Timetable for Diocesan Discernment Process
| Task | Purpose | Timescale | Completed |
| Consult Clergy | Initial discussions re discernment process | May - June 2022 | June 2022 |
| Form Working Group | Organise process | August 2022 | August 2022 |
| Launch Process | Inform & encourage
entire diocese |
First Sunday of
Advent 2022 |
November 2022 |
| Spiritual Preparation | Open people to discern | Dec 22 - Jan 2023 | |
| Bishop’s Parish Visits | Bishop shares his vision while listening | Dec 22 -Jan 2023 | |
| Consultation Phase 1 | Discern God’s Will for
our diocese |
February-April
2023 |
|
| Diocesan Collation | Synthesise contributions | May 2023 | |
| Consultation Phase 2 | Our resources | June-August 2023 | |
| Diocesan Collation | Synthesise contributions | September 2023 | |
| Consultation Phase 3 | How to fulfil our mission with our resources | October 2023- | |
| Diocesan Collation | Synthesise contributions | After Phase 3 concludes | |
| Decide & implement | Apply discernment | After collation | |
| Further discernment | During and post implementation | Ongoing | N/A |
Phase 3 consultation is presently open ended as this third stage may take longer than three months. The issues may be multiple and complicated. However, having the phase open ended does not mean that it will run for longer than necessary but only ensuring sufficient time is provided.
There is a final phase entitled ‘Further Discernment’. This reflects the Pope’s desire that synodal reflection becomes a normal feature of Church life.