Experiencing together the Word of God alive and active today.
2. VALUES
The Values of the Dominican Lectio Centre, Newry (hereafter referred to as the Lectio Centre) are guided by the Christian Gospel values of:
- Fraternity: a welcome and inclusiveness for all especially, those on the fringes of society.
- Reverence: for the Word of God and for each other.
- Respect: everyone is treated equally, and we respect diversity.
Justice: Guided by God’s Word we will work together for “a new springtime” in His church and a more compassionate and caring world for all.
3. AIMS
The aims of the Dominican Newry Lectio Divina Community shall be:
- Facilitate a deepening relationship with the “Word”, by
- Bringing people into direct and immediate contact with the written word of God ; So as to:
- Nurture a deeper appreciation of the dignity, beauty and wonder of human life, of the environment, and of the cosmos
- Inspire active compassion for those on the fringes of our society
- Nurture Personal transformation leading to the creation of a more humane, caring, just, and dignified life experience for all.
· The Lectio Centre seeks to promote the emergence and growth of as many Lectio communities as possible both within the centre itself and in the wider local and regional context.
· Keep safe the assets of the Lectio Centre on behalf of the Dominican Priory Newry; and ensure they are used in accordance with the values of the Dominican Order and the objectives of Lectio Divina
4. LECTIO COMMUNITIES
- Encounter with the Word of God, in the Scriptures is most enriching within a small community (10-12 people at most)
- Communities meet for agreed periods in the year. Advent, Lent, Pentecost series, Michaelmas series and outside of these times members of the communities meet around the written word of God on an informal basis.
- Each community is served by a ‘Guide’- formed and nourished in the Lectio method and principles who seek to guide others on the Lectio journey of Reading, Recognising, Responding, Resting-in and Reflecting on the Word of God in scripture
- The community experience fostered and nourished around the Word of God in scripture spills over into ordinary,everyday fellowship, support and solidarity.