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Have you heard about the 2021-2023 SYNOD that the whole Catholic Church is now engaged in? Pope Francis invites the entire Church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission. To quote him: “It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the Third Millennium. This journey, which follows in the wake of the Church’s ‘renewal’ proposed by the Second Vatican Council, is both a gift and a task.” (https://www.synod.va/en.html)

 

We are now in the last three months of the Diocesan Phase, October 2021~April 2022. (In Japan it has recently been extended to June). It is an important period of listening and discerning so that the faithful can give voice to their experience in their local Church. Ultimately, the process will lead up to the Synod Assembly of Bishops in October 2023 for renewing the Church and mapping its future direction.

The John de Britto Center, in its online English Group Meeting on Feb. 19, 2022 (Saturday, 4:00~5:30 pm), will have the Synod as its main topic. The intention is to raise awareness about it, to promote and develop the practice and experience of being “Synodal” in our way of being and doing mission. In Japan, St Ignatius Parish’s distinctive characteristic is its being an intercultural, international parish. Thus, it will be interesting to know more about “Synodality.”

Below is an outline of the presentation:

Part 1
  1. What is a Synod? Its Background and Significance
  2. Objectives of this Synod / Theme: Communion, Participation, Mission / Logo

 
Part 2
  1. The Process: Presentation and Timetable of the various Phases
  2. The Diocesan and Parish Phase
  3. Principles of a Synodal Process: Who can participate? / A process that is truly Synodal:
  4. Listening, Discernment, and Participation / Attitudes for Participating in the Synodal Process

 
Part 3
  1. Lived Experience at the Local Level:
  2. Points for reflection:
    • a. How is this "journeying together" proceeding in our parish?
    • b. What steps does the Spirit invite us to take so as to grow in our journey together? 
  3. Recall experiences: the joys it brought, the difficulties and obstacles, the wounds
  4. revealed, insights etc.

 

These questions will be given to attendees to reflect on for some weeks. Hopefully, the sharing will already be face-to-face on March 20, 2021 (Sunday, 1:45~3:00 pm) in the English Group Meeting. 

 

EVERYONE IS INVITED!
We are not in “Ordinary Times”! These are exciting times!
Let us get involved! You and I! Why? We are the CHURCH!
Drop by the English Center to register and be counted!