Bishop David has responded to the Diocesan Assembly which took place on 15 July in a video where he shares his reflections, thoughts and hopes for the future. 

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Our diocesan Assembly is a response to last year’s Synod listening process, and was promised in the Diocesan Synod report.  It is happening on Saturday 15 July 2023 at Thornton College.  At the Assembly we will have the opportunity to look again at the main themes arising from the Synod listening, moving to concrete actions as we discern the future of our diocese together.  400 delegates will be brought together from every Catholic community across the diocese, by invite only in order to ensure a diversity of ages, ethnicities and ministries.  Delegates will be asked to take part in four sessions of preparation from late May, organised in pastoral areas, with a zoom option on a Saturday morning.

Assembly Insight

Bishop David launched the Assembly with a pastoral letter entitled 'Pilgrims of Hope' on 23 April, as we began 12 weeks of preparation.

Week 12 | 9 July

Our Assembly takes place next Saturday!

Join us for the live-streamed opening and closing sessions, and look out for the feedback coming back afterwards. Find the programme for the day and a link for the live stream here: https://northamptondiocese.org/assembly/.

Five working parties were established by Bishop David to look at the main themes which arose from our Synod listening exercise last year – Women’s Ministry, Life of the Priest, Finances for Mission, Reaching the Peripheries and Lay Engagement in Decision Making. The working party reflection papers and webinar recordings are available to everyone. You can respond online to any of the issues raised in the reports, or elsewhere in the Synod listening, using the portal. All input will be read by the Assembly team and working parties. The link is: https://northamptondiocese.org/diocese-focus-synod/.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation.
1 Peter 2:9

We pray for the Holy Spirit to come in power on our diocese as we move towards our Assembly, that each step on the journey may be blessed with careful listening, speaking and discerning.

Our parish delegates are Anne Benoist, Christine Cornwell, Lester D’Souza and Paul Rayner.
Fr John McGowan and Joan Barham are delegates for the South Bucks Pastoral Area.

Please pray the Holy Spirit will be with everyone gathered for the Assembly, enabling them to listen to how God reveals himself to us for the future of our diocese.  You will find the Assembly Prayer card in the church porch.

For a Synodal Church - Communication | Participation | Mission

For more information about the Synod in our diocese, please visit and explore northamptondiocese.org/assembly/.

To find out more about the global Synod process, please go to www.synod.va/en.html.

Click here to read the Diocese of Northampton Synod Response.

Click here to read St Joseph's Parish Submission.