Nick Wilson

On April 22, representatives from the 6 Catholic Dioceses of Aotearoa New Zealand gathered online to review the draft synthesis of the responses from the next stage in the Synod on Synodality, in preparation for the October Synodal Meeting in Rome.

There was a magnificent range of submissions from across the Dioceses that were collated by Anne Dickinson for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. Currently, Fr. Craig Butler is representing New Zealand clergy in the International Synodal Meeting of Parish Priests in Rome for that part of the synod (see p8 of the latest Wel-Com).

The draft response will be finalised and submitted in May. It is important to note that this aspect of the consultation is not a critique of what has come about so far; rather, it is about the discerning of the actions that pertain to this stage’s synodal question, “How can we be a synodal church in mission?”

There was a wonderful diversity of groups responding to this question for this next stage, which contributes to the overall kaupapa of the Synod on Synodality. In this way, we live the aspiration we pray for in the Adesumus Prayer, used in our synodal discernment process:

“With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.”

Veni Sancte Spiritus – Come Holy Spirit!
Tihei mauri ora!

Nick Wilson is PN Diocesan Delegate to the National Synod Oversight Committee