Synod 2021-2024
The Archdiocese of Chicago is engaged in the Synod for the Church Pope Francis announced last October. The members of the Archdiocesan Parish Council are obtaining peoples’ insights on the three elements of the Synod: Communion, Mission and Participation. The Holy Father has gone back to the two Greek roots, syn-hodos, a word that means ‘on the road together.’ Synodality is a way of being Church that highlights our common shared journey. A Synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, journeys together. The question for us to consider is how is this journeying together happening today in our Church? What steps does the Holy Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journey together? What experiences in our local Church do these questions bring to mind? What joys, difficulties, insights or problems? Communion takes account that in the Church and in society we journey together. How are we called to grow as companions? Listening is the first step and requires openness. Participation concerns all the faithful to full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations. What does this mean in today’s Church and in light of the pandemic? Can their be participation without people at Mass on Sunday? The Mission of the Church is most visible in Sunday worship. It also includes service, evangelization, healing, and teaching. The Synod is a time to dream. We are encouraged to express our reflections on what the Holy Spirit is saying to each of us and our reflections on the three elements of the Synod.
The Archdiocese website is available to send your prayerful reflections: archdioceseofchicago.org/synod. You may also send responses to Joe Basile, St. Barnabas’ representative for the Archdiocesan Parish Council, at [email protected]. What does Communion, Participation and Mission mean for you? The responses need to be submitted before April 1, 2022. The Archdiocese will then condense the responses into a paper to be submitted to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The conference will collect the responses from all U.S. dioceses and use them to create a national report to be sent to the Vatican by August 15, 2022. For more information on the Synod contact Joe Basile.
What is the Synod?
In its technical sense a synod is a gathering of church leaders to discuss matters of faith or church practice. The word literally means “journeying together” (from the Greek word synodía), to indicate that this process should always be done in the company of others and never alone.
What is that is the purpose?
The objective of this synodal process is not merely to offer a brief or singular encounter of unity, but rather to present a chance for the entire People of God to collectively determine the way forward in the journey toward becoming a more synodal Church over the long haul.
"We recall that the purpose of the Synod is not to produce documents, but to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands."
In its technical sense a synod is a gathering of church leaders to discuss matters of faith or church practice. The word literally means “journeying together” (from the Greek word synodía), to indicate that this process should always be done in the company of others and never alone.
What is that is the purpose?
The objective of this synodal process is not merely to offer a brief or singular encounter of unity, but rather to present a chance for the entire People of God to collectively determine the way forward in the journey toward becoming a more synodal Church over the long haul.
"We recall that the purpose of the Synod is not to produce documents, but to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands."