Over four weeks in May, the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation Melbourne hosted a lecture series exploring Christian leadership for the 21st-century context.

 

Rev. Dr Max Vodola, Head of Department of Church History at the Catholic Theological College Melbourne, explored in week 3 the topic of Sensus Fidei: From Vatican II to Pope Francis. Drawing on the history of the church, Fr Max explained the ongoing significance of the Second Vatican Council and why Pope Francis believes that "the sensus fidei is a vital resource for the new evangelisation to which the Church is strongly committed in our time." (Sensus Fidei, In the Life of the Church, 2014, n.2)

 

 

• As you ponder the expression Sensus Fidei, the sense of the faithful, what images or words come to your mind that express what it means?
• Fr Max names as one of the Council’s greatest gifts "the recovery of the sacramental character of Baptism". Can you share a word or image to show (explain, illustrate) your personal call as priest, prophet and king?
• What are your thoughts about the principle in Roman law that says "what affects everyone, should be discussed and approved by all"?
• In Evangelli Gaudium (no. 33) Pope Francis invites us to "abandon the complacent attitude that says we have always done it this way…" What attitudes or approaches are most important for us to do this? This is especially timely as we participate in the Plenary Council listening sessions where we are being invited to be part of "…a wide and realistic pastoral discernment”. 
• One of the greatest challenges is to enact the Pope’s emphasis on a "theology of the peripheries". Can you brainstorm some groups who fall into our peripheries? How might we reach out and include them in our listening sessions?
• What do you think are some of the social and cultural changes that the Church in Australia is currently facing? 
• What ideas or attitudes may we need to let go of if we are to follow Archbishop Coleridge’s assertion that "It can no longer be business as usual”?