The Vocation and Mission of the Family

in the Church and Contemporary World.

 Archbishop Eamon Martin has initiated in the Archdiocese of Armagh a period of reflection and discernment in preparation for the General Synod on the Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World which is to take place in October.

At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Synod in 2014, Pope Francis decided to make public the Relatio Synodi, the document which concluded the Synod’s work. At the same time he indicated that this document would be the Lineamenta, or the discussion template and pastoral inventory which prepares for the upcoming General Synod. This Lineamenta contains a series of questions aimed at generating an in-depth examination of the work initiated during the Extraordinary Synod, and calls for rethinking “with renewed freshness and enthusiasm, what revelation, transmitted in the Church’s faith, tells us about the beauty, role and dignity of the family (n4)”

Archbishop Eamon has asked the Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry (OPRFM) to co-ordinate reflections on the Lineamenta within the Archdiocese of Armagh. In the coming weeks, OPRFM will facilitate gatherings in our Pastoral Areas where members of Parish Pastoral Councils and other interested parties will be invited to offer responses to the many challenging questions posed in the Lineamenta.

Click here for the full text of the Lineamenta

Archbishop Eamon invites Parish Pastoral Councils to give particular attention to paragraphs 5, 6, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29.

The questions about the paragraphs can be found here. Marriage Questions – Synod

The dates and venues of the evenings of reflection in our Pastoral Areas is listed here.  Pastoral Area Synod talks

Any parties interested in receiving further information, or who wish to make personal submissions, are most welcome to do so and may contact the OPRFM directly at [email protected] or 042 9336649.