SYNOD OF BISHOPS: COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION, AND MISSION

In October 2023 the Bishops of the world will gather for their next Synod. Synods are meetings of Bishops during which they gather to reflect on and present teaching on a specific theme. The focus of this Synod will be on “synodality” which is defined as the church journeying together.

This Synod will focus on the journey of the Church through the lenses of communion, participation and mission. This synod will be unique and exciting as before the bishops meet in Rome to discuss how the church journeys together the bishops will listen to the entire church. I invite you to be a part of this process.

While our parish is in the midst of its own planning process. That process is ongoing. This is a different process. This process does not only focus on the good of our parish but the building up of the universal Church. “Synodality” means not only that the Church journeys together but that the Church listens to all of its members. Thus, we will meet together and express what we believe will make the Church more responsive to the needs of its members.

The Pope is especially interested in bringing those most alienated from the Church to participate in this process. We can better understand this process through reflecting on two documents of Vatican II. The first of these is the Dogmatic Constitution on The Church. In this document the Church is presented as the People of God that journeys together to eternal life. In the same way “synodality” is symbolic of our journeying together as a Church.

The second document, the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World begins by stating, “The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and aguish of the followers of Christ as well (para. 1).” In this process the Pope wants to hear the joys and griefs of all of the Church, especially those who are afflicted and are on the margins of Church life.

Being Church means listening to the joys and anguish of all members of the Church, especially those who are afflicted. We all have a responsibility to listen to one another on our journey of faith. Pope Francis has made clear that this process is not only about planning for the upcoming Synod of Bishops but that this process is to continue in the Church.

As Church we are to continue this journey of listening to one another and growing together which will lead to greater communion, participation and mission. The diocesan phase began on Sunday, October 17, 2021 and will continue until the end of May 2022. Episcopal Conferences and synods of Oriental Churches will receive and synthesize the materials that they received.

There will next be seven continental meetings for Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, Europe, and North America and Oceania. These meetings will produce seven Final Documents that will be the basis of a single document which will be a working document used at the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. Our parishes will have Listening Sessions during which information will be gathered and sent to Mr. Mike VanVrankan, Diocesan Coordinator for this planning process.

These will meetings of discernment which will be characterized by cultural awareness, respect and fairness. Participants will focus on listening to God through listening to those who participate. The Listening Sessions will each have two different questions.

Everyone is invited to each meeting. Since a synodal Church journeys together, central questions will be, “How is this ‘journeying together’ happening in your local church? What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our ‘journeying together’?”

During the sessions everyone will be given a chance to speak if they so desire. Meetings will be kept to a limited timeframe. Soon I will make public the dates and times of the Listening Sessions.

I invite you to be a part of this historic opportunity to communicate to the Church how it can be more responsive to your needs. May the Holy Family oversee and guide this process in our parishes and throughout the entire Church.

-Father Mark