“By walking together, and together reflecting
on the journey made, the
Church will be able to learn from what it will
experience which processes can help it to live
communion, to achieve participation, to open
itself to mission”
Pope Francis
On Oct. 10, 2021, Pope Francis formally opened a two-year process called “a synod on synodality,” officially known as “Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church.”
In brief, the process involves an expansion of an established institution, called the “Synod of Bishops.” This means that bishops around the world will consult with everyone: parishioners, religious orders, Catholic universities, and more before coming together for a discussion in 2023 to discuss how the church can learn to rely more fully on this kind of consultation-and-discussion process – how it can become more “synodal” (more inclusive) in its governance.
Many people may find the name “Synod on Synodality” and its purpose puzzling. What is a synod in the first place? The word derives from an ancient Greek term that
means “coming together” or “traveling together.” Ancient Christians developed a custom of local leaders coming together to pray and make decisions about matters affecting all the Christian communities in a region. They gathered in the faith that their prayers and discussions would reveal God’s will and the way to achieve it. These gatherings came to be called “synods” and began a tradition of regional synods for bishops, as well as larger ones called “ecumenical councils.” In principle, these were for all bishops around the world to discuss issues that were consequential for the whole church.
The Second Vatican Council or “Vatican II,” met from 1962 to 1965 and launched important changes in church law and structure. One of Vatican II’s goals was
to revitalize the importance of bishops as heads of their local churches and emphasize their cooperation with one another. As a “college” under the leadership of the pope, the bishops are mutually responsible for the governance of the whole church. To assist this revitalization, Pope Paul VI created a permanent structure for a Synod of Bishops, with a secretariat in Rome and a General Assembly gathered regularly by the pope. Since 1967, the popes have brought this assembly together 18 times: 15 “Ordinary Assemblies” and three “Extraordinary,” in addition to a number of “Special Assemblies” involving particular regions of the world.
Pope Francis has shown special interest in the Synod of Bishops since the beginning of his papacy in 2013. The following year, he convened an “Extraordinary General Assembly,” outside the usual three-year cycle, on “the vocation and mission of the family.” The assembly talked about controversial issues such as welcoming to communion couples living outside church-sanctioned marriages. These discussions continued into an “Ordinary Assembly” in 2015. 2015 also marked the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops established during Vatican II. At a ceremony for the anniversary, Francis gave a speech that laid out his views on “synodality. The word “synod,” he reminded the audience, is about cooperation. “A synodal Church is a Church which listens,” he said, pointing out that mutual listening has been the goal of much of the church’s renewal since Vatican II. “For the disciples of Jesus, yesterday, today and always, the only authority is the authority of service, the only power is the power of the cross,” Francis declared.
Since then, Francis has taken steps to give the church examples and a concrete framework for a more “synodal church.” In 2018, he issued new regulations that encourage much wider consultation with members and organizations of the church at all levels as part of the synod process. And in 2019, he followed up a “Special Assembly” for bishops of the Amazon region with “Querida Amazonia,” a kind of papal document known as an “exhortation.” Here, he took the unusual steps of recognizing the authority of the synod’s own final document and referring important structural and procedural changes to their continuing work in their home churches, rather than to intervention by the Vatican.
The current “Synod on Synodality” is the culmination of all this effort to bring a greater degree of openness, collaboration and mutual listening to the church. Unlike
previous synods, this one officially begins in dioceses all over the world, with opportunities to hear the voices of people from all walks of life and from many different
church organizations. When the General Assembly meets in 2023, its task will be to prayerfully consider how to move forward as “a more synodal Church in the longterm” – a church that “journeys together.”
Stay tuned for more information on how we, as a Parish, will participate in this process.
(Information taken from The Conversation and the Vatican Website). For more
information, visit: https://www.synod.va/en.html
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 23/24, 2021
After healing the blind man in today’s Gospel Jesus told him to go, to be on his way.
But the man chose to follow Jesus. Being a disciple of Jesus is a choice.
The stewardship way of life likewise involves a choice, in fact many choices.
We choose to be grateful, we choose to live generously, and we choose to trust that God will always
provide for our needs. These are three choices central to the stewardship way of life.
What choices will we make this week that give witness to our decision to follow Jesus Christ?