Introduction
The Diocese of East Anglia is facing a crisis of pastoral provision. Bishop Peter is consulting the faithful throughout the diocese in a synodal process to help discern how best to address this.
Please reflect upon, pray and talk about, and respond to each of the three questions (there is NO LIMIT to the length of responses), and return them by email to the parish office: hunstantonparish@rcdea.org.uk or to the box provided in the entrance of either OLSE or St Cecilia’s.
Many parishioners have asked for more information and help in answering the questions. So on FRIDAY, 13TH DECEMBER, between 3:00pm and 4:00pm, OLSE will be open for parishioners to meet and talk over the questions, their doubts and concerns.
The deadline for receiving responses is Sunday15th December. These responses will then be collated, and an open meeting will be held on Saturday January 11th 2025 at 10.30am to present and finalise the summary response (including adjustments if necessary). The summary response will then be submitted by Canon Peter to the Bishop.
It is crucial that our voice as a parish is heard in the face of the potential crisis of sacramental and pastoral provision across the Diocese. Bishop Peter is clear in stating that the parishes operate and exist as part of the local Church of the Diocese, and not independently as parishes. This means that decisions taken will take into account not only the circumstances local to the parish, or the deanery, but to the wider Diocesan situation. It’s vitally important for the future of our community that we make our reality and dreams for the parish known through this consultation.