Disseminating the message of Easter People

AN OPPORTUNITY for wider discussion on the themes of last year's National Pastoral Congress became a reality last week with the publication of a series of six booklets for the use of parish groups.
The Easter People: Discussion Outlines* has been written by a team headed by Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool, former Chairman of the National Pastoral Congress.
Other members of the team are: Mrs Patricia Jones, of the Liverpool Diocesan Youth Service, a former member of the Congress Committee who also worked on• the research side of the Easter People document; Fr Anthony Boylan, the National Advisor for Liturgical Formation and Mr Michael Foley, Director of Family and Social Action.
They are joined by Mrs Katheleen O'Gorman. NPC Sector President for Marriage and the Family: Mgr George Leonard. Cardinal Flume's Personal Assistant for Nondiocesan affairs: Fr Vincent Nichols, Director of' the Upholland Northern Institute: and Sr Marguerite Ball, a catechist who works in Adult Education in Wales.
All members of the team worked on the Congress from the start.
Each booklet has 24 pages and employs the see-judge-act method of discussion inquiry developed by the Young Christian Workers and employed successfully by many other groups, including those of Family and Social Action.
"Groups can pick and choose from the pamphlets but no one should really omit the first in the series: 'Easter in Us', essential for the understanding of the other five" said Michael Foley. "It deals with baptism and its consequences.
The other five simplify the ideas of 'The Easter People' and turn them into programmes for action. For others' is about the ministry and mission of the People of God. 'The New Priority' deals with adult formation in the Faith. 'Faith and Family'. 'Work and Witness. 'Called to he Holy' explain themselves.
"Those of us who have worked to produce these texts want to share our excitement with everyone else" he continued. "We want the Congress to be an experience that makes sense for every Catholic. It would be tremendous if the Pope could meet the Easter People in action and find them ready to receive his words in faith and eagerness".
*St Paul Publications, Middlegreen, Slough, SL3 613T 65p each.