The Synodal Process
SYNOD 2021-2023
Pope Francis has called for a Synod of Bishops for October 2023. Leading up to that event is the process of listening, discerning, understanding and representing. It starts formally later this year (Sunday, 17th October 2021) at the diocesan level – with us, the People of God. In this information age how might we participate with the Holy Spirit and our Church in better listening, discerning and understanding? Is it the voice of the youth, of women, of the old, of the disadvantaged, of our neighbour, … that is lacking – that we must try to represent to the leaders of our Church? This lengthy process begins at our level and is truly worthy of our interest, attention and commitment to participate – to make a difference to the discussion -- in every way possible. Can one person make a difference? Why not?
“Pope opens two year Synod on future of Church
“Pope Francis formally opened the Synod of Bishops on [10th October 2021] with a solemn Mass in St Peter's Basilica. Faithful from around the world, including laymen and women, priests, seminarians, women and men religious, cardinals and bishops, took part in the liturgy, which marked the beginning of a two-year synodal process.
“In his homily, Pope Francis took the day's Gospel reading about Jesus' encounter with a rich young man, as the starting point for a reflection on synodality. He said: ‘Celebrating a Synod means walking on the same road, together.’…
“Pope Francis said that a true encounter only comes through listening to others, noting that Jesus listens not just with the ears, but with the heart. When we follow Jesus in listening with the heart, ‘people feel they are being heard, not judged; they feel free to recount their own experiences and their spiritual journey.’
“The Pope invited us to ask ourselves if we are good at listening, if we allow others to express themselves. He said that the Holy Spirit is asking us to listen to the ‘questions, concerns, and hopes of every Church,’ and to the challenges and changes presented by the world around us.’…
“In these days of the Synod, the Pope said, ‘Jesus calls us, as he did the rich man in the Gospel, to empty ourselves, to free ourselves from all that is worldly, including our inward-looking and outworn pastoral models; and to ask ourselves what it is that God wants to say to us in this time - and the direction in which He wants to lead us.’
"’Let us have a good journey together,’ Pope Francis concluded, expressing the hope that we might be ‘pilgrims in love with the Gospel and open to the surprises of the Spirit.’ He urged us not to miss out ‘on the grace-filled opportunities born of encounter, listening, and discernment.’"
With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, Oct. 10th 2021
“For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission
"…the Pope [has] delayed the Synod of Bishops by a year to allow every diocese in the world to be involved. … The importance of this event, this Synod, should not be underestimated. In future we shall speak of 'pre and post Synod,' just as we speak of 'pre and post Vatican II.'
“The 2023 Synod is an answer to the prayers of all those who see the future of our Church being much more open to the involvement of the entire People of God. … Still today when people think of Church they think of priests and bishops and cardinals. Now this 2023 Synod is about to change that and to restore the role of the People of God to its rightful place.
“Synodality means 'walking together': priests, religious and laity. In September the process of walking together will begin and for the best part of a year everyone will have an opportunity to have their voice heard, indeed, every member of the Church has a right to speak. As Pope Francis said: ‘All must be heard, listened to and discerned by their Bishops.’ Parish groups will be formed in which we will be given the opportunity to listen to everyone. Above all we shall be listening to what the Holy Spirit will have to say to us.
“It will be so interesting to see what comes from this consultation. This is not a new idea, way back in the 1840's Cardinal, now Saint, John Henry Newman, thought of consulting the laity in matters of faith and morals. Such was his conviction that God speaks to the whole people of God and not just a section. Now at last we shall hear what they have to say.”
(With permission) Fr John McGowan OCD, 28 July 2021 in Independent Catholic News,
“Bishop’s letter marks start of Synodal Church process
“Bishop Alan Hopes has written a Pastoral Letter to everyone across the Diocese of East Anglia to mark the start of the worldwide Synodal Church process – in which the least as well as the greatest has the opportunity to be heard.”
(With permission) Keith Morris, Sep 20 th 2021, Diocese of East Anglia
https://www.rcdea.org.uk/bishops-letter-marks-start-of-synodal-church-process/
Download the text of Bishop Alan's letter here.
“Listening to the Faithful: Vatican releases Synod Preparatory Document
“The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops has presented the … handbook - to guide the journey of the Synod on Synodality.
“Listening without prejudice; speaking out with courage and parrhesia [speaking candidly]; dialoguing with the Church, with society, and with the other Christian confessions are among the guiding principles that will direct the path of the Synod on Synodality.
“The solemn opening of the Synod will take place in Rome on October 9-10, and in the particular Churches on October 17; and will conclude in the Vatican in 2023 with the assembly of bishops from around the world. “The Preparatory Document, released on Tuesday, is intended above all to be an instrument facilitating the first phase of listening and consultation of the People of God in the particular Churches, which will take place from October 2021 to April 2022.”
(With permission) Salvatore Cernuzio, Sep 7th 2021, Independent Catholic News