Coleridge told the Catholic priests that changes were happening, that there would be more of them and that it was important to be prepared.

Coleridge suggested that ministry as a Catholic priest was not a case of 'goundhog day' nor an example of 'yesterday once more.'

Rather, Coleridge recommended that Catholic priests prepare themselves for the changes and "fasten their seatbelts."

In his keynote speech to the nearly 200 Catholic priests at the Assembly, the archbishop said the Catholic Church is experiencing an "Abrahamic" moment.

Just like the biblical Abraham who set out on a journey for God without knowing where he was going, New Zealand's Catholic priests are also on a journey where the destination is unclear, Coleridge said.

Spiritual vitality

"The spiritual vitality of the Church is found largely in our immigrant communities," the archbishop noted.

"The centre of gravity of the Church is passing to Africa, Asia and Latin America. We have a Pope from Argentina. It's fasten your seatbelts time, we are going somewhere and there is no way back."

Coleridge says that, while the shape the future will take is unclear, we can rely on faith.

"But the act of faith is that there is one who does know where it is all leading. We must keep our eyes and our ears on God. We have to be on the journey."

Diminishing numbers

Coleridge pointed out the logical consequences of the current situation for Catholics in New Zealand.

"We cannot sustain the current mode of provision of priests, with far fewer priests and fewer people," he said.

"The shortage of people is the real problem.

"There are far fewer people who identify with the Church or come to Mass.

"People like our schools. They ask why are our schools full and our churches empty?

"Institutionally we are diminished."

Coleridge described the problem as "corrosive in a unique way... we are almost afraid to look at the damage."

Administrative changes

The priests at the Assembly heard that New Zealand's Catholic priests' administrative burden is also more complex than formerly.

Coleridge told the Diocesan priests at the Assembly they need to be like Abraham and turn wandering into journeys.

He acknowledged journeying is hard work - but also pointed out it goes somewhere.

"The priest as pilgrim is someone who can say to all the wanderers, come on a journey.

"The priest in a diocese is also a settler. The priest has a parish, and people are the community. We have to put down roots in a particular place, a parish."

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

According to Fr James Mallon, it does not have to be this way.

Mallon, a Canadian priest, last week spoke to New Zealand's diocesan priests in Christchurch to explore what he calls "Divine Renovation."

The present century demands new models of ministry and new ways of engaging with society, he says.

"Divine Renovation exists to inspire and equip parishes to become missional."

The "Divine Renovation" programme exists through its network for parishes.

According to the Divine Renovation website, the movement has a goal to inspire and equip 35,000 parishes to become missional and within 10 years to bring 2 million people to Jesus.

Parishes who join the network are coached to move from "maintenance" mode to mission engagement.

As well as coaching, parishes can avail themselves of books, videos, conference workshops and retreats.

Divine Renovation also offers a free Podcast and its own YouTube Channel where the team explores leadership and parish renewal, and invites guests of the podcast to share their experience and expertise.

Mallon says "Divine Renovation" does not have all the answers, but it has many of the right questions.

"We've experienced first-hand what it's like to be a missional parish," he says on his website.

Mallon, along with the team at St Benedict Parish in Halifax, transformed their parish into a vibrant community of missionary disciples.

The national assembly of diocesan priests is held every five years.

The week's programme provided priests with a way to openly reflect on and discuss their own experiences in ministry and how pastoral life might be "renovated."

Sources

• Supplied
• James Mallon (Twitter)
• Divine Renovation
• Image: Supplied