Pre-consultation phase

This preparatory phase from Advent 2000 to Pentecost 2001 included the following:

• Synod Preparatory Commission of some 25 members was established.
• Seven working groups were set up by the Preparatory Commission -- Directory; Budget; Prayer & Liturgy; Education, Communications & Media; Processes & Procedures; Logistics, Venue & Hospitality; Research & Writing.

Mr Peter Carius
Executive Officer
Office of the Synod
• A synod office was opened to provide day to day support for the synodal process.
• A synod website was launched for the dissemination of news and documents.
• Twelve consultation streams were announced -- Priests; Parish/Deanery; Members of Religious Institutes; Catholic Health (including People with Disability) and Educational Institutions (including Primary & Secondary Systemic and Religious Institute Schools, Parents and Friends Associations); Indigenous Catholics; Ethnic Communities; Catholic Organisations and Renewal Movements; Archdiocesan Boards, Committees, Commissions & Councils; Archdiocesan Vicariate Staff; Young People (including young people in Schools and Tertiary Institutions); Catholic Tertiary Institutes; Parish Pastoral Ministers & Parish Staff.
• Documentation was prepared and distributed to facilitate discussion of Synod Issues and reporting for each of the consulktation streams.

In March 2001 Archbishop Bathersby wrote inviting the clergy and people of the Archdiocese into the consultation phase of the Synod, which was to occur between Pentecost Sunday 2001, and Pentecost Sunday 2002.

DOCUMENTATION