ACTA North London plans pastoral council

A North London deanery pastoral council and a sharing of good practice in parishes were two proposals discussed by the North London A Call to Action (ACTA) group last Tuesday.

Representatives from six parishes in the Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey, Enfield and Barnet deaneries heard a report from ACTA’s first national Diocesan Leadership Seminar in Leeds in early May, attended by representatives of 15 dioceses.

The North London group welcomed the fact that Fr Marcus Stock, general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales, had represented the bishops at the meeting. It recognised that many good things are going on in parishes in the diocese in the spirit of Vatican II that deserve to be better known, and plans to collect and share information. "We are not a protest group," one member commented.

The group sees itself as part of the process of dialogue in the Church started by Pope Francis, especially by his decision to set up a commission of cardinals to collate ideas for the reform of the Roman Curia.

The North London group is a local response to the ACTA movement brought into being by an open letter from seven priests last June. The North London group defines itself as a local part of ACTA (A Call to Action), who wish to promote a spirit of genuine dialogue and solidarity among lay Catholics, priests and bishops in North London.

The ACTA Core Group will be meeting next week, and will discuss another national meeting, probably in the autumn. Further information will be available on the ACTA national website: www.acalltoaction.org.uk/

North London ACTA will have its next meeting on Friday 5 July at 7pm. at St Mellitus Church, Tollington Park, London N4 3AG. Representatives from other parishes are welcome.