On 26th January 2004, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Committee for Marriage and Family Life, launched a Listening 2004 process on family life today.
	Homepage
Launch of Initiative:	CCS Press (pdf) Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor (26/1/2004)
Salford Pastoral Letter:	Pastoral Letter Bishop Terence Brain. Printer versions: [pdf] [ms word]
National website:	www.listening2004.org.uk Bishops' Conference website.
Questionnaire:	Brochure (pdf) To complete online: [ Salford Diocese Questionnaire ]
Newsletter:	A Special Issue (April 2004) of Centreview (pdf) gives all the news to date.
Noticeboard Poster:	Poster (pdf) Please print copies for you noticeboards.
Prayer resources:	Listening 2004 Prayer. Printer versions: [pdf] [ms word]
	Prayers for Conversations Printer versions: [pdf] [ms word]
	Some prayers for Listening 2004 Northampton Diocese (weblink)
Resource material:	Presentation Slides (MS Powerpoint format) From 6th March Co-ordinators Meeting at Salford Cathedral
	Celebrating International Day of Families Saturday 15th May 2004 [Press release (pdf)] Resources for celebrants and families: Celebrant's order of service (pdf) Families handout - scripture reflection (pdf) Families handout - church life & mission (pdf) Further suggestions (pdf)

Every Diocese in England and Wales is being encouraged to engaged in a listening and conversation process around the themes of Families in the world, Families in the home and Families in the Church. The fruits of the conversations will be shared at a diocesan event to be held in each area. The Bishops are also encouraging a review of preparation for marriage that is undertaken at Diocesan level.

To assist the process each Diocese will be distributing a Listening 2004 resource leaflet to families and organisations to aid the conversation process. The responses will be collated and used to help highlight themes for the diocesan event and to inform the Bishops on the hopes, joys and struggles of family life in the country.

[ Associated reading: 'The Silent Saints' - 25th January 2004 ]

In the Salford Diocese a small working group has been established to oversee the process at the request of Bishop Brain. The Committee is Monsignor Mark Davies, Joy Wanless, Olive Duddy, Fr. Bryan Cunningham and Kevin Flanagan.

Bishop Brain has prepared a pastoral letter to be read in all parishes. Each Dean has been requested to invite people from their deanery to act as coordinators for the process. The Coordinators have met twice with the working group to prepare for the process. The Diocesan Listening process will run until the end of June.

Diocesan organisations are being encouraged to engage in the process from their own perspective. Information is being sent to them with an invitation to take part. Individuals can also respond directly via the web site or returning the form to St. Antony's Centre.

Over the summer the outcome of the conversations held in the diocese will be collated and a Diocesan Day will be held on October 23rd 2004. On the day Bishop Terence Brain will be joined by Bishop Hine, the Chair of the Bishops Conference Marriage and Family Life Committee.

Salford Diocesan contact for the process is:

Kevin Flanagan
Listening 2004
St. Antony's Centre
Eleventh Street
Trafford Park
Manchester M17 1JF

Tel : 0161 848 9173
Fax: 0161 872 9480

Salford Diocesan Family Forum will be actively encouraging the process to develop and providing opportunities for area discussions and networking for those engaged in family life.

If you would like to know more or to be included on the mailing list, please forward your contact details.