This weekend (Saturday 30th September/Sunday 1st October) sees the beginning of a very important time in our Church. In years to come, this “Synodal Moment” will have huge effects on how we live and exist as ‘Church’. Therefore, it cannot be underestimated how important it is for us all to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Pope Francis, and all those who will meet in Rome over the following four weeks.
In October 2021 Pope Francis formally launched the two-year global consultation process leading to the 2023 synod on synodality which focuses on the theme, “For a Synodal Church, Communion, Participation and Mission”. The word “synod” evokes the image of “walking together on the way”. For the Church it is a time-honoured way of working out together the “navigation map” for the Church at particular times. Synodality is about the whole People of God helping each other listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church. Pope Francis emphasises that this is not simply a matter of discussion as in a parliamentary debate. Rather it is primarily a prayerful spiritual time of communitarian discernment. It is about finding the best ways for every baptized person to fulfil the Church’s mission of proclaiming to the world, God’s love and salvation in Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis has emphasised that “it is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium”. Synodality is at the heart of the pastoral conversion that Pope Francis emphasises in his document The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium). Pope Francis has called for the widest and deepest consultation globally, inviting each person to “look others in the eye and listen to what they have to say.” Each Diocese in Ireland engaged in this process of listening and consultation and submissions from each Diocese were returned to the Episcopal conference in May 2022. Prior to forwarding the Irish Churches response to the Holy See a Synodal Gathering which included lay, religious and ordained form across the island was held nationally in June 2022.
The working document for the Continental Stage of the Synod was launched in October 2022 during a press conference which was live-streamed from the Holy See Press Office. The Document for the Continental Stage (DCS) is the fruit of the syntheses received from 112 Bishops’ Conferences, including Ireland, following the consultation of the People of God in the diocesan phase of the synodal process, and was the focus of the listening, dialogue, and discernment of the Continental Synodal Assemblies which took place between January and March 2023. The European Assemblytook place in Prague from 5th to 12th February. Following this, The Instrumentum Laboris, the official working document for the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, was launched on, 20 June 2023, and forms the basis of the work being carried out in Rome during the next four weeks.
In advance of the first assembly of the Universal Synod, which begins on 4 October 2023 (the last day of the Season of Creation), an ECUMENICAL PRAYER VIGIL is taking place in Rome in the presence of Pope Francis and representatives of different Churches, to unite us all in praise and silence, in listening to the Word. At Masses this weekend, we will pray for the success of the Synod in achieving it’s goal of helping the Church ‘listen’ to the Spirit. “Vatican Media” will be broadcasting live on Saturday 30th September between 3.30pm and 5pm the programme leading up to the vigil, and then from 5pm to 6pm the prayer presided over by Pope Francis. See the Vatican YouTube Channel or visit webpage www.together2023.net
‘Joining in the Synod is a weekly update on the proceedings in Rome’ and will take place online, and culminate in one ‘in-person’ gathering at Knock Shrine. Beginning Monday 2nd Oct. at 8.30pm running for 5 weeks. Join online at www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live
Togher Parish 