SYNOD NATIONAL SYNTHESIS:

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has been following the Synodal Process called by Pope Francis, reflecting on the theme “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation, mission” and has now reached an important moment. Since October 2021, the dioceses, national organisations and religious communities have been engaged in listening conversations on the central themes, exploring the way the Church embraces more fully her missionary mandate in the world of today. The Bishops thank everyone for their contribution to this stage.

THE PASTORAL PLAN ONE YEAR ON

 For an update on the work that has taken place over the last year click here or watch the video below.

As part of the work on 'becoming a churchwhere young people and young adults flourish'  a pastoral plan explanation for children and families has been created.

CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP

The group meet between 2pm-4pm every last Friday of the month in St Mark’s annexe to offer each other support, advice, tips and friendship all over a cuppa. Contact Ann Noons for further details on 07948 606 888. All in need welcome.

BISHOP'S STATEMENT ON RWANDA

Bishops give lead on the Government’s Rwanda policy:

The UK’s plans to forcibly deport to Rwanda some of those seeking refuge in our country is shamefully illustrative of what Pope Francis has called the ‘loss of that sense of responsibility for our brothers and sisters on which every civil society is based’. The plan is presented as a humanitarian response to combat people trafficking and smuggling yet the result will compound the suffering of those who are already victims. Crime is defeated by confronting the perpetrators not by punishing victims. This scheme will increase the difficulties of those hoping for a new beginning, and it does nothing to address the problems which cause people to flee their homes. Migration is a complex issue, but it is not resolved by delegating our roles and responsibilities to other countries. Our starting point should be the innate dignity of every person, created in the image and likeness of God.

Bishop Paul McAleenan. Lead Bishop for Migration Issues

LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM

During the season of Pentecost, we are called to reflect on the great gift of the Holy Spirit, who came to the disciples in Jerusalem. 

During the season of Pentecost, you are invited to enrich your spirit by reading reflectionssubmitted by institutions that have committed to making Laudato Si’ Plans. These reflections explore the values we share in the light of integral ecology, and they represent distinct points of view united by a common spirit of purpose and hope.   Visit the Laudato Si platform at https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/

ARCHDIOCESAN REPORT FOR VATICAN SYNOD

The Archdiocese of Liverpool's Synod report for the Vatican Synod 2021-2023 can be readhere

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EXERCISES

Pray as you go (pray-as-you-go.org)  topics cover addiction, ageing, anxiety, depression, grief, insomnia and lonliness

RESOLUTION ON MIGRATION 

The Bishop's conference in England and Wales passed a resolution on migration, which was inspired by Pope Francis when he wrote

“We ourselves need to see, and then to enable others to see, that migrants and refugees… are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved.”

https://www.cbcew.org.uk/spring-plenary-2022-resolution-migration/

THE PARADOX OF ABUNDANCE

 Over 800 million people go hungry each day. Yet the world produces over 4 billion tonnes of food and we only need 3.7 billion tonnes to feed everyone. From all this food produced, a third is wasted.

St John Paul II called this ‘the paradox of abundance.’

Clearly the current global food system is not working. But as Pope Francis said, "Each of us has a role to play in transforming food systems for the benefit of people and the planet."

Let’s respond to his call! CAFOD’s new campaign is called Fix the Food System.

See www.cafod.org.uk/food for more information, including an invitation for parish groups to learn about the impact of our food with our Fix the Food System: a 7-station journey resource.

CAFOD invite you to play the luminous mysteries to end world hunger.  They have compiled reflections to help : https://cafod.org.uk/content/download/59160/801431/version/2/file/Prayer_food_luminous-mysteries-rosary-end-hunger.pdf

THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING

LIVERPOOL ARCHDIOCESE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TASK GROUP

The Liverpool Archdiocese Environmental Policy Task Group was established in 2020 in response to Pope Francis’s call to respond to the climate crisis. The group is chaired by Fr Matthew Nunes and group members are from all over the archdiocese including priests and deacons, senior archdiocesan management; lay people from parishes and schools, CAFOD and the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission

The group works in six areas:

•   theology, liturgy and worship
•   children and young people
•   church property
•   management, finance and investments
•   community understanding
•   personal behaviour and global responsibility

Fr Matthew represents the group on the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales’ Interdiocesan Environmental Leads Group and there are strong links with environmental charities Faiths for Change and Hope for the Future.

Responding to Pope Francis’s call is complex and involves all areas of our lives as Catholics. The task group will work with parishes to determine what help they require in their work to care for creation

UPDATE ON THE ARCHDIOCESAN PASTORAL PLAN FEBRUARY 2022

KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA RECRUITMENT VIDEO

The Knights of St Columba have released a new recruitment video - See below

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE ARCHDIOCESE

The Archdiocese of Liverpool has launched new social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

The links are as follows:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/liverpoolarchdiocese 

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/liverpoolarchdiocese/

You can also follow the Archdiocese on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/lpoolcatholic