-accredited faith formation courses. The Newman Institute also seeks to address the ongoing need for Adult Religious Education and Faith Formation in the Diocese of Killala and beyond.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Katie Crosby 00353 (0) 86 862 3298
