The Jesuit Institute was invited to collaborate with the School for Synodality in the creation of a new free resource for parishes: Pastoral Council Toolkit — School for Synodality.
The aim of this toolkit is to guide parishes in setting up their own Pastoral Council which, for Catholics, in accordance with Pope Francis’ calls for greater synodality in the church, will help clergy and parishioners to discern together what the Holy Spirit is calling them to do in the world.
This project was led by the School of Synodality, which gathered a group of interested and experienced people, including Vron Smith from the Jesuit Institute, who collaboratively created and produced the toolkit over a period of a year.
Vron Smith said:
"It can seem daunting and difficult to know where to begin - how to become or grow more as a synodal Parish Council. The pack gives you a place to start and tools to develop and try out."
The School for Synodality commented:
"Moving to a new form of Pastoral Council requires learning new skills and practices, particularly in listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another. We hope this new resource will reignite a passion for pastoral councils, either to begin completely new or to refresh current frameworks."
Vron has many years of experience working with faith communities, including parishes and religious communities, and facilitating communal discernment processes which draw on the Ignatian practices of discernment and spiritual conversation. These are deeply connected to synodality and what the Pope and others in the Church are hoping for in the Church of the 21st Century. You can read more about how the Jesuit Institute works with parishes and dioceses here.
The Jesuit Institute team is available to work with your parish, whether you are looking for a bespoke facilitated process or simply looking to learn more about Ignatian prayer. Please get in touch with them via their website.
Banner image courtesy of the Jesuit Institute
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