by Gemma Lamarra

God can take the worst of our experiences and transform and redeem them.  That is what I feel is happening through Catholic lay networks and organisations that are springing up throughout the world. (Scottish Laity Network; Root and Branch; We are Church International; Future Church, Be the Change; For The Innocents; and many more.)  Many of these networks were created by people who were motivated by negative experiences to challenge the current system.   Clericalism was the root of most of the issues and out of love for our Church, people came together to try and change things.  I am one of those people and my network is the Scottish Laity Network. (SLN)

The passion and energy of these groups has largely shifted from trying to change the injustices within the church to becoming the church we would like to see.  We now have groups of lay and clergy worldwide finding ways to be an inclusive, compassionate and humble church that walks with and learns from the poor, oppressed and abused, and from each other. These groups include many clergy and religious who work with us as equals in our common mission to bring the Good News to those who need to hear it.

I am fortunate enough to be representing the SLN in Rome.  At the same time as the official Synod on Synodality takes place, I will be attending both the Spirit Unbounded event, live in Rome – Human Rights in the Emerging Catholic Church and the We are Church International 2-day conference. These events will give a platform and voice to the poor, oppressed and abused as well as hearing from experts in Catholic Social Teaching on a variety of issues, including justice and peace, migration and care for our common home.  Online events will run from 8 -14 October.

Gemma Lamarra is a retired teacher and core member of SLN.