We have been invited to journey together, guided by the Holy Spirit, throughout this 12 months of discernment for the Central Coast project. We’d like to share our journey with others.
If you would like to submit a story click here.
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Briefing Circles
Read below to hear about Briefing Circles.
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I registered to attend one of The Briefing Circles to get a better understanding of what the Project was all about. I enjoyed the small group discussions and it was interesting to hear the questions and hopes of others.
Maisie Tenev, Youth Ministry Coordinator, MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale
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As a group facilitator in the recent Briefing Circles for the Central Coast Pastoral Project, I was privileged to hear many stories of people’s personal journey of faith and stories of families experiences in our school and parish communities. It was of interest to hear of the innovative ideas to promote our Catholic faith in the broader community of the Central Coast in an outward focus and to hear of the need for support services and ministries in our schools and parishes. There were many common themes shared in the group discussions and I look forward to hearing more about these from our community group leaders in the next phase of the project.
Colleen Smith, Briefing Circles Group Facilitator
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An opportunity that I see for the project is to contextualise our voice beyond the Plenary Council at a local level and go deeper in understanding who we are on the Central Coast as a faith community and how others perceive us. The project is an opportunity to celebrate our local identity as Catholics, identify our successes and engage in opportunities for growth in our local context.
Adam Murdoch, College Principal, St Brigid’s Lake Munmorah
Community Consultation
Photo: St Patrick’s School East Gosford, Project Facilitator, Lee Sullivan, presenting the project to school staff and outlining the schools consultation process on the first day back of the new school year.
On 29 September the MacKillop Catholic College project Facilitators met to plan and discuss how we will introduce the Pastoral Discernment project to our community. We will be holding a whole staff, K-12 Staff meeting during the first week of the new school year during a whole staff meeting.
MCC Team- PCL photo: From Left to Right: Sr. Jennifer Canillas, OSA, Deb Ferguson and Tim Snelling.
Star of the Sea Parish Terrigal held their parish listening and dialogue session on Saturday 12 Feb, with over 60 enthusiastic attendees participating in the conversation.
Photo: Paul Malone: Star of the Sea parish facilitator.
St John the Baptist Parish Woy Woy held two consultation sessions following Friday afternoon and Saturday morning Mass in early February.
Photo: Rosi Na’ati: St John the Baptist parish facilitator
"Along with staff, students, at MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale, also had the opportunity to participate in listening and dialogue conversations. Sessions were held during lunchtime and conducted over several weeks.
The pastoral discernment project was a way for us to talk about things we wanted to share or work on throughout the diocese." Achol Lual: Year 8 student MacKillop Catholic College.
"The pastoral discernment project provided our student body with a platform to voice our ideas to Bishop Anthony. This allowed us to raise issues and concerns that we felt needed addressing, and also areas in which we felt the diocese should be praised. Projects like this that allow for collaboration between us, the students, and the leaders in our community will enable us to move forward." Preston Lorusso: Year 12 student MacKillop College.
Gosford Parish held the first of their consultation sessions recently. The session began with a video message from Fr Greg, who was attending the Salvatorian Provincial Chapter in Poland. Following the video, small group conversations were led and facilitated by PPC team members and parishioners.
Scott Beattie: St Patrick’s parish facilitator.
Due to COVID restrictions, St Cecilia’s held their community listening and dialogue session via Zoom. Break-out rooms provided staff an opportunity to listen and share their reflections and ideas with each other in small groups.
Photo: Jamie Dowling: St Cecilia’s School facilitator.