Our Vision
To live the joy of the Gospel and share it with the world.
Our Mission
The Diocesan Synod of 1992-93, acting on behalf of the diocesan
community, resolved to embrace and promote the Vatican II
understanding of the Church's mission contained in the following:
The Church, because it is the People of God and the Body of
Christ enlivened by his Spirit, is called to be a sign and instrument
of communion with God and of unity among all people (LG1).
The Church exists to promote the Kingdom of God on earth (LG5).
This it does by proclaiming Christ – the Good News of God's love
for all people – and by working in the world for justice, peace
and reconciliation.
This mission finds its source and summit in the Eucharist (LG11)
which, when lived in everyday life and celebrated in the liturgy, is
both the living symbol of Christ's life, death and resurrection and
celebrates the deepest identity of the Church as a communion of
life, love and truth (LG9).
All those who, through baptism, have been initiated into the
community of the Church, have the right and duty to participate in
its life and mission as a response to the Spirit in their lives (LG3).
We are called to live out the commandment of Jesus: 'Love one
another as I have loved you' (Jn 15:12).
Pastoral Goals
The Synod, acting on behalf of the diocesan community, accepted the following as our diocesan pastoral goals:
- That we, the Church of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, be recognised as a visible and credible sign and instrument of communion with God and of unity among all people (LG1).
- That in every parish of the diocese all the baptised have the opportunity and formation to make their contribution to the life and mission of the Church.
- That all members of the diocesan community − young and old, poor and rich, weak and strong, clergy, religious and laity, individuals, families and institutions − be recognised as working together to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of God's people.
These goals, vision and mission were underpinned by a set of theological principles which the Diocesan Synod used as the basis of our life together and our pastoral planning activities.
