Bishop's Advent Pastoral Letter - 2009

As we begin this time of Advent, we set out again to discover the place of Jesus in our lives.

As this new season begins, so does the life of our Diocese begin anew, as we plan ahead following our recent Diocesan Assembly. With this Pastoral Letter, I am pleased to share with you the results of the Assembly.

I am grateful to a small group of people who were deeply involved in the Diocesan Assembly, who have identified the common threads running through the ideas, suggestions and recommendations arising from the discussions and workshops.

The following key areas have been identified.

- Communication between Diocesan agencies and parishes
- Formation and education of groups and individuals to carry out their roles in service of God and others
- Support, encouragement and recognition for all people working in parish communities. Planning for future action in the Diocese.
- Formation of new agencies at parish / diocesan level to deal with issues such as family life, young people and social justice.

To this end I have decided to establish:

l. A Diocesan Pastoral Planning Group to work with parishes and agencies to develop and implement a five year pastoral plan, to be reviewed annually, based on the directions provided by the Diocesan Assembly.

This Pastoral Plan will be based on an attitude of gratefulness to a loving God who has extravagantly showered gifts on our Diocese. Our gratefulness will be reflected as we use our gifts, as good stewards, to glorify God and serve others in our community. Stewardship as a way of life will be at the heart of diocesan planning.

2. A Diocesan College of Adult Faith Formation and Education to coordinate the provision of faith formation and education by all agencies across the Diocese. This college would not be a building, but a collegial group of people, commissioned by me, to coordinate and communicate the opportunities available and delivered through the college for all adults - from adults who wish to upgrade their knowledge of the Catholic faith and Scripture, to adults who choose to undertake academic studies in Theology, or to pursue courses offered for the permanent diaconate.

The Pastoral Planning Group will:

- Work with parishes to develop the plan
- Support and encourage and resource parishes in their own planning and action.
- Visit parishes on a regular basis to consult, support and offer help as requested.
- Provide a 'face to face' encounter with all parishes of the Diocese.
- Use the Assembly recommendations as a basis for future action and planning.

The Post Assembly Taskforce proposes five different strands for Pastoral Plans

- Mission and Outreach
- Formation and Education
- Liturgy and Prayer
- Identity and Community
- Leadership and Structure

I ask you to take with you today a small brochure (click here) which presents the outcomes of the Assembly and suggests a clear way forward. I am confident that God's Spirit will continue to guide us as we 'fan into a flame' the gift God has given us, not a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of Power, Love and of Self Control.

I pray that this holy season of Advent and the festival of Christmas will renew in us all the love of Jesus Christ and our willingness to walk as His disciples.


Yours sincerely


+Brian Heenan
Bishop of Rockhampton


November 2009