Etymologically, Synod is from the Greek: σύνοδος [ˈsinoðos] meaning “assembly” or “meeting” and is analogous with the Latin word concilium meaning “council”. Originally, synods were meetings of bishops, and the word is still used in that sense in Catholicism, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Orthodoxy.
Synodality should therefore be understood as the journeying together of the (assemblies) people of God in a fraternal collaboration. It indicates a way of listening to each individual as member of the Church to understand how God might be speaking to all of his creatures.
Synodality is a way of “journeying together” – of living out our faith – that calls for speaking and listening to one another with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The spirit of Synodality is to lead as to find a path forward in addressing the issues facing the Church, our Congregation, HHCJ, in our days, as we work to carry out our mission of making known the Good News of salvation in Jesus to all to experience his love.
The Synod on Synodality is a three-year process of listening and dialogue. This began with a solemn opening in Rome on October 9 and 10, 2021 with each individual diocese and church celebrating the following week on October 17.
The synodal process will conclude in 2024.
The ten pillar words of synodality according to the church are, that we as Christians and most especially Catholics, be Companions on the Journey of faith, Listening, Speaking Out, Celebration, Sharing Responsibility for the common good, have Dialogue in Church and Society, Ecumenism, Authority and Participation.
Pope Francis has declared that, synodality is what God expects of the Church in the 21st century. He has put his own transformative stamp on the meaning and conduct of synods, saying that a synod involves mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn.
The question now is, how do we put synodality into practice? Participating in a Synod means placing ourselves on the same path as the saviour Jesus. It means following in His footsteps, listening to His Word along with the words of others. It means discovering with amazement that the Holy Spirit always surprises us, to suggest fresh paths and new ways of speaking. It is not just an event, but also a process that involves coming together in synergy as the People of God, the College of Bishops and the Bishop of Rome, each according to their proper function,” the communiqué stated.
We as Handmaids as part of the church, are called by the synodal church, to participate in the mission and vision of the church. We are called to listen more and talk less, to identify with the marginalized, to walk humbly, love mercy and do justice. We are called in this synodal period as a congregation, to make our communities home for all. Synodality calls after us as a congregation and individuals to walk the roads of Jesus, participating in his mission of listening and consoling. In the spirit of our mother foundress, Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker, Servant of God, the church calls us in collaboration, to respond to the sound of synodality.
It is only right that as a Congregation within the Church, we as Handmaids, collaborate with the church to journey together in living out our vowed life and our Christian faith. It is also a duty that we share and participate in responsibilities for our common mission as the people of God and the church. Long live Synodality! long live HHCJ! Long live the Catholic Church!
By Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ
