Over the years, I have worked in several dioceses and contexts. I’ve often heard brother priests say things like: “We don’t know where we’re going. We need vision, a plan. Are we here just to maintain a dying structure?”
The Church is Christ’s Body. It belongs to Him. His Holy Spirit leads us. Yet in His name, the bishop as shepherd has to set the priorities. For a diocese to flourish, the bishop has a responsibility, through prayer and consultation, to establish the direction of travel. As Fr Illo says, “flourish” here does not mean success, but fruitfulness. For a diocese to be transformed into an evangelising one, the bishop, clergy and faithful all need to become holy missionary disciples who joyfully place everything at the Lord’s service.
