North Shore Pastoral Discernment Program
Following on from similar programs on the Central Coast and the Northern Beaches, the Broken Bay North Shore Pastoral Discernment program is now underway. The next and final step in the program is the publishing of the program report in 2025.
How is God calling the people of the North Shore to work together as pilgrim and missionary people of God?
The North Shore project activity started with an online Briefing Circle event on 15 August 2024. That was followed by an online session with Andrew Spiteri from Rome on 23 August giving background to the consultation processes. Documentation introducing the program is available in North Shore area parishes and schools.
Parish consultation facilitators, or small teams, have been identified and on 12 September, a Zoom online event between 3pm and 4:30pm prepared the consultation facilitators. The facilitators have resources to lead local parish and school listening and dialogue forums. This work started on 20 September via a Community Forum in Pennant Hills. An in-person gathering, for all in the community to be introduced to the available data, learn of the guiding themes and questions for consultation, and be introduced to the methods used to guide community listening and dialogue conversations.
From this work, parish and school communities will gather and participate in local community consultation forums using the question sheet below to develop their own Pastoral Discernment submissions. Individual submissions are also accepted. Submissions will close on 12 November 2024.
This program is an opportunity for everyone to be involved in discussion to identify the particular needs of the Broken Bay North Shore community. The project is an invitation to work together, to listen to each other and seek a collective outcome. Everyone has an essential role in this important process.
Community Discernment Evening
The Pymble community was invited to participate in the consultation phase of the program at an event on Wednesday, 30 October 2024 at the Marian Hall in Pymble. The task was to hear how our parish and school community can give God thanks for the way in which the Spirit is at work in the life of the local Church, and to consider new possibilities for both the growth and future of the community. The evening was productive and those in attendance were able to contribute to a submission on behalf of the Pymble community.
Community consultation concludes with the close of submissions on 12 November 2024.
Pastoral Discernment Submission
Results from group or individual work were submitted to Broken Bay online. There were two different forms of submission, one for a “community or individual” submission and one for a “school age” submission. Submissions closed on 12 November 2024.
Conversation Forum
An in-person Conversation Forum was held on Saturday, 7 December 2024 at St Agatha’s School Hall, 20 Boundary Road, Pennant Hills. The forum was an opportunity to discuss the information that has emerged from the consolidated community consultation gatherings and submissions across the North Shore.
The Forum commenced with light refreshments at 11:30am and concluded at approximately 2:30pm.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of those who have supported and contributed to this North Shore program.
Program Milestones
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15 August 2024 ✔
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Initial program briefing
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23 August 2024 ✔
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Introduction to the consultation process
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12 September 2024 ✔
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Consultation Facilitator initiation
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20 September 2024 ✔
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Community Forum
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21 September 2024 ✔
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Submission development starts
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52 day period ✔
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Community consultation
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30 October 2024 ✔
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Pymble Community Discernment Evening
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12 November 2024 ✔
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Submissions close
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7 December 2024 ✔
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Conversation Forum
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Early 2025
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Program report published
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Program Documentation
An outline of the overall program schedule is available at the document link below.
Pastoral discernment program for the North Shore (PDF 423.3KB)
The links below provide essential background and guidance documentation for participants.
Introduction (PDF 759.4KB)
North Shore Social Profile (PDF 270.9KB)
Consultation Question Sheet (PDF 317.8KB)
Consultation Facilitator Guide (PDF 2.3MB)
Consultation Facilitator Toolkit (PDF 1.7MB)
Individual Reflection Guide (PDF 494KB)
Small Group Conversation Summary (PDF 394.6KB)
“Spiritual conversation”, spiritual decision making with alternate periods of silence, prayer and listening, then discussion and collective action. The document at the link below provides background to these concepts - a process guide for participants.
The Spiritual Conversation (PDF 536.2KB)
North Shore program information at the Broken Bay Diocese