Oct. 24, 2021 – “Synodality”
In the Catholic Church “synod” is just a fancy word for formal Church “meeting” or “council.” It can be confusing because the term “synod” over the centuries has been used to describe various different kinds of meetings. Since Vatican II it has usually come to refer to a meeting held every few years or so for the Pope, along with other bishops, to have ongoing conversations with the bishops of the world (what we would call the “college” of bishops). It also involves hearing from and consultation with laypeople, religious, and professionals in order to address some particular pastoral topic or theme. There are three types of synods: “ordinary” (which are most common), “special” (which deal with a particular region or nation, (as in the Amazon, as a synod on that was just held in 2019)), and “extraordinary” (which are called to deal with urgent matters in need of immediate attention). Often a Synod is then followed by a document written by the Pope known as an “Apostolic Exhortation.” To give some examples of topics of Synod in the last couple of decades:
- XIII (2012) – Synod on the “New Evangelization”
- Extraordinary Synod (2014) – Synod on the Family “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family”
- XV (2018) – Synod on Young People
- SPECIAL Synod (2019) – On the Amazon
Pope Francis in calling this most recent ordinary synod (Synod XVI) the “Synod on Synodality,” he is asking us to reflect on how to better and listen to and consult with all the faithful of the Church. Really is just being more intentional about something we as a Church have already been trying to do. With pastoral councils on the parish and the diocesan levels, and other various consultative and advisory bodies of the lay faithful we already do this. But the Pope is asking us to be more intentional about it and even figuring out ways to better reach out to and hear from “those on the margins.” Thus, you may be hearing more about this as we try to do this in the Archdiocese of Dubuqe. You can read Archbishop Jackel’s initial message about this here:
English:
https://dbqarch.org/documents/2021/9/MJ_092721_SynodOnSynodality.pdf
Spanish:
https://dbqarch.org/documents/2021/9/mensaje2.pdf
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
PS: Three more things:
1) Next weekend, Oct. 30-31, in anticipation of All Souls Day (Nov. 2) we will be lighting candles in prayer for those members of our parishes who have died in the past year. These candles will be displayed and lit each Sunday the rest of the month until Advent.
2) Also, I, Fr. Kevin, will be giving a talk on “Exorcisms, Ghosts, and Demons” on Sunday, Oct. 31 in Hampton. I will present this after the 10:30 am Mass in Hampton. I will also be presenting it in SPANISH AFTER the 5:30 pm Spanish Mass.
3) Also with Halloween and Day of the Dead around the corner, I have written a letter on some guidelines or principles so we as Catholic Christians can be reflective and intentional in how we share in the “cultural” versions of these celebrations.
