Believing, not Belonging Research
- Written by: Frank Callus
The ACTA National Conference in 2018 was addressed by Dr Anna Abrams, of the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology on the subject of Ecclesial Ethics.
Last summer Bishop Alan Williams SM, the Bishop of Brentwood, invited Catholics who no longer regularly come to church to get in touch. Bishop Alan wanted to seriously listen to their stories and experiences to understand why so many Catholics no longer feel as though they belong in the Church.
The results of that research, carried out in partnership with the Margaret Beaufort Institute, have now been published.
Dr Liam Hayes, Director of The Centre for Ecclesial Ethics at the Margaret Beaufort Institute, Cambridge, undertook the research on Bishop Alan’s behalf. He says: “Our research revealed that many of the 80% of baptised Catholics who no longer go to Church do not feel welcome, appreciated or even visible, for they experience a Church in which they no longer see their face, hear their voice or recognise their story in too many of the church’s ethical teachings and its wider praxis.
Believing, not Belonging, he says, presents a moving and challenging insight into how our Church and the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to a movement away from a regular practice of faith for many Catholics and offers our Church a living repository of wisdom that might enrich and inform our ongoing journey of renewal in the diocese.
The research report can be read here:
Synthesis Report Online Zoom Meetings
- Written by: Frank Callus
XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
First Session
(4-29 October 2023)
Discussions based on key elements of the
A Synodal Church in Mission - Synthesis Report
ACTA will be holding three separate sessions to discuss some of the key issues in the Synthesis Report published at the end of the First Session of the Synod. The areas chosen for discussion relate to some of the critical issues affecting the laity and their role in the future of the Church.
Members will be involved in discussions which will form part of the response that ACTA makes to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Vatican.
The sessions will be delivered via Zoom on three consecutive Sundays
from 10-24 March 2024.
The six areas chosen for discussion include:
Part 1 Chap 1 – Synodality: Experience and Understanding
Part 1 Chap 4 - People in Poverty, Protagonists of the Church's Journey
Part 11 Chap 8 - Church is Mission
Part 11 Chap 9 - Women in the Life and Mission of the Church
Part 111 Chap 16 - Towards a Listening and Accompanying Church
Part 111 Chap 17 - Mission in the Digital Environment
While members will look at specific questions there are significant
elements within other chapters. For example Chap 4 considers the
People in Poverty while Chap 16 considers the need for accompaniment
including the poor and marginalised. Chapter 8 considers the missional
nature of the Church but Chap 18 expounds on how this is to be
reflected in the structures of the Church. Some chapters refer to
particular constituents [ the role of women] while other sections consider
the needs for improved formation to undertake key ministries.
Austin Ivereigh - Synodal Reflections
- Written by: Alex Walker
Austin Ivereigh - First Hand Synodal Reflections
- Written by: Alex Walker
Austin Ivereigh is the author of a number of acclaimed and influential books on Pope Francis, and was invited personally by Pope Francis to attend the recent Rome Synod in October 2023 at the Vatican where he gained invaluable experience from participating in the synodal process.
He will share his insights and expertise with an audience at St Anne’s church, Overbury Street, Liverpool on Sunday evening at 6.00pm on 28th January 2024. This is an un-rivalled opportunity to hear first-hand reflections on what many consider to be the greatest event in the Catholic Church since the 2nd Vatican Council with profound implications for the future.
You can attend in person or follow the event which will be live-streamed on YouTube: St Anne & St Bernard Liverpool, UK
The talk will be recorded and available on 3prophets.co.uk and will be followed-up by a 3-session Lenten on-line series reflecting upon the content of Austen’s talk in relation to the lives of 3 Liverpool priests (Fr. Tom Cullinan, Fr. Austin Smith CP and Fr. Kevin Kelly) in whose ministry was reflected elements of the synodal process.
The proposed dates are Thursdays 22nd February, 7th and 21st March, but will be confirmed on the website.
3prophets.co.uk contains the writings and talks of these three remarkable and influential Liverpool priests – please do visit the site and have a browse.
Gaza this October
- Written by: Chris McDonnell
Hour by hour
countless
munitions fall
in an exchange
of fearsome fire.
Smoke erupts
from shattered
Buildings hanging
through the orange
glow of flame.
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