Cathedral of St. Francis of assisi

The entire Catholic Church is called to participate in the upcoming Synod of Bishops.  The upcoming Synod is entitled: ”For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”  Synod is a greek word (synodos) meaning a meeting or assembly.  The two Greek words that make up Synod are “syn” meaning together and “nodos” meaning way or journey.

Pope Francis has called the entire People of God to journey together.  This Synod is not just another meeting with oral presentations and written reports. This Synod is a process of journeying together.  As the Church, we will listen to each other, dialogue with each other, pray together, discern together and make decisions together for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

Pope Francis is asking each local diocese to gather together - clergy, religious and laity- to first listen to each other’s joys and hopes, and griefs and anxieties (c.f. Gaudium et Spes no. 1).  After we listen to each other, we are called to dialogue together on ways we can accompany each other as Listening and speaking within the Church always involves prayer.  We are listening, dialoguing and praying together so that we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The ” goal” of this journeying together is not to create a new Vision or pastoral plan with objectives. Rather, the goal of our journeying together is to be present with one another, to listen and learn with each other, and to grow closer to the Lord and His Church.

Listening and speaking within the Church always involves prayer.  We are listening, dialoguing and praying together so that we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.  The ” goal” of this journeying together is not to create a new Vision or pastoral plan with objectives. Rather, the goal of our journeying together is to be present with one another, to listen and learn with each other, and to grow closer to the Lord and His Church.