Palmerston North takes steps towards parish transformation

The bishop issued that invitation during a pastoral day involving lay leaders, clergy and parish representatives. The event on March 27 opened with Bishop Adams speaking of a positive vision for Palmerston North Diocese.

He posed a question to those in attendance: “What if the New Evangelisation started in our diocese?”

It was a moment that set the tone for the day – challenging and inviting those present to dream bigger about what God might be doing in their parishes.

Cheryl Surrey, the New Zealand regional lead for Divine Renovation, led participants through Launch Point, a group experience designed to help parish teams explore the journey to becoming a renewed, mission-focused parish.

Through several interactive sessions, Mrs Surrey invited leaders to name their parish reality with honesty and hope, unlock their parish’s potential, imagining what renewal could look like, and discern their readiness for change.

Such discernment uses the three keys of Divine Renovation: the power of the Holy Spirit, the primacy of evangelisation and the best of leadership.

Fr Marcus Francis shared the fruit he has already seen in the Hastings parish since establishing a senior leadership team based on collaboration, mission and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Small group discussions, personal prayer and team reflection allowed each parish at the pastoral day to engage deeply with the content. Leaders were both challenged and encouraged to take courageous next steps in their renewal journey.

The day concluded with time to look ahead — to future pastoral days and the upcoming Hope and Renewal Summit in Palmerston North from October 2-4. Among those at the summit will be Fr James Mallon, the founder of Divine Renovation.

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Tūmanako/Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North (Tūmanako/Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North)

Facebook/Central Catholic (Facebook/Central Catholic)