This is the second in our blog series leading up to the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality. The first used a family reunion to help us catch the vision within the Instrumentum laboris for this session. Today, a look at what's characterized the journey so far, according to the IL.
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I recently took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to parts of Turkey and some of the Greek Isles. It was grand. When I got home and began to tell people about it, there was so much to say that a simple chronological recounting of what we did each day didn't seem to do it justice. There's what we did and what we felt and what we learned and who we met, and what we ate and drank and...oh, there was the heat...it's own character in the narrative. Suddenly there was not a lot of order to the story, but it was all so important to sharing the fullness of the experience.
The Introduction to the Instrumentum laboris for the second session of the Synod on Synodality has a section that reads a little bit like the way in which I tell my fantastic journey tale. It's not very orderly. It's not neatly categorized and the linear nature of language makes one thing seem more important than another, but really, it's ALL important to the three year journey we've been on. And as the IL notes, it's very important to understand the place we are in and how we got here if we are to understand the impact this journey is having. It's tempting to want to impose some order on these descriptions, but I am going to resist, inviting you instead to just read it all as if you are reading descriptions of various segments of a different fantastic journey. You need to put them all together after you read each segment to get a sense of the "place" into which this second assembly will gather.
So here are characteristics, learnings, dispositions and practices that have been important parts of the #synodjourney so far, according to the Introduction of the IL:
Everyone's embraced this at differing paces (and my aside, the US is very laggard in its embrace!)
There have been a variety of actions taken underneath the umbrella of synodality/the Synod on Synodality.
Listening took part around the world, within communities located in specific places and times.
Listening continued throughout the elements that constitute the Church's communion: dioceses, nations, and, for the first time, continental groupings.
This synodal process is circular in nature: listen, synthesize, collate, share and listen again with the discovery that in repeating this process, the participants deepened their bond with one another.
Participants began to learn how to discern together the main challenges to fulfilling the Church's mission.
It's been a path of discovery to figure out how to foster communion, focus on mission and enhance participation. It's been necessary to figure out pathways, adopt tools, and figure out structural changes that maintain unity and honor diversity at the same time.
There's a profound sense of gratitude for all that has already happened along the #synodjourney.
Delegates and observers have found themselves acknowledging the tensions emerging and committing to maintaining communion.
Conversation in the Spirit emerged as a primary synodal methodology.
We are in the beginnings of the challenging and critical learning journey as the Church shifts to synodal practices.
For synodality to take root, the local churches and parish priests must participate.
Creating a collaborative community of experts to compile the contributions, with different roles and areas of expertise characterizes the synodal approach.
Learning how to be synodal has to precede addressing many specific issues so working groups were formed to continue to learn, pray and discern around these issues with an eye to sharing their insights into a more deeply synodal Church.
The time spent together by the delegates was characterized by silence, prayer and listening to the Word of God prior to entering into the synodal conversations.
It's not enough to be explicit about what synodality is. It's critical to also surface how to adopt synodal approaches to being the Church in mission.
This is all still very much an ongoing learning journey as we determine how to be a missionary synodal Church.
It is necessary to undertake the work with joy.
So there you have it...the IL writers' story of the magnificent journey of the last three years. Many intellectual, spiritual and practical elements combine with emotions like joy and dispositions such as patience and perseverance. We're on the way, but in the beginnings. There's some fruit for some, but others have not begun the journey. No fruit for them yet! It's a learning journey, calling for openness, change and hope. There's plenty of challenges and tensions but this ongoing circular listening process holds communion even as the tensions emerge. We're embracing this unevenly across the globe, especially in the US.
It's been three years, and this is where we are right now on the #synodjourney. It's all over the map and yet at the same time, weirdly unifying. It's hard and joyful, and challenging and hopeful. It's been three years and this is where we are...on the way to the final assembly of the Synod on Synodality but nowhere near the vision of the Church hosting a banquet for all the world, and nowhere near the intention that we all become this kind of missional Church. Pope Francis has made it clear that synodality does not end when the Synod ends...so no matter where you find yourself, come and join the pilgrimage! It promises to be a magnificent journey. The Pentecost Vigil Project is here to welcome you, accompany you and acknowledge your gifts and uncertainties! We've a long way to go but the journey, like all journeys, is far better together...far, far better.
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