The groundwork for the 2023 Synod is taking place in our parish during March and April. A synod is a meeting of the bishops on a particular topic with the purpose of assisting the Pope to govern and to lead the Church.
The topic for the 2023 Synod is synodality, an adverb that describes our communion with one another, our participation within the body of Christ, and our mission to bring the Gospel to all peoples and to bring it to bear upon all human activity and thought.
Pope Francis seeks to know what steps the Holy Spirit is inviting us to take to be a church that is truly in communion, participatory, and embracing the mission. He believes that “a participative and inclusive ecclesial process should allow everyone the opportunity to express themselves.” We are invited to share our thoughts. To help us reflect, our parish synod committee has come up with some questions:
“If you were able to sit with Pope Francis or the Pastor, what would you say to him?”
Some points to consider as you put your question(s) or reply together.
+What do you see as the greatest challenges facing the Church in her mission today?
+Where do you see and do not see the light of the Church in society?
+How do you see your role in the Church?
+How can we make our parish feel more like a family?
+What is the Holy Spirit asking of us?
+What is taking place within the Church (local, diocesan, universal) should be affirmed?
+What steps for change do you think the Holy Spirit is prompting to form us into a more synodal Church?
You are welcome to provide your reflections via email: office@stpeterdanb.org.