Let’s make this synod a success

By THOMAS G. CRONIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

There has been much discussion and promotion about the synod on synodality. Depending on how much attention you have been paying, you may be fully aware of its purpose or not.

The synod is just a starting point in the journey that will create a flow of information on the direction our Church needs to go in to better engage and serve those in need, which in essence is all of us.

The synod will not be easy. The synodal process is incredibly complex and of an extraordinary magnitude, but in my opinion there are two very important components for its success: respectful dialogue by participants and courageous openness by Church leaders to accept what they will hear.

Participants need to be aware that the synod is not a forum for debate or diatribe; it is a forum for respectful conversation and compassionate listening. The reality is that most of us may hear things we disagree with. Our responsibility as synod participants is to hear everyone’s perspective without judgment or attack and be empathetic to each person’s Church experiences. The intercession of the Holy Spirit coupled with contemplative prayer will enable participants to realize our shared commitment to uniting, not dividing.

The Church and its leaders, both globally and locally, need to humbly listen and have the courage to accept what they will hear as it relates to our current operations. In my opinion, this synod is way overdue. Whether the organization is corporate or ecclesial, it is critical to always have an ear to the ground in order to identify the needs of its people. We are the epitome of a failure in retention and it’s time to change that.

The synod is going to be a very exciting step in guiding the future of our Church. The process will only be as successful as we share openly and listen lovingly. Listen not just with our heads — our intellect, but with our hearts — our emotion. The synodal process is not academic, but relational. For our Church to thrive, we must be focused on our mission to love Jesus and accompany others into a personal relationship of knowing and loving Him.

I encourage everyone to partake in the synodal process and to engage not superficially, but more deeply and to listen in the most loving way possible. We must be present with others through holy moments and be a witness of Christ’s love to everyone we encounter. Jesus loves us unconditionally and brings us solace, the time is now to follow His lead. We must look outwardly and take the time to be with and listen to those in need.

Two questions we need to ask and reflect upon include: How can the Church help us grow closer to knowing and loving Jesus? And how can we more effectively journey together?

Please contact me with any questions about boosting evangelization efforts at your parish at [email protected] or by visiting https://www.rcda.org/evangelization. Follow me on Instagram: tom_rcda.