On the Feast of Saint Margaret of Scotland 2014 I celebrated Holy Mass in our Cathedral and announced the auspicious words: Today, I have the joy of announcing to you, the people of the diocese of Paisley, the convocation of a Diocesan Synod to be held in Eastertide 2016.  I pointed out how a Diocesan Synod brings together -with the bishop - his priests, deacons, religious and laity and I said that we would gather together in prayer and discussion to discern and plan the ongoing renewal and building up of our Church for the years ahead.
 
In the months that followed, we have met in our deaneries and parishes in prayer, catechesis, and consultation to think about a new evangelisation of our diocese with the whole People of God becoming decisively involved in our future.  Meanwhile, behind the scenes, our Preparatory Commission and Secretariat planned our journey together, step by step.  Somewhere in between our Moderator, Fr. McGhee, was called away to join the ranks of the Scottish bishops and Monsignor Carlin took over.  As our Synod approached, the Preparatory Commission handed over the reins to our Sessions and Organisation Team, chaired by Barbara Couper, and delegates were chosen and commissioned as diocesan representatives. 
 
The five Synod Sessions have been an adventure for us and, already, we have learned more about ourselves and taken big steps forward as a Church.  We have discovered just how much commitment to Jesus there is in our diocese, how much dedication to our Church, how widely shared is our anxiety and sense of responsibility for protecting our Catholic faith, how much passion we have to build up anew the Kingdom of God in our midst, and just how much natural ability and spiritual gifts there exist in our people to overcome whatever difficulties we face and bear great fruit in the generation ahead.
 
The Synod closes on a diocese already showing green shoots of transformation and I, your bishop, have much gratitude in my heart to the Holy Spirit for calling us together.  I thank God the Father for all of you, my fellow brothers and sisters, who have made such a huge personal investment in our journey in so many different ways and roles.  It has been a joy and consolation to have travelled with you thus far. 
 
Now begins the sowing and planting of a new evangelisation in our families, parishes, schools, groups, and diocese.  We will plant together, each of us side by side, labouring in the vineyard and altogether looking towards the harvest.