Amoris Laetitia
An overnight study event
for Priests & Deacons
will be held at Hothorpe Hall
on 15 - 16 February 2018
The Holy Father’s suggestion of a gradual approach when
reading Amoris Laetitia is summed up in the title of Chapter 8: “Accompanying, Discerning and Integrating
Weakness … ”
We are encouraged to
avoid knee-jerk reactions in order to avoid rash judgments and to open
ourselves to deep reflection and sincere conversations filled with mercy.
What we are speaking of is a process of accompaniment and discernment
which ‘guides the faithful to an awareness of their situation before God.
Conversation with the priest, in the internal forum, contributes to the
formation of a correct judgment on what hinders the possibility of
a fuller
participation in the life of the Church and on what steps
can foster it and
make it grow. Given that gradualness is not
in the law itself (cf. Familiaris consortio, 34), this discernment
can never prescind from the Gospel demands of truth
and charity, as proposed by
the Church.’
(Amoris Laetitia 300; Relatio Finalis 86)
Clergy ongoing formation:
- 4 December
2016: Electronic access to a topical index and a scriptural index will be
provided along with the full text of Amoris
Laetitia from the relevant OGF website page. It is our hope that the
provision of both a topical index and a scriptural index as navigation tools will
alleviate the challenge of taking-in a 53,000-word document especially for
those with time constraints.
- 8 January
2017:A study of Chapter 4 is provided here and developed by following three strands—Pastoral implication; Scriptural
reflection; and Canonical commentary. It is accompanied by questions
and themes for individual reflection, group discussion or deanery papers. Some presentation tools are
offered to help the priest or deacon lead a parish group or deanery discussion.
- 19 March
2017: A study of Chapter 8 using the same structure above. Some art work
to aid spiritual reflection or as an additional resource for group discussions
will be offered.
- 25 April
2017: Day conference on aspects of the
exhortation, particularly on the reception of the sacraments for those in
irregular marital situations and guidance on some of the document’s key terms
and concepts such as: discernment, integration, gradualness, conscience, and
mercy.
- Early 2018: Accompaniment, mercy, highlighting the
strengths of the family and the joy of love, and the importance of allowing Amoris Laetitia to inform all
ministries. Offerings for the study of the remaining chapters.
Links to:
Full text of Amoris Laetitia
hereand Topical and Scriptural Index
here
