Issue Nr 56, April 2009

Newsletter

Priests and People:
Post Mission Gathering

by Amanda Williams

The success of a party is that no one wants to go home and the success of the
first Priests and People Post Mission Gathering was that we felt it was over too
quickly.

24 hours was not nearly long enough for all we had to share - stories, visions,
prayers, meals - together. Its real success as a new venture ( a pilot scheme ) will be if those animated and challenging conversations in groups and pairs continues after the “goodbyes” and “ God blesses” of Tuesday afternoon. Given the range ,
speed and ease of modern communication technology, it shouldn't!t be too difficult…

Mission is a great time for sowing seeds. Post-Mission is the reaping and gathering
of harvest. The time of fruits.

Whatever fruit the future brings to the 7 parishes that attended this first postmission gathering, the 2 half days together was very positive both spiritually and practically.

Following the Pre-Mission Gathering format at SENT the session began with welcome in the lounge before sharing an excellent lunch, giving everyone a chance to meet and unwind after, in some cases, a long journey. What of course was new about this welcoming was that not only Cath (Pre-Mission leader) knew the guests but also the other Sion mission team members. This made the reunion (hopefully!) more joyful.

Greeted, settled in their rooms and well-fed the “priests and people” then assembled in the conference room for an informative and challenging talk by Michelle. Her subject “Christifideles Laici, role of the laity in the life of the Church - empowering the laity to take up the missionary call of the Church”, had particular authority and impact as Michelle herself is a member of the Pontifical
Council of the Laity and was visiting us for a pit-stop in between international events. Her input included a workshop session, with group discussions and lively feedback.

This was followed by evening prayer in SENT chapel and another large meal. After
dinner, far from being half asleep however, a very spirited session explored “visions for the parish”. In the same style as Pre-Mission Gathering the parish groups drew up a shield summarising their pre-mission situation, actual mission response and vision for the future.

They then presented their shields with great verve. One - rather beautiful - point which arose was how parish catering teams had risen to and been enriched by the task of feeding Sion missioners over the 2 weeks! It was obvious that the different parishes had much in common, shared difficulties, weaknesses, strengths and aspirations. This promised very fruitful inter-parish informal discussions and sharing for the rest of the gathering time.

A promise which sprang into realisation in a relaxed and friendly social in the front lounge, where crisps abounded and wine (less owning to Lent!) flowed. At about 10 o!clock Compline was recited in the chapel - optional but very well attended - and then many returned to continue their conversations and finish off the crisps. The parish groups were inter-mingled and everyone was talking to new friends - shared friendship, shared experiences, shared hopes for proclaiming the Good News.

At 7.30 on Tuesday morning optional Adoration found practically everyone back in
chapel, kneeling before the Real Presence of Jesus - the Lord and Master who has called us here.

After breakfast and Morning Prayer there were 3 seminars on :
- Prayer and parish life.
- Discipleship and formation in the parish.
- The older generation.
Being one of the last group category myself I chose that one, which was really inspiring and made me wish I was at least 20 years on!). The 3 groups gave a short feed back and then after coffee the last session “So what!s next?” looked, as the title supposes, into the future.

This session, too, was full of enthusiasm and optimism. If a problem shared is a problem halved, so a vision shared is a vision doubled - trebled! And we knew that over all presides the Holy Spirit.

Fittingly our brief, happy time together culminated in the celebration of the Eucharist. Fr. Bill Nix, priest of Brentwood Cathedral and a good friend of Sion, presided over the Mass, flanked by all “our priests”. “Welcome”, he said to all assembled, “I'm your local boy!”.

So lunch over, night cases packed, cars maneuvering in a too small car park, ready
to face the M25 or worse, and it was all over. As I said at the beginning we were all sad. Too short, we!re just getting going …

But it!s not really sad.

Of course we!re just getting going …

Post mission goes on for ever …

With and without the Sion Community, the Kingdom of God in your parish communities, in our land, for ever …