TOPIC: “FOR A SYNODAL CHURCH: COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION AND MISSION, THE ROLE OF THE LAITY IN BUILDING A SYNODAL CHURCH” AT OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, TANTRA HILL. (20TH JANUARY, 2024)
The 16th Ordinary general assembly of the synod of the Bishops, commonly referred to as the synod on synodality is ongoing synod of Bishops of the catholic church which will conclude in October, 2024 and has as its theme “For a synodal church: communion, participation and mission. It is widely described as culmination of Pope Francis Papacy and the most important event in the church since the Second Vatican Council.
The list of all the 364 participants was published on July, 2023. In advance to the synod, Pope Francis issued the Apostolic Exhortation “Laudate Deum” in which he calls for brisk action against the climate crisis and condemns climate change denial. “Praise God is the title of this letter”. Francis writes, “For when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies”.
Pope Francis has called upon the church to rejuvenate her synodal roots. He has open a two-year synodal process which hopes will reframe and renew our common journey forward.
Pope Francis’ vision for a synodal church which he has declared: point to a structural Revolution of the Church’s governance system with the view to making every bonafide member of the church (people of God) see himself/herself as integral part of the Pascal Mystery.
First and foremost, the synod is a call to pray, listen and discern together what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church today – all for the sake of the church’s evangelization mission. The work of the synod, prayer, reflection, dialogue and listening would take place throughout the period. All are encouraged to pray, to engage with their fellow Catholics, pastors and all the baptized as we seek the holy spirit to guide and inspire us. Through synodal dialogue, the Pope said “We can grow in unity and friendship with the Lord in order to look at today’s challenges with his gaze”, becoming a church “which does not impose burdens” and is “open to everyone, everyone, everyone”.
In his open Mass October 4 in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said: the primary task of the synod is to “refocus our gaze on God, to be a church that looks mercifully at humanity, a church that is united and fraternal – or at least tries to be united and fraternal”.
The Pope acknowledged that some people have fears about the synod, but he asked them to remember that it is “not a political gathering but a convocation in the spirit, not polarized parliament, but a place of grace and communion. “The Holy Spirit often shutters our expectations to create something new that surpasses our predictions and negativity” he said.
The blessing and welcoming gaze of Jesus prevents us from falling into some dangerous temptations of being a rigid church – a custom office – which arms itself against the world and looks backward, of being lukewarm church which surrender to the fashions of the world, of being tired church, turned in on itself” he said.
Celebrating the Mass on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a day when Pope Francis also published an apostolic exhortation on the environment. The Pope recalled the story that Jesus told the medieval Saint to “Repair the Church”.
The Pope serves to remind us of this: “Our mother the church is always in need of purification, of being repaired, for we are a people made up of forgiven sinners”.
St. Francis lived in a time of “struggles and divisions between temporal and religious powers between the institutional church and hieratical currents”, Pope Francis said, but the Saint “did not criticize or lash out anyone”. Rather, he took up the weapons of the gospel: “humility and unity, prayer and charity”.
“Let us do the same!!” urged the Pope, nothing that the “most fruitful moments of the synod are the moments and prayer in which the Lord acts to us”.
What is the synodal church about?
The word “synod” evokes the image of “walking together on the way”. For the church, it is a time- honored way of working out together “navigation map” for the church at particular times. “Synodality” is about the whole people of God helping each other listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church.
What is the aim of synod on synodality?
This synod is intended as a Synodal Process. The aim of this synodal process is not to provide a temporary or one time experience of synodality, but rather to provide an opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal church in the long term.
What is unique about this Synod on Synodality?
Unlike past synods, this one is not about addressing a particular issue but about becoming who God calls us to be as a church, all of us together, amidst the reality of today’s world.
The synod starting in October 2021 is totally “unprecedented” for at least three (3) reasons:
- It is no longer only a one- month synod of bishops but a two-year synodal process for the entire people of God, “all the baptized!”. All are invited and no one is to be left behind or excluded.
- It is a synod that aims on giving the entire church a “lived experienced” on synodality. It is not just about filling in a questionnaire, but gathering the fruits of what the Holy Spirit is saying to us here and now.
- The aim of the synod is not just to walk about synodality but to put synodality into practice from now onwards, in every diocese, parish and country across the whole world. This calls all of us, at every level of the church to renew our way of being and working together moving forward.
What is Synodality anyway?
Fundamentally, synodality is about journeying together. This happens through listening to one another in other to hear what God is saying to all of us. It is realizing that the Holy Spirit can speak through anyone to help us walk forward together on our journey as the People of God.
The point “walking together” is at the heart of what the church is all about, as the People of God on pilgrimage in the midst of the world.
In the days of the early church, St. John Chrysostom said that for him “Church” and “Synod”were synonymous, since the church is all about walking together. In this sense, synodality is a way of renewing the church from her deepest roots, in order to be more united with one another and better carry out our mission in the world. Concretely, being “synodal” is a way of being and a way of working that takes a more grassroots, collaborative approach; taking time to discern the path forward together.
It highlights the fact that we all have some precious to contribute to the body of
Christ. In this way, a “synodal church” is a church that listens. “It is a mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn. The lay faithful, the bishops, the pope; all listening to each other, and all listening to the Holy Spirit; “spirit of truth” (John 14:17). In order to know what He is saying to the church. This will naturally call us to change our ways of doing things in order to become more and more who we truly are as a church: walking together amidst the entire human family, guided by the spirit.
Why a Synod on Synodality?
It’s an invitation for the whole church to have our voices heard. We can only move forward if we work and walk together; No Christian is an island! Every limb and appendage is necessary in the body of Christ.
Through this synod, the Church is saying; the voice of EVERYONE matters because God can talk through ANYONE – not only bishops, priests, deacons, brothers and sisters but ALL OF US. Pope Francis has stated that this collaborative, inclusive approach of synodality is precisely “The path that God expects of the church in the third millennium”. This is truly a Revolution of the Holy Spirit toward the church that God is calling us to be for tomorrow, starting today!
Find out what is going on in your diocese and parish to experience the synod at a local level. Each diocese is called to facilitate local synodal meetings to involve all the faithful in this journey undertaken by the entire church.
This is the whole point of the two-year synod that the church began last October:
Helping the whole church to walk forward together united in the mission we share. This begins by paying attention to those who are often forgotten, excluded, or not listened to – hearing what God has to say to us through those we may ignore.- The path to a church that listens and walks together starts with you and me. Let’s walk forward together.
ATTITUDE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SYNODAL PROCESS
- Being synodal requires time for sharing.
- Humility in listening must correspond to courage in speaking.
- Dialogue leads to newness.
- Openness to conversation and change.
- Synods are an ecclesial exercise in discernment.
- We are signs of a church that listens and journeys.
- Leave behind prejudices and stereotypes.
- Cure the virus of self-sufficiency.
- Overcoming ideologies.
- Give rise to hope.
- Synods are a time to dream and spend time with the future.
CONCLUSION
Holy Spirit of God, lead the church on our pilgrim path as we listen to you speaking through one another. Enkindle your love in our hearts to walk forward together as a church that accompanies all of humanity on our common journey to you.
Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, enlighten the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love…Amen.
Thank you.
Delivered by Dr. John K.K.D Mensah
Former Archdiocesan Laity Coordinator
