UNITY OF FAITH IN CHRIST

The Synod on Synodality began in the Vatican on 30 September 2023, and it is coming to a conclusion this weekend - until the next plenary assembly which is scheduled to be held in October 2024. Pope Francis began this lengthy process of listening and discerning to “journey together” with the guidance of the Holy Spirit two years ago and we, as missionary disciples, follow Jesus Christ by welcoming everyone as people of God, with no one excluded. 

 

In a recent letter, dated 25 October 2023 addressed to the People of God, Pope Francis called for unity of faith in Christ. He welcomed the open discussion of criticisms of doctrine, traditions and morals in the ongoing synodal assembly. He also highlighted the importance of listening to everyone - especially the poorest - in order for the Church to make progress and continue the synodal discernment.

 

Representatives from different continents, churches and ecclesial communities have gathered together - each with their own unique backgrounds, vocations, and ministries - to attentively listen to the Word of God and share their experiences, as well as the “wealth and poverty of their communities”. Through this process, they aim to discern what the Holy Spirit is communicating to the Church in the present time to build a more just and peaceful society. Day by day, they have sensed strongly the urgent need for “pastoral and missionary conversion”, as well as the Church’s mission to proclaim the Good News.

As the Church progresses, there will be many challenges we’ll have to face and questions will arise. However, the Holy Father has reminded us that synodality should be reflected through the feasibility of communion, participation and mission. He expects all of us to actively engage in these three concepts rather than consider them as abstract ideas.

 

In today’s world, it is essential for the Church to listen to everyone with an open mind and heart, and to commit itself structurally to prevent any abuse and immorality from happening again. It is the duty of the Church to listen to all members - including lay people, catechists, youth and children - who are hopeful for the future and to lead them in a life of holiness. It is important for the Church to hear the concerns of families and their contributions to the Christian witness in the world.

 

The Church should welcome the participation of lay people in discernment and decision-making processes and encourage their involvement in various ministries. Pope Francis reaffirmed the traditional stance of the Catholic Church that women cannot become priests or deacons. Despite being asked if ordaining women could help attract more people to the Church and whether allowing optional priest celibacy would help address priest shortages, he remained firm in his position. However, he did acknowledge the valuable contributions of women to the Church, and based on his personal experience, they possess great ecclesial intuition.

 

Pope Francis urges the Church to follow the path of synodality despite the world’s challenges. We should not be afraid to serve and love God and His people, as we strive to grow in holiness. May Mary, the Mother of the Church, accompany us on our journey - showing us her Son, Jesus and inviting us to trust Him. He is our only hope!

SET OUR HEARTS ON FIRE WITH CHRIST’S LOVE

The Catholic Church is commemorating World Mission Sunday on 22 October 2023. Pope Francis has chosen “Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move” as the theme for World Mission Sunday (WMS) 2023. He reflects on the story of the disciples who met Jesus on their way to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:13-35). World Mission Sunday is an annual celebration that gives us an opportunity to reflect on the significance of mission work in the life of the Church. Despite our differences, we must all be dedicated and committed to continuing Christ’s mission on earth.

The Pope has once again urged us to draw inspiration from our encounter with the Risen Lord and to allow His Spirit to guide us on our journey with passion in our hearts, our eyes open, and our feet moving forward. Our mission is to spread the fire of God’s word in the hearts of others, to discover and rediscover the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and to invite everyone to join us on the path of peace and salvation that God has gifted to all of humanity through Christ.

As a way of showing our support, we can offer prayers and stand in solidarity with the missionaries who work tirelessly to spread the Good News. Additionally, we can respond to Christ’s call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked by making a donation. All the contributions collected during the Masses worldwide are used to support churches in their evangelisation efforts across the globe, specifically towards hospitals, schools, and vocations in nations where the Church is new, young, or poor. Let’s celebrate World Mission Sunday 2023 by coming together for the Eucharistic celebration and supporting missionaries with enthusiasm.

The Feast of Saint Theresa of Lisieux is celebrated on 1^st October. After joining the Carmelites, she desired to become a missionary and was willing to travel to Vietnam to establish a new monastery there. However, she didn’t get the opportunity to do so during her lifetime. Nevertheless, she took on her task of offering her life in a missionary spirit with joy. Through her small actions and gestures of praying for the missionaries and the Church, she became a universal Patroness of missions without leaving her convent. The missionary spirit is alive in the hearts of every one of us - whether we are young or old, married or single. 

On this World Mission Sunday, let us come together, set our hearts on fire, and move forward with Christ’s love through missionaries in the footsteps of Saint Theresa of Lisieux and become disciples of missionaries, inspiring every individual that we meet every day in our lives. Through the work of missionaries, we can spread Christ’s love and bring hope to those in need.

It is important that we keep the presence of Jesus and His work alive in our nation. We can achieve this by stirring our hearts with small acts of love and prayers and moving forward with that love by befriending people of other faiths and promoting healthcare, education, and spiritual well-being in the hearts of everyone, everywhere. By doing so, we can help fulfil the will of God and bring everyone closer to His Kingdom.

TO GROW AS A SYNODAL CHURCH

Pope Francis started the Synod on Synodality - Journeying Together, in October 2021. The synodal process was finalised in March 2023 after completion at the diocesan, national, and continental levels. Currently, the first level of the synodal process is being discerned and discussed at the Vatican from October 4 to 28, 2023, while the second level is set for October 2024. The main goal of this synod is to encourage collaborative decision-making within the Catholic Church and the People of God. By journeying and reflecting together, the Church can learn from experience and improve living in communion by welcoming all, achieving participation, and becoming a missionary Synodal Church.

The synod comprises 464 participants, consisting of 365 members and 54 women, with the right to vote for the first time. This event is unique because, for the first time, the voting delegates will not be bishops but laypeople, priests, consecrated women, and deacons; some of whom were appointed by the Pope. All the participants attended a four-day retreat from 1 – 4 October 2023 before entering the first level of the synodal process. The retreat, led by Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, included moments of prayer, reflection and silence to remind participants of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It helps them to seek guidance and direction in sharing their insights during the synodal assembly. It ensures that they are not self-directed in their approach.

During the opening of the XVI Synod Assembly, the Pope in his homily, highlighted the importance of the Holy Spirit in the Synod. He encouraged the participants to rely on Him throughout the assembly. He emphasised that the Synod is “not a political gathering, but rather a convocation in the spirit.” He reminded the participants that the Synod is “a place of grace and communion,” where the Holy Spirit is the central figure. The Pope invited the participants to “open themselves to the Holy Spirit, the protagonist of the assembly, and to walk with Him in trust and with joy.”

The first session of the Synod Assembly began on 4 October at the Paul VI Hall. The focus is on studying the Instrumentum Laboris (IL), also known as the Working Document, which forms the basis for the discernment and discussion of three main priorities of the Synod – Communion, Participation, and Mission. Topics such as women deacons, priestly celibacy, and outreach to the LGBTQ+ (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders, Queer, and more) will be discussed too. Along with these, the synod assembly will also talk about various theological topics, canonical studies, and its pastoral implications. The aim is to prepare a document that provides advice or counsel to the Holy Father for a second assembly in October 2024.

We hope this Synod on Synodality will be a moment of renewal for our Catholic Church, deeply rooted in the doctrine of faith, traditions, and morals. May all the participants of the Synod Assembly be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and respond accordingly. May their discussions, sharing, and reflections help our Church to grow as a Synodal Church, carrying out the mission of Christ in a challenging world.

PRAYER UNITES AND STRENGTHENS US

Credit: Vatican Media

The Synod on Synodality commenced on Wednesday, 4 October 2023, and will end on Saturday, 28 October 2023, at Vatican City. The synodal is a preparation for the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2024. The Holy Father has called on us to pray for the General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality as we work to strengthen the bond of the Catholic tradition and morality. During the Synod, we pray for the participants to journey together, listening and discerning together and praying together for deeper communion with Christ.

During the Angelus on 16 October 2022, Pope Francis extended the Synod on Synodality until 23 October 2024. He decided to divide the Synod of Bishops into two sessions, which is being held in Rome. The first session is currently underway since 4 October and will go on until 29 October 2023, while the second is scheduled for October 2024. This decision was made “to have a more relaxed period of discernment.” He wants to ensure that the fruits of the synodal process reach full maturity, and it is not something to be rushed, but instead, requires patience. 

 

The first session of Synod comprises 363 voting members, including women. Some attendees will represent Bishops’ Conferences, and some have been personally appointed by Pope Francis. Additionally, some individuals will be present as “fraternal delegates,” “spiritual assistants,” or “experts and facilitators.” The synodal is a preparation for the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2024.

Pope Francis officially launched a three-year synodal journey with the theme: “For a Synodal Church”, focusing on the three priorities - Communion, Participation, and Mission on 9 October 2021. In September 2021, the Vatican released the preparatory document for this General Assembly. Thousands of Catholics from around the world gathered in their parishes to discuss the questions posed by the Synod. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some faithful participated in the discussions virtually. 

We completed the first phase, the Diocesan / National Phase, between October 2021 – April 2022, and it has been conducted through a process of listening and discernment among the priests and faithful worldwide. The results of these discussions were then sent to the respective Bishops’ Conferences for their review. The Conferences were responsible for gathering all the participants’ voices and bringing them to the table.

The second phase of the process is the Continental Phase (September 2022 - March 2023). During this phase, the Bishops’ conferences reviewed the journey made in the first phase and continued the listening and discernment regarding what emerged. The third phase is the Universal Phase. This phase of the synodal journey aims to encourage deeper reflection for the betterment of the Church.

Let us pray for all those participating in the Synodal Assembly over the next few weeks. May they be guided by the Word of God and listen to the workings of the Holy Spirit as they approach the heart of the Church. Our unity in prayer unites and strengthens the Catholic Church!