The New Zealand Catholic Bishops are inviting people to use the questionnaire as an opportunity to add their "voice" to the global discussion which began last year.

Completed questionnaires must be returned by 9 March.

Responses may be made by individuals or by groups.

Click here for the online questionnaire. Follow the instructions on the Bishops' Conference website.

A Word version of the questionnaire is also available on the Bishops' Conference website.

This hard copy version can also be used to respond to the questionnaire. The completed questionnaire can be emailed to Simone Olsen, Communications Adviser, communications@nzcbc.org.nz

The fourth session of the Synod takes place October 4-25, 2015.

In an invitation sent to parishes the Bishops said, "We are acutely aware of the many people who in their hearts consider themselves Catholic but are not regularly at Church."

"Please encourage these family members and friends to participate."

"Also of particular interest to us are those who see themselves as beyond the Church: perhaps some divorced and remarried, or gay women and men."

"We urge you to share your experiences through the questionnaire. No-one walks beyond the reach of the Good Shepherd."

• Click here to read the Bishops' press release.
• Click here for a full copy of the Document from the Holy See
  [THE VOCATION AND MISSION OF THE FAMILY IN THE CHURCH AND CONTEMPORARY WORLD 2014]

Source

• Supplied: NZCBC
• Image: catholicexchange.com

That's what the synod's general secretary, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, told the Catholic News Service.

The extraordinary synod from October 5-19 will be attended by presidents of bishops' conferences, heads of eastern Catholic churches and Vatican officials.

There will also be a dozen or more voting members named by the Pope, three priests chosen by the Union of Superiors General, a dozen or more expert advisers, and about a dozen representatives of other Christian churches.

Also present will be up to 30 observers, more than half of whom will be married couples - who will be encouraged to address the assembly, Cardinal Baldisseri said.

The big change from past synods is that the voting members of the extraordinary synod will be asked to submit their presentations in writing at least two weeks before the meeting opens, the cardinal said.

"This is not to limit the discussion, but to help organise it," he said.

The report opening the synod will be a first summary of the bishops' submissions, instead of a rephrasing of the synod working document as in past synods, he added.

During the first week, instead of reading their presentations, the bishops will have "three or four minutes" in summary - focusing only on one theme - and, perhaps, include ideas or clarifications that have come from listening to their brother bishops, he said.

As the bishops address the assembly, the synod's opening report will be modified to reflect the discussion.

At the end of the first week, the revised report will be presented to the assembly.

The second week of the synod will be taken up mainly by work in small groups organised according to language, Cardinal Baldisseri said.

The small groups will work, theme by theme, on amending the summary report.

This is likely to be used as the working document for the 2015 synod.

Cardinal Baldisseri cautioned that decisions about the Church's pastoral approach to families are not expected until after the 2015 synod.

Sources

• Catholic News Service
• Synod Working Document
• Image: Catholic News Agency

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops have put the questions from the Extraordinary Synod document in an online survey format so that Catholics can contribute to the discussion on marriage, the family and related topics.

Archbishop John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, says it is a valuable opportunity for Catholics in Aotearoa New Zealand to contribute to the discussion on marriage, family and related topics by taking time to answer the online survey

He says the bishops would like to hear from as many people as possible whether people would describe themselves as practising or non-practising or anything in between. It is especially important to them that young people contribute their views to the discussion

Archbishop Dew says people to contribute to as many or as few questions as they wish

Responses may be made anonymously it so desired

The Bishops have asked people to circulate the link to the online survey to any one they know who may like to contribute so that it can reach as many people as possible.

The closing date is before the closing date Monday, 13 January 2014.

Supplied: New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference

Image: NCR