TO THE FAITHFUL

Coming on the heels of the successful Synod of Bishops on synodality webinar series, the Diocese of Albany is taking the show on the road!

Seven Vicariate Synod Listening Sessions - covering the 126 parishes - have been announced starting on March 9 at Christ our Light Church in Loudonville. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger will attend each of the in-person gatherings which will allow the faithful to further share their thoughts, hopes and aspirations on the future vision of the Catholic Church. 

“This is our chance now to begin to put synodality into practice. It is our opportunity to listen to one another and to pray together first of all. It has to be rooted in prayer,” said David Amico,  diocesan director of the Office of Lay Ministry and Parish Faith Formation and a member of the Diocesan Synod Committee. “It is not meant to be a time to debate but a time of listening, and through that listening what emerges from that, with some prompts from the Holy Spirit, is the way forward. That is the next phase.”

The listening sessions will begin at each location from 4-5:30 p.m,. with pastors, parish leaders and deacons meeting, followed by dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m. An open session with the public will follow from 6:30-8:30 p.m. With prayer such an important component, the Diocese is encouraging each site to hold Adoration at 6 p.m.

“The synod process will only be successful when we have the courage to provide honest feedback which is only possible after we have spent time in prayer,” said Thomas G. Cronin, advisor to the Bishop for Family & Parish Evangelization and a member of the Diocesan Synod Committee. “We can’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit in this process.” 

Amico and the Diocese also are hopeful that parishes and pastoral networks will hold their own in-person meetings.

“(The Diocese is) encouraging parishes and pastoral networks to do similar kinds of sessions,” Amico added. “Some parishes are doing it for each of their ministry groups, so all of the catechists will be invited to a process to do this synodal listening process.”

Amico expects the vicariate sessions will build on the success of the three webinars, which were titled “What is the Synod and Why Should I Care? Part 1: A True Season of the Spirit;” Part 2: Walking & Listening Together;” and Part 3: All the Baptized – Co-responsible for Mission.”

“I think that the webinars had a great subscription. We had a morning session and an evening session and, between each session, we had 250 to 300 people registered,” he said. “People are very excited and enthused about the opportunity to be heard and to be listened to in a meaningful way. I think the whole concept of synod and listening together is really giving them a whole lot of hope. …

“I think there was a wide range of thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams across the whole spectrum. And what was revealed to me, is that we have to learn how to listen to one another to understand and not simply to respond. To listen without judgment, and lay aside our preconceived notions and ideas.”

Under the theme "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission," Pope Francis formally opened the synodal process which will guide the future of the Church at the Vatican on Oct. 9-10 and dioceses worldwide launched their campaigns Oct. 16-17.