by John Campbell

Our parishes, Sacred Heart & Saint Lucy’s Cumbernauld, have used questionnaires, small group meetings, larger group reflections and Sunday homilies, all to look at what it is we are being invited to be part of in the synod on synodality, 2023-2024.

Firstly, all of us: people, deacons and priests are delighted that we are even being consulted. This is a ‘huge mood change’ in our Catholic community, as one member of the Archdiocese commented in her response to the Instrumentum Laboris, which was issued through the Diocesan newspaper, Flourish, and the diocesan synodal web page. The invitation to respond came from Bishop Brian McGee, who will represent us at the Synod in Rome. Bishop Brian is keen to make sure he correctly represents the deliberations and discernment of the people of Scotland.

A huge mood change indeed. We are trying to be a more listening church. Of course we can’t simply wait until Rome listens more, it is up to us in our own parishes, church organisations, groups, sodalities and gatherings to become more listening.  We are the church and it starts here with us.

John Campbell is parish priest of Sacred Heart & St Lucy’s, Cumbernauld, in the Archdiocese of Glasgow.