BUILDING HOPE TASK FORCE
Invitation to Parishioners
Archbishop Farrell has set up a Task Force under the title of Building Hope. The Task Force aims to stimulate engagement with the whole diocesan family and shape an inclusive approach to a pastoral strategy appropriate to our times. It is intended to support parish communities to undertake a radical renewal, looking to the future with creativity, enabling the Archdiocese of Dublin to act now, so as to give effective witness and service in the years ahead.
You are invited to take part in this consultation. There is a video, a prayer, and a form on the www.dublindiocese.ie website. Please watch the video from the Archbishop and join with your family to pray and to discuss the future of the Church together. It is hoped that you might nominate one member of your family to return to the website and make a contribution by filling out the form.
The consultation form will remain online until the 18th July 2021.
Pray, have the conversation, and fill in the form.
#buildinghope #peopleofgod #popefrancis #renewal #goodnews #dublindiocese #archbishopfarrell
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
Dear Father,
I hope that this message finds you safe and well in these extraordinary times.
I write to you as the chairperson of the Building Hope Task Force. Archbishop Farrell established the Task Force to support parishes to undertake a radical renewal, looking to the future with creativity, and to enable the Archdiocese of Dublin to act now so as to be able to give effective witness in the future. The Archbishop has initiated a conversation aimed at stimulating engagement across the whole Archdiocese. As a missionary Church we need to be clear about what we are offering to the world, what we need to retain and build on so as to be bearers of hope, and what we must change or leave behind as we build a future of hope while slowly emerging from the Covid-19 crisis. The Archbishop has invited the Task Force to engage with parish communities in order to take account of your needs and perspectives on the pastoral challenges ahead and also to encourage a process of reflection and discernment within parishes.
As I mentioned in my recent letter, the Task Force is seeking to engage with the whole diocesan family. I am heartened by the sincere and thoughtful engagement with the process so far by priests, deacons, deaneries, parish pastoral councils, parish finance committees, school principals, teachers and BoM chairpersons and so many more. I write to you today to ask you to invite the families in your parish to be part of the Task Force’s work of Building Hope.
Beginning at this Sunday’s Masses, please ask your parishioners to pray, to discuss the consultation with their families and to complete the online consultation by visiting www.dublindiocese.ie where you will also find a special video message from the Archbishop. Please share the video on your parish website and social media pages. If you have the facility to play videos in your church, you might also consider showing at an opportune time.
The consultation form will remain available online until Sunday 18th July. It is hoped that the resources attached will support you in inviting your parishioners to complete the consultation form.
On behalf of the Task Force I thank you sincerely for your support and encouragement and ask you to remember the work of the Task Force in your prayers.
With kind regards,
God bless,
Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll.
Chairperson of the Task Force.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
TASK FORCE PRAYER
Pilgrim God, we give you thanks and praise.
You constantly journey with us
even in our darkness and doubts.
We seek your way of loving kindness
to walk together as one family.
Open our eyes to recognise you
in the faces of one another,
in the breaking of bread
and in the splendour of your creation.
May the Risen Christ
sow seeds of hope and new life deep within us.
May our hearts and minds be filled
with your Word
bringing forth truth, justice and peace.
May the Holy Spirit working in and through us,
do much more than we can dare to imagine
as we live out our baptismal calling in humble and loving service.
We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord Amen.
St Laurence O’ Toole: pray for us.
St Brigid: pray for us.