Updates from Our Commissions – October 2024
As of October 17, 2024
The following proposals have continued to be brought forward to the Cabinet and have been under discussion for the past couple of meetings. Read below for the latest updates on the proposals from certain commissions.
Follow-Up on Previous Proposals:
Vocations Commission:
Fr. Peter planned to encourage priestly vocations through parish-based initiatives, starting with one discernment group per deanery. Here’s the simplified summary:
- Three-Point Plan for Vocation Ministry Groups:
- Virtual Workshop (December 7, 2024): Pastors nominate participants to attend and form parish vocation groups based on the book Hundred Fold by Rhonda Gruenewald.
- “Called by Name Sunday”: Parishioners nominate men (16+) who might make good priests. Nominations are submitted online, leading to invitations for an Andrew Dinner (April/May 2025) in Winnipeg or Brandon, where priests share their vocation stories.
- Adoration: Bishop-led Adoration on Good Shepherd Sunday (May) to pray for vocations.
- Current Focus:
- Initially, discernment groups will focus on men discerning the priesthood, with potential expansion to include religious life later.
- Collaborations and Next Steps:
- The central deanery plans to start a discernment group soon.
- Archbishop Gagnon suggested involving women religious (e.g., Sisters of Nairobi) and exploring how Catholic schools can promote vocations.
Marriage and Family Commission:
The Milestone Marriage Anniversary Celebration will be held on October 27 during the 11:30 AM Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral to honour 29 couples’ married journey across the Archdiocese. These couples celebrate incredible milestones of 10, 25, 50, 60, and more years of marriage. We are excited to come together as a community to celebrate their enduring love and commitment.
Church Governance:
Sharon reported that the commission’s communication strategy proposal has been sent, but three out of six deaneries have yet to respond. The survey to the parishes about having a PPC workshop was sent twice, and a few responses were received, although the feedback so far has been positive about hosting a workshop. Sharon will coordinate with the Communications office to send the survey a third time and will follow up with phone calls to the unresponsive deaneries about the communication strategy proposal. Archbishop Gagnon emphasized the importance of timely progress and noted that some Toronto parishes are adopting the use of our PPC Norms, commending the team’s work.
Lay Ecclesial Leadership and Adult Lay Formation Commission:
Fr. Eric shared that the commission strongly believes there is still a need for an office dedicated to Adult Lay Formation, as they recognize a gap in this area. Existing programs, The Summons and Nathanael, are both operating at full capacity. Additionally, with the development of a new formation program, Diving Deeper, exploring an office for Adult Lay Formation remains pressing.
In August, Diving Deeper held a prayer and discernment day at a retreat house led by Deacon Darrin and Carlene Douglas. A team of priests and laypeople is working collaboratively to discern the best way forward for the program, which is set to launch in October 2025. The theme for the program’s inaugural offering will be The Mass. Later this month, the team will begin finalizing content and program models, ensuring they remain on track. Archbishop Gagnon acknowledged the financial challenges preventing the establishment of an office for Adult Lay Formation at this time. There is, however, a suggestion to connect Adult Lay Formation more closely with Catechetics, potentially under the direction of Judith and Marycia.
Judith noted that, based on the CCCB’s structure, Adult Lay Formation and Catechetics could operate under one umbrella. However, she highlighted the current staffing limitations and workload as significant barriers. Judith will evaluate this proposal further to determine its feasibility within her office.
Additionally, there is consensus on the need for greater visibility for Adult Lay Formation on the website. With the launch of Diving Deeper, it’s essential to create a dedicated page for Adult Lay Formation to make related resources and programs easier to find. Gloria has taken note of this need.
New Updates/Proposals Brought Forth:
Indigenous Peoples Commission:
Over the summer, most efforts were dedicated to preparing events for Truth and Reconciliation Month. This included building relationships with elders and providing education for priests. Hosting the Mass at St. John’s Park amidst nature was deeply meaningful for attendees. They are now exploring ways to expand on this idea.
Br. Tom suggested looking into similar initiatives for next summer, while Archbishop Gagnon emphasized the need for a concrete plan. Questions such as “What would a day look like?” and “What would be its focus?” need to be addressed, as he believes this initiative would receive strong support.
Br. Tom also highlighted the importance of deeper formation for pastors serving in Indigenous parishes. He expressed concerns about the challenges many parishes face in harmonizing Catholic and Indigenous spiritual practices, noting that efforts in this area are currently struggling.
Social Justice and Missionary Outreach Commission
Since there is currently no one for this commission, John recently initiated a meeting with the commission to touch base and discuss plans for its future. As part of ongoing efforts to restructure the commission, they seek new individuals interested in stepping into roles to be part of this commission. Currently, the commission has four active members with a strong desire to expand its team.
To support this initiative, John will email the Cabinet to provide an overview of the commission’s purpose and highlight its current needs.
The next Synod Implementation Cabinet Meeting will be in January or February 2025 at the Pastoral Centre.