Formation programme equips for communal discernment

The Communal Apostolic Discernment Facilitators pilot programme was launched by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference this year. It is designed for clergy and lay leaders.

The journey began in April with a five-day intensive gathering at the Magnificat Community in Featherston. Monthly online gatherings followed, and the course concluded with a second five-day intensive at St Francis Retreat Centre in Auckland in September, centred on the Final Document from the Synod on Synodality: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.

The facilitators were Fr Michael Smith SJ, who drew on Ignatian spirituality, pastoral counselling and positive psychology, and Lucienne Hensel, pastoral ministry advisor in Wellington Archdiocese.

Together, they led participants from five dioceses through a blend of input, sacred readings, contemplative exercises and group sharing, supported by online sessions that balanced teaching with hands-on practice in local ministry settings.

Rather than making decisions in isolation, participants learned to journey together, listening deeply and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the whole community. At its heart, the programme seeks to nurture a culture of listening and shared leadership.

At the gathering at St Francis Retreat Centre, guest speakers Dr Rocio Figueroa, Manuel Beazley and Bishop Steve Lowe offered fresh perspectives, reminding participants that synodality is always enriched by many voices.

Amy Armstrong from Dunedin Diocese took part in the pilot programme. She said, “the more we practise listening together – to God, to one another and to the land – the more deeply this way of being Church will take root as a living, Spirit-filled journey”.

FULL STORY

Formation programme encourages communal discernment (NZCBC)