By Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton
A pope in the Middle Ages made this comment, I hope in exasperation, “The laity has always been the enemy of the clergy!” I hope it was in exasperation after a particularly difficult day, but I do remember laughing to myself when I heard it during one of our Church History lectures in the seminary.
The general background to these words and attitudes would have been the long struggle of the papacy to assert its authority, especially over the kingdoms throughout Europe.
The words contrast the very different times that we were travelling through and the present journey as we plan for a collaborative model of Church.
We believe that the Holy Spirit moved strongly among the College of Bishops as they met with Pope John XXIII in the Second Vatican Council.
The Council made several references to the Church as the Body of Christ, drawing from the words of St Paul: one body with one head, Jesus Christ, with a great variety of gifts that have been entrusted to it.
These charisms have been bestowed on the members of the Church to be used for the building up of the community and for its mission to be effective. This collaboration of clergy and laity has already borne many fruits and is contributing to the renewal of the Church.
The Council helped us to recover dimensions of the Church, which had been obscured when other aspects were being emphasised in the past.
Archbishop Costelloe has spoken often about the Church being authentic to its identity and mission. He has articulated that we are called to be disciples of Christ.
The vision for our local church is that we are called to be a people who walk together in the footsteps of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
The Archdiocesan Plan has been inspired by the vision that we must always put Jesus Christ at the heart of everything we do.
At a recent Mass with leaders of mission and formation in our Catholic agencies, a simple prayer card was distributed which carries the famous quote of St Teresa of Avila:
Christ has no body now but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good.
Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, yours are His body.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
I reflected on these words of St Teresa with those leaders of faith formation in the agencies.
The bishop relies very heavily on the people of the Archdiocese who work closely with him.
They are largely lay faithful and they work with the clergy and religious in new and exciting ways. An Archdiocesan agency can see itself as being the eyes, hands and feet of Christ for the people it serves.
The bishop does not have all the gifts and skills that are necessary for the mission of Christ to be advanced. These are provided by so many others. He cannot be physically present, but they can. By building a culture of collaboration, the words of St Paul and the Church we are called to be will be realised.
Our Archdiocesan Plan began in 2016 and will reach its conclusion in 2021. A large number of strategies have been accepted and much work has been done to implement them during this period.
The Plan flows from seven key areas for the Archdiocese at this time. They are: Professional Standards, Effective Communication, Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes, Support for Clergy, Adult Faith Formation, Outreach to Those in Need, and Archdiocesan Growth and Development.
In the areas of Parish Renewal and Adult Faith Formation, in which I have been involved, much has been done. A new Parish Pastoral Council Constitution and Handbook are available for the parishes.
Some parishes have begun working together on shared pastoral initiatives with considerable success. Hubs of parishes have developed almost spontaneously to create shared youth ministry, more engaging outreach to Aboriginal people, and Catechumenate formation.
The agencies involved in adult faith formation are developing further their networking together to optimise the opportunities to provide for the needs of our parishes.
The Archdiocesan Plan aims to provide the pathway to a more “Christ-centred, faithful, vibrant, welcoming, inclusive and mission-oriented Church”.
Walking together, I believe, with Christ, is the way for this vision to be achieved.
From pages 8 and 9 of Issue 15: ‘Archdiocesan Plan 2016 – 2021: Halfway mark filled with determination to commit to bring Church in Perth closer to Christ’ of The Record Magazine