Church councils hear about Auckland ‘Reshaping’ process

Members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Diocesan Administrative Council and Council for Priests gathered on August 8 for an update on the process.

The day began with a presentation on the Eastern Bays Reshaping process, led by Msgr Bernard Kiely and Auckland Diocese Vicar for Māori Manuel Beazley.

Over recent months, parishioners from across the Eastern Bays have participated in a series of spiritual conversations centred on the question: “What does my faith mean to me and how do I hope it will shape the future of our parishes?”

Through feedback from 25 small group conversations, four key themes emerged: Faith – As the foundation of life and the source of hope; Community – The relationships, support and connection found within parish life; Diversity – As a strength of the parish community; Youth – Concern for young people and future generations.

The presentation also highlighted a strong desire for collaboration between parishes, greater welcome to those on the margins of communities and a shared commitment to building a mission-ready future for the Church in the Eastern Bays.

At the August gathering, Auckland Bishop Steve Lowe reflected on the wider vision of Reshaping and its connection with the Church’s synodal journey.

He emphasised that Reshaping is not simply a structural exercise, but a call to become “a missionary Church where all of us participate in the communion of the one Body of Christ”.

The gathering concluded with discussion on how council members and parish leaders can support the next chapter of Reshaping.

FULL STORY

NZ Catholic Issue 17 (Catholic Diocese of Auckland)