Auckland Bishop announces reshaping process for diocese

In a pastoral letter on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, Bishop Lowe formally announced “Reshaping”, which will be “a synodal process of renewal and transformation for the Diocese of Auckland”. It will be “a journey that we will take together in accordance with the teachings of Pope Francis and now Pope Leo”.

“When the Diocese of Auckland was established in 1848, Auckland had fewer than 3000 people. Today, it has a population of 1.7 million. . . As the shape of the diocese has changed, so has the Church and society around us,” the bishop wrote.

“Now is the time for us to reflect on what needs to be reshaped within our diocese. I invite all of you, clergy and laity alike, to be actively involved in this synodal process. Together we can discern and make decisions for our future.”

Reshaping will “involve us working together in six key areas”.

• “By a process of discerning together, we will review our existing parishes in light of the changing needs of our Diocese. This may mean the rationalisation of churches or parishes. Your parish will be asked to meet with neighbouring parishes to discern together the future shape of your area with a focus on the Church’s mission.”
• “Parishes will look to their structures – in particular, how priests and people work together in a co-responsible way. Each parish will be required to have a parish council, and will be asked to review its infrastructure and organisation to ensure that it is mission oriented.”
• “Working as a co-responsible and synodal Church asks everyone to be open to changing. Formation will be provided for laity and clergy alike to develop our skills for working better together.”
• “Parishes and schools will be invited to develop the art of celebrating liturgy better. Various liturgical formation initiatives will be offered to assist with this.”
• “Parishes and schools will be invited to explore how we can more effectively welcome people, guide them on a journey of faith and draw them into the heart of our communities.”
• “Parishes and schools will be asked to work on how we can better form missionary disciples for the life of the world.”

The bishop wrote that future plans “will arise and form from our speaking and listening to each other and discerning together where the Spirit is leading us as the Church on mission today”.

Bishop Lowe added that “no decisions about parish rationalisation have been made. While all parishes will be asked to be part of this discussion, I am asking the parishes of Meadowbank, Orakei, St Heliers, Glendowie, Glen Innes and Panmure to start their conversations now and look to how they might reshape the Church in their part of the city”.

“In the journey ahead, various resources will be made available to communities to facilitate conversations to assist them in the path of our reshaping,” Bishop Lowe wrote. Some resources are already available on the diocesan website where the “Reshaping” plan is outlined, at the link below.

FULL STORY

Reshaping: Diocese of Auckland – Catholic Diocese of Auckland (Catholic Diocese of Auckland)