Parishioners of the Sacred Heart Parish comprising Delaford, Goodwood, Roxborough and Speyside, all gathered together for discussions from 9.15 a.m. for our first Parish Assembly on Sunday, October 8.

Deborah de Rosia, Administrator, Sacred Heart Parish welcomed all present. She explained the Synod process. She said that Synod was a gathering of the entire Church to reflect on the Church’s life.

She also reminded us of the members of the parish who attended the 2003 Synod session, and the topics discussed. She also reminded us that there are five vicariates in the archdiocese and Tobago is a part of the Northern Vicariate.

After the first Synod session, structures were put in place – the Commissions, Secretariats and Councils were formed. Commissions are headed by Episcopal Vicars (priests) and laypersons (delegates).

In 2005, there was a second gathering of the Church where it was decided that every parish should have a Parish Assembly by September 30, 2006. The Assembly must reflect on three areas – Catechetics, Family Life and Catholic Education.

Three speakers addressed the topics for the day – Total Parish Catechetics – Benedict Job, Catholic Education – Casmir Reid, and Family Life – Solah Clovis. Their presentations were ten minutes each, after which the participants went into groups for discussions arising from the three areas of pastoral responsibilities.

The group discussion dealt with: (1) What have we been doing? (2) What are the challenges we face? (3) The way forward. (4) Summary.

After discussions and reporting from the groups, the “way forward” in these three areas were looked at and prioritised:

1. Study
2. Setting up of a Family Life Unit
3. The need to have improved use of technology – radio and television, preparation of tracts
4. Use of children and young people to dramatise the Word of God
5. Retreats

Coming out of “The Way Forward”, committees were set up for the following activities – Christmas Social, Family Life Unit (FLU) and Technology. 
It was indeed a blessed day and a day well spent together as a parish community. The day ended with a Eucharistic service.