Six months since its inception, the Adsumus process has proven fruitful in parishes across the diocese according to the Perth Archdiocese Parish Renewal team.
Taking its name from the words “Adsumus Sancte Spiritus” (“We stand before You, Holy Spirit”), which have been historically uttered at ecumenical councils and synods, the process aims to bring the synodal method undertaken by the Church’s hierarchy to the realm of everyday parishes for the sake of enlivening their community.
Undergirded by the call to “come, reflect, listen”, Adsumus brings a process of listening to the Holy Spirit to parishes, so that all parishioners might prayerfully reflect on and respond to Christ’s call for each person to become a missionary disciple.
Commencing at Pentecost this year, the Office of Parish Renewal team partnered with parish leaders to bring this initiative to their parishes.
The four parishes involved in the project are Bateman, Whitfords, Maylands and South Perth; the last of which is led by the head of the Office of Parish Renewal, Fr Nino Vinciguerra.
Fr Nino described Adsumus as not merely a program which is undertaken for the sake of it, but a process whereby the often-unaddressed question is asked: “What does it mean to be a parishioner and what does it mean to be a parish?”
“It’s really about saying that we all belong together as one, as a parish family and as a parish community,” he said.
“The first thing you need to do to make a parish come alive, or any community, is have a sense of belonging.”
Fr Nino pointed to Jesus as the foundation and source of this sense of belonging. For this same reason, the process involves drawing on the Sunday readings — particularly the Gospel readings — to ascertain what the Holy Spirit is highlighting to parishioners for the renewal of their parish community.
Some of the activities parishes have undertaken to foster vibrancy within their respective communities have been ‘Name Tag Sunday’, a ‘Loss and Grieving’ ministry, and particular prayers said during Mass which are tailored to the project’s aim.
Fr Nino has attributed ‘Name Tag Sunday’ to a newfound sense of closeness within his own parish community.
“When you know someone’s name, it immediately makes you feel closer,” he said.
Since their implementation, the ‘Name Tag’ approach and the ‘Loss and Grieving’ ministry have become permanent staples in certain parishes.
A report from the Office of Parish Renewal team noted that the Adsumus process has created a growing sense of personal responsibility where parishioners more deeply see the parish as their own, and one which they have an intentional part to play in its life.
This has also strengthened them in their commitment to growing the parish’s community ties.
The Office of Parish Renewal team has said it’s been encouraged by working alongside parish leaders and seeing the evidence of growth within communities.
All of which aligns with the team’s mandate to build strong and effective parishes.
The team will keep streamlining and building the Adsumus Process to continue offering parishes throughout the archdiocese an effective tool to enhance their communities.