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2026/2027 Scripture Initiative

Dioceses of Achonry & Elphin
2026/2027 Scripture Sharing Group Initiative

– a call for new facilitators

Introduction

There is a long-standing tradition in certain parishes of both the Achonry and Elphin dioceses of women and men taking time periodically to gather with friends, old and new, to engage and pray with passages of sacred scripture.

In more recent years, the Elphin diocese’s Pastoral & Faith Development Services  (PFDS herein) has provided resources, including study bibles, facilitator manuals and sets of relevant handouts, to parish-based groups open to undertaking a shared prayerful engagement with particular books of the bible, e.g. the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and The Letters of St. Paul.

Over recent months the PFDS have prepared a six-session resource to support engagement with the first ten chapters of the Gospel according to John.   This, along with sets of study bibles, will be available to parish and inter-parish groups in both dioceses from the 1st October.  It has also committed to making a second set of resources available in Lent 2027 to support each group complete their engagement with John’s Gospel.

On average fifteen parishes run with this initiative each year.  All are blessed in having women and men open to serving as their parish’s scripture initiative facilitator or facilitators (where two or more facilitators work together).

Invitation
Would  you be  willing to discuss with some friends and your parish priest the possibility of forming a similar group in your parish, and of either taking on, or proposing to one or two members of the  group, that they take on the facilitator’s role?

For its part, the diocese, through the PFDS, will provide initial training and mentoring and provide other relevant supports.

Before deciding we invite you to consider the following information.

Initiative Objectives

  1. To support participants draw close to God through a shared reading and pondering of  John’s Gospel
  2. To help participants toward a more wholesome understanding of John’s Gospel as an aid to encounter with God
  3. To stimulate learning and faith-enquiry in a gentle, light-hearted and non-threatening way
  4. To support short periods of scripture-based prayer (led and directed by group facilitators)
  5. To foster the bonds of friendship between Catholics and other people of goodwill who participate.

Time Commitment

Each of the 6 sessions (x2) are expected to last one hour, and possibly for one-and-a-quarter hours should the number of participants exceed fifteen.

Experience has also taught us that this and similar initiatives work best when all participants are open to giving one hour between weekly sessions to reading, pondering and reflecting on the part of the gospel that will be discussed at the beginning of the group’s next session.

Facilitators are asked to give an additional hour in terms of personal preparation for each session and to support their initial engagement we also plan to provide two afternoon or evening sessions of training / mentoring in advance of Session 1 in each parish.  These will be free-of-charge for participants.

Outline of Sessions

Session 1

  • Word of welcome and introductions
  • Introduction to this initiative and to John’s Gospel (notes provided)
  • Shared Reading and reflection on  a select passage from John’s Gospel (handout provided)
  • Conversation as to how this passage is ‘a word from God for us today’ (supported by questions given to facilitators)
  • Brief time of prayer

Session 2 – 6

  • Word of welcome
  • Conversation drawing on group members’ reading of a pre-agreed section of John’s Gospel, e.g. chapters 2 and 3
  • Shared reading and discussion of a shorter passage (handout provided)
  • Conversation as to how the passage is ‘a word from God for today’ (supported by questions given to facilitators)
  • Prayer time

 

Cost

In recent years a donation of €20 to €30  from group members who could afford to contribute have been greatly appreciated.  This has assisted the dioceses recoup the cost of bibles and other resources and met light and heat costs.

Facilitators very kindly give their time free-of-charge.

 

Further Enquiries

Further enquiries welcome.  Please ring, text or email Justin on 087 6171526  / justin@elphindiocese.ie

Thank you.

 

 

Uploaded:  8th September 2026.