Diocesan Vision, Unfolding God's Plan

Vision Statement

We are called to be a Catholic diocese which is:
faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ
full of missionary disciples who work together co-responsibly
in vibrant communities of faith,
joyful in their service of God and neighbour

June 2023: Archbishop Bernard Longley - Achieving our Vision Together

Archbishop Bernard Longley invites parishes, clusters and deaneries to reflect together on our great gift of faith, and as with the Synodal pathway, to meet and look to our future.

Archbishop Bernard asks us to look, within our parishes, clusters and deaneries, at how we can share our resources and to look at what we are called to do within evangelisation, formation, liturgy and worship and social outreach, and how we can more effectively follow that pattern with the mandate given to us by the Lord Himself to be the church in any given place.

The deaneries have been asked to review the things that work well, as well as the things that are not working so well within the deanery and its parishes, to create a plan around the four areas of focus to ensure that we can nurture and create vibrant, missionary communities of faith.

What can I do?

• Pray and reflect on your parish as well as on your own gifts and charism
• Offer your support and charisms to the parish as it embarks on this journey
• Take a look at the resources sign posted on each of the areas of focus: Focus groups and resources
• You may find the resource Six Sessions to Respond to the Vision useful: Diocesan Vision - Six Sessions 
• Tell us what you are doing well - [email protected]

Quick Links

• A Message from Archbishop Bernard Longley
• Synodal Process 2021 - 2024
• Vision Prayer and Prayer Card
• Focus groups and resources

A Message from Archbishop Bernard Longley on the Vision

We have a mandate given to us by Our Lord to spread the good news and serve and grow the faith for the coming decade and beyond.

Pope Francis is encouraging us to do something new to help us achieve this.

In Evangelii Gaudium he encourages us, the Christian faithful, “to embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy [of the Gospel] while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.”

Pope Francis urged the entire Church "to embark on a new chapter of evangelism". The Church must understand itself as a "community of missionary disciples", who are "permanently in a state of mission". He says that “’mere administration’ can no longer be enough.”

I have commissioned a number of groups who are looking at how we work in our parishes and in the Archdiocese to increase the opportunities that enable us to do God’s work and to fulfil the promises of our baptism.

I want us to look at how we will individually respond to God’s call to be missionary disciples in the Church and in our local communities, working joyfully together to spread the Word and the work of God. In essence, how will we unfold God’s plan for our diocesan church?

When I look ahead, I envisage a Catholic diocese which is:

· Faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ

· Full of intentional disciples in vibrant communities of faith, joyful in their service of God and others

· Where many more lay people are engaged in collaborative ministry

How can it happen and what will that look like given the challenges we face?

There are four areas I am asking us all to focus on: Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship and Social Outreach. With a focus on young people and families, Co-responsibility and care for creation.

In our work on the four themes it is important that young people and families are a particular area of focus for all that we do. The universal call to holiness finds its first expression within families and its first recruits among young people. Catholic education and our diocesan youth services play an important role in serving families and young people. The links between the family, the parish and the school are vital to ensure that the faith is handed on.

I invite you to join me in looking with fresh eyes at our mission. We must take this opportunity to do all we can to make sure the Gospel is seen and heard through the example of our daily Christian lives.

With every blessing

 Synodal Process 2021 - 2024