The Synod Implementation Commission of the Archdiocese of Malta yesterday presented a report about its past four years’ labour and the way forward for its work.

Mgr Charles Cordina, the Archbishop’s pastoral secretary and commission president, said the committee was set up following the requests made in the concluding meetings of the Synod, which was part of the Maltese Church’s strategy for the year 2000 published in 1998.

The Synod officially started with a pontifical high Mass on 29 September 1999 and came to a close on 7 June 2003 with the establishment of the commission with the aim of helping the Archbishop with the implementation of the Synod. Its documents were published by the end of 2004.

The commission is especially geared on promoting the values that came out from the Synod, drafting of implementation programmes, identifying people who can implement the different aspects, oversee and advise on its implementation.

The committee is made up of people who reflect the different realities of the Church – parishes, congregations, schools, family and youth. It has met 52 times at an average of once a month.

Mgr Cordina said the Synod has instilled the need for careful planning, which has been carried out through two pastoral plans covering 2005-2006 and 2007-2008. The commission is also helping out parishes devise their own plan in line with the diocese’s own.

Commission Secretary Fr Joe Galea Curmi said that in the past four years, the commission has succeeded in implementing a good number of suggestions that have stemmed from the Synod. These include the setting up of an institute for pastoral formation, and commissions regarding the environment, justice and peace, culture, the family and youth.

In addition, the pastoral units of various parishes have been clustered, there have been initiatives on enlivening the animation of Sunday Mass while parishes are studying the reports that came out after the Sunday Mass attendance census. The diocese has also published its vision statement on inclusion which includes practical tips for both the diocese and parishes.

Fr Galea Curmi reported also on the work currently being carried out, including the setting up of a sports ethic commission as well as the children’s diocesan commission.

Commission moderator Anna Vella noted that work has been done on a constant basis, targeted at different levels, and a greater sense of accountability has been introduced.

Dr Vella said future challenges called for greater coordination between the various commissions involved, a vision for pastoral planning and pastoral formation spread over various levels.