Nov
9
The Preparatory Committee met with me present to consider all the proposals made by the priests themselves for the ‘Year for Priests’. They thought it would be a good thing to organise them according to 4 different areas: Pastoral, Human, Intellectual and Spiritual. We chose a number of activities which we found more important to start with in 2010. We did not discard the others which could be taken up later on as we envisage to go on with formation even after the ‘Year for Priests’.
Under Pastoral we chose a ‘Family Ministry’ workshop to be held in January or February and a ‘Health Ministry’ workshop to be organised in June. Under Human we chose the topic of ‘Community Living’ which would entail relationships with fellow priests, sisters, the larger parish community and the environment to be organised during March. Under Intellectual we propose a study of some Church documents as ‘Pastores Dabo Vobis’ and Caritas et Veritate’ in the form of a workshop in the beginning of May next to some Study days to be organised on deanery level. Under Spiritual we envisage to organise a 3-day meeting with 2 days dedicated to Scripture and one day to ‘Vocation Animation’ where also religious men and women would be invited by the end of July. The further planning and preparation including taking contact with animators and speakers was shared out among members of the preparatory committee me included.
One activity has been planned already for November this year: a ‘Fun Day’ preceding our final presbytery council meeting for this year. Planned for next year is an enlarged Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting where all priests will be invited with as major topic ‘Good Governance’.
+ Jan De Groef
Bishop of Bethlehem
