Last week, more than 75 people met to listen to and understand the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the submissions from 222,000 people received during the 10-month Listening and Dialogue phase of the Plenary Council.
The National Centre for Pastoral Research, using best-practice analysis skills and software, read the almost 17,500 group and individual submissions and over three days provided their insights for those attending the meeting.
“Our job was to review and report on how people responded to the question ‘What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?’” explained National Centre for Pastoral Research director Trudy Dantis.
Among those in attendance during the presentation of the data were members of the Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council, the Plenary Council Executive Committee and the Plenary Council Facilitation Team.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, president of the Plenary Council, said it was a significant responsibility to listen to the stories from the hearts and minds of ordinary Catholics across a huge variety of contexts – sometimes in harmony with one another, at other times divergent.
“This was done by listening to the information Dr Dantis and her colleagues presented, then taking time for reflection on those subject areas in prayer,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“There were many moments of communal and individual prayer, as part of communal discernment over the three days we met. Indeed, the next phase of this preparation stage of the Plenary Council is Listening and Discernment, so we practised discernment ourselves to help us consider how we can move into this next phase of preparation.”
Members of the Plenary Council Local Coordinators Network, representing dioceses and archdioceses, met over the subsequent two days to discuss how the National Themes for Discernment could be communicated and considered by people in their local faith communities.
“As with other meetings of this group of about 50 people from around the country, there was an incredible energy in the room,” Plenary Council facilitator Lana Turvey-Collins said.
“The enthusiasm of people for the Plenary Council process, and the desire to be involved, was evident during the Listening and Dialogue phase. The reality is that the local coordinators are the heartbeat of local activity for the Plenary Council process and seeking their wisdom and advice was essential as we prepare to move forward together.”
The National Themes for Discernment and other analysis from the Listening and Dialogue phase of the Council will be released throughout June, beginning at Pentecost.
Visit the Plenary Council website for more information at www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au