Diocese of Northampton- Becoming a Local Listener
To make the Synod happen across our diocese, we need  people to answer Pope Francis’ call.  Conversations can be held in parishes or schools, in local Catholic groups, or around kitchen tables.  They can be  organised and facilitated groups, or informal chats.

Listening is at the heart of the Synod process.  With gracious, active listening, everyone involved is brought closer to the movement of the Holy Spirit.  How can we listen with all our hearts?  How do we make sure that no-one is left out?

We know that people are very busy, especially at this time of year.  So we are asking you to get involved in a particular and limited way.  Local listeners will be our key gatherers, the hands and ears of the synod process.  We are asking each one to organise either one group or a couple of individual conversations.  Groups could be a formal parish meeting, the group that you’re already involved in, or friends, family or others on the margins.   It could be a group of school mums, baptismal or first communion parents, old folks in a nursing home, the young people in your parish or school, a group in a prison. The Pope has particularly asked for existing structures, such as parish councils and pastoral area councils to take part. Once you’ve had your conversation, write up your notes, and submit them via the portal on the website (coming soon).  Local listeners will also be invited to take part in the final assembly.

To find out more, come along to our webinar on 1st November, which will explore our diocesan process in more detail. https://synod_webinar.eventbrite.co.uk

Register your interest in being a local listener here: (email going to either synod@northamptondiocese.com or avril@northamptondiocese.com)

Come along to our training session on 6th November, 1-4pm, St Mary’s Woburn Sands, to explore what being a local listener will mean. https://synod_listening.eventbrite.co.uk

Earlier in the year many of us signed the CAFOD petition at Mass joining the thousands of other CAFOD supporters urging Boris Johnson to show leadership at the ‘COP26’ climate talks this week they were passed to Number 10 by senior faith leaders.

The representatives from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu groups delivered a message to Downing Street on 18 October on behalf of faith communities which included demands for action from parishes and schools across England and Wales.

The message from the faith leaders told the Prime Minister he has “a unique position to lead the world in tackling the climate crisis” with the Glasgow summit less than two weeks away.

A global day of action is planned for November 6th with a march in support of the call for action starting at 11am in London until about 4:30pm.

Interested in joining the march? Click on the button below to register your interest – and drop us a line through the Cluster office and we can travel down to London together.

• Robertino Sortino whose Funeral takes place on 27th October
• Peter Kumadi whose funeral takes place on 29th October at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone
• Ian Ward whose Funeral will take place on 12th November at St Mary's Church.
• Karen McCormack whose Funeral will take place on 12th November at St Edward's Church.

Oliver’s Progress in formation to the Permanent Diaconate

You may recall that Oliver Larkin started the formation course to the Permanent Diaconate last year at St Mary’s College, Oscott. Last weekend, Oliver was admitted to Candidacy for Ordination as Deacon during Mass within the chapel at Oscott. The course lasts 4 years in total and involves one Saturday per month of tuition plus home study and assignments.

What is a Permanent Deacon?
Deacons have existed in the Church from its earliest days. They are referred to in the New Testament and in many of the writings of the very early Church. Since Vatican II the role of the Deacon has been defined as: ‘the service of the liturgy, of the Gospel and of works of charity’. Deacon Jon and Deacon Klaus serve our Cluster of parishes in Christ the King and St Bede’s.

So what is Candidacy?
Candidacy is a rite which takes place during seminary formation, by which the Church recognises the student as worthy of being ordained.Fr Francis, in his role as both parish Priest and Director of the Permanent Diaconate within the Diocese, together with a small team of “formators”, supported Oliver and made a recommendation to the Bishop to approve Oliver’s progress to the next stage of his journey.

What happens now?
Oliver has another almost 3 years of study, prayer, and formation and, please God, will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate by the Bishop in the Summer of 2024 for service in the parish of St Augustine. Please pray for Oliver, his wife Natalie and family, as he continues to answer the call of God.

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