Bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and laity gathered around the Holy Father in Rome from Oct. 4 to 29, 2023. Their mission? To begin the next stage of the Synod on Synodality.
After gathering information at the diocesan, regional and continental stages, it was time to begin a conversation on what is a synodal church. The desire of the Synod participants can be summed up from the introduction to the synthesis from the first session. “We carry in our hearts the desire, sustained by hope, that the climate of mutual listening and sincere dialogue that we experienced during the days of common work in Rome will radiate in our communities and throughout the world, at the service of the growth of the good seed of the Kingdom of God.”
The synthesis report is broken into three parts: 1. “The face of the synodal church,” 2. all disciples, all missionaries,” 3. weaving bonds, building community.”
Each part has subtopics which are broken down into 1. convergence, 2. matters for consideration, 3. proposals.
These proposals are being taken back to local episcopal conferences and hierarchical structures of the Eastern Catholic Churches. For us locally in the United States, that means the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops which met for their fall general assembly the week prior to Thanksgiving in Baltimore.
There are many preliminary steps that must be taken before the second and final session in October of 2024.
At this time, we can take part in three ways. First, take time to read the entire synthesis report. Second, join us for our diocesan-wide listening session. Third, hold those taking part in prayer. In true synodal spirit, we are all a part of the decision-making process.
Synod interim period listening sessions open to everyone:
Wednesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Resurrection Parish Center, 130 Como Park Blvd., in Cheektowaga.. Hosted by Father Sean DiMaria, vicar forane for Southern Erie County.
Tuesday, March 19, at 6 p.m., at Ascension Parish Hall, 19 Sumner St., Batavia. Hosted by Father Bernard Nowak, vicar forane for Genesee/Wyoming Counties
Wednesday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m., at St. Leo the Great Parish Center, 855 Sweet Home Road, Amherst. Hosted by Msgr. Robert E. Zapfel, vicar forane for Northern Erie County, and Father Steven Jekielek, vicar forane for Niagara/Orleans Counties