Some universities have convocations. Degrees are awarded, presidents or chancellors or rectors are installed. According to my research, the Anglican Archdioceses of York and Canterbury each have a Convocation, comprised of their suffragan sees. They were/are synodal, deliberative, disciplinary bodies. That seems to be the link, the essence of the term, some sort of regulatory body.
Thanks Spirithound. I’ve been to a few academic convocations myself. I know the Church of England Provinces of Canterbury and York have convocations although I think most of their former powers have passed to the General Synod. I posed my question here about presbyteral convocations in US dioceses because I too have found my searches have not been fruitful. I am hoping our American cousins will be able to assist.
I’ve never heard the term used in an ecclesiastical context, and searches like this one don’t seem to indicate that the term has any meaning in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Apparently last January there was a first-ever Convocation for the Diaconate, but that seems like it was a retreat/seminar.
Just done a little more research. I’m not sure how to best express my answer as it’s 5.30 am here and having a severe bout of insomnia. From what I can glean it isn’t a formal structure such as the Presbyteral Council but an event when all the priests of the diocese can get together either to discuss issues they wish to raise or it may be a series of talks given such as on a training day.
Ah, that seems to be along the lines of the event in Chicago I referenced. So it’s just a term applied to an occasion when people are called (vocatus) together (con-). As I say, in the United States I’m not aware that a “Diocesan Convocation” is any kind of a standing body or has any real ecclesiastical function.
No chance of sleep now. It will soon be time for the Sunday routine of “persuading” four children (including two teenagers) that yes they do have to go to Mass.
Quite clearly I am losing the plot - it’s Saturday today not Sunday
