Pope Francis convened an Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops last October. Its central theme is Family. In February 2014, Pope Francis wrote a Letter to Families in which he explained the reason for the synod.

The first meeting to address the many issues raised laid the foundations for the main session of the assembly which takes place in Rome from 4 to 25 October, 2015, to consider the topic: “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World.”

Again, Pope Francis has asked that as many people as possible would contribute to this important meeting by prayerful support and by responding with their views and ideas to a detailed guidance document which has been prepared (this is called in Latin “Lineamenta”).

This document and a letter was sent to bishops of the world by the Vatican in December. Bishop Buckley has written to all priests of the diocese asking for the document to me made available by the parish and asking that the Parish Assembly, in particular, consider the document and make a response.

The Lineamenta document will be made available to our Parish Assembly at its scheduled meeting this Monday eve. (Jan 26th) by email and print. The parish assembly will collate its response at the February meeting — in time to have a submission sent to Bishop Buckley by the March 1st deadline that he has set.

“I ask that you bring the Lineamenta to the attention of the Parish Pastoral Council/ Parish Assembly in your parish asking those who are members of these bodies to reflect on the important themes on the document. The Lineamenta state that they “are intended to raise questions and indicate points of view that will later be developed and clarified through reflection in the local Churches”. There are questions suggested at the end of the text and these can be used to “unpack” the text. In order to bring our minds to the issue of how we can assist people in seeing marriage as part of the “journey of faith”, I suggest that your parish group would reflect particularly on Questions 10, 11, 22, 31, 35, 40, 46. (The focus on particular suggested questions for particular groups is meant as an indicative guide; it is not meant to limit responses only to these questions.) Could I ask that you submit the fruit of your reflection/ feedback to the Diocesan Office here before 1st March, 2015 so that a response can be collated from this Diocese.” (—Bishop Buckley’s letter to clergy)

Other parishioners’ views?

The views of all parishioners are welcome. The input of the Parish Assembly is sought as a pastoral group representative of the parish but everyone is welcome to contribute.

Here’s how:

The full text (24 pages) of the Lineamenta document, which includes the guidance questions, can be read by clicking here.

Type or write your reponse/submission. Send it to Fr. Tom Hayes by email or post it to Parochial House, Enniskeane, Co Cork, not later than Feb 20th.

All responses will then be collated and forwarded with the collated response of the Parish Assembly to Bishop Buckley. Here, as he explained above, all the parish responses will be collated into a diocesan response which will be forwarded the secretariat of the synod in Rome.

Payer for the success of the Synod on the Family

(—written by Pope Francis)

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendour of true love,

to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

grant that our families too

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may families never again

experience violence, rejection and division:

may all who have been hurt or scandalized

find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the approaching Synod of Bishops

make us once more mindful

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,

and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.