.....'in the mind
of many, the word 'religion' is associated with the depressing
externals of rules, dogmas and institutions, together with a series
of undesirable attitudes such as intolerance, control and hypocrisy.
By contrast, the word 'spirituality' evokes in the same people the
recognition of an inner life, peace, gentleness, sincerity and
unity. While we may feel that this is a false distinction, it
is one that is commonly made and is part of our current
predicament....'
from Position Paper of
Spirituality Committee of the Bishop's Conference of England and
Wales.
*
The Leicestershire
Spirituality Group is part of the Spirituality Networking Group set up
in Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocese in response to the Diocesan
Assembly.
BRIEF HISTORY
The
Nottingham Assembly drew attention to the need to look at spirituality
resources in the diocese.
2005 An Implementation Officer and 7 others
met monthly.
2005 The Implementation Officer represented the diocese
at Bishop Noble's conference in London. The needs everywhere were
similar and the conferences became annual. In Nottingham Diocese
parishes were visited to see what was available.
2007 30 parish
representatives met an Ignatian spiritual director. Three copies of a
booklet were sent to each parish compiled from responses from 70
parishes to a questionnaire.
2008 The booklet was highlighted at
Bishop Noble's conference.
2009 County groups became necessary, but
the core group maintained. A position paper was made available from the
Spirituality Committee of England and Wales. It is available from the
Liturgy Office:-
http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Prayer/Spirituality/Spirituality-Position-Paper.pdf
Page Updated 10.5.2012