This is a very critical month for our universal church. Back in November 2021 Pope Francis invited all Catholics around the world to journey together in a global listening process called “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” We were asked to discuss what is important to the church of our time. The Holy Father wanted to involve everyone, including Catholics who were not active.
Our Parish Community of Saint Helen held our Synod on Synodality Listening Sessions in January and February of 2022. Our input was submitted to the archdiocese. This input, as well as all the input that was canvassed from around the world, was summarized and the issues were submitted to the Vatican.
This past Wednesday, the Synod of Bishops was convened in a way never before: an assembly of bishops from around the world as well as lay people including women, are meeting to discuss the issues and recommendations that have been raised.
Five of the bishops have been appointed from the United States. There will be a total of 464 voting participants. More than a quarter of the voting members are not bishops.
The meeting will run through October 29, 2023. Because Pope Francis felt more time was needed to discuss and dialogue, the same participants will reconvene again in Rome in October of 2024 after which Pope Francis is expected to issue a response to the recommendations. The goal of the Synod is for
us to walk together as a universal church in Communion, Participation and Mission to recognize our baptismal call as disciples of Christ.
Our hope is that any changes that occur will deepen the mission given to us by Jesus Christ through a deeply collaborative ministry.
Here at our parish, we received such outstanding input that we have already implemented some of your ideas particularly as they impact our programs focused each area of our Mission.
We have found these listening sessions so important that we continued to reach out to various groups to gather more input and implement changes that deepen our relationship with each other and Jesus Christ.
Let us pray for those at the Synod. May the Holy Spirit guide them as they listen, dialogue and advise how we can go forward together to deepen our faith, carry on the mission and ministry of the Church and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
God Bless You All,
Msgr. Tom
