Happy New Year dear Saint Patrick parishioners,
In October 2021 Pope Francis began preparation for the Synod of bishops, that will take place in October 2023, with the launch of an unprecedented global consultation process. The theme of the Synod is “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission.”
Pope Francis has said that the “purpose of the Synod, and therefore this consultation, is not to produce documents, but to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to be nourished, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another, and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands." (from the Preparatory Document with full text at https://www.synod.va/en.html)
The word Synod means to journey together on the way. The consultation process seeks to listen to the entire people of God, especially those on the peripheries. The Preparatory Document is very clear that no one should be excluded.
Saint Patrick’s will have Listening Sessions via Zoom and in person in January, February and March of 2022. We will send more information about these sessions early in January with the timeline for completing our written feedback by May 6 to the Archdiocese of Seattle. In our preparation, please carefully reflect on the first two resources below and any of the remaining links as your time allows to learn more.
Resources
Personal Reflection Process (provided by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious)
Nine-Minute video on Synodality by Sister Barbara Reid (courtesy of Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters)
Newark Archdiocese Synod Information Session Video (1 hour and 30 minutes)
Synod Websites:
· Vatican (official Vatican website outlining the Synodal process)
While we at Saint Patrick's live in this time of unprecedented challenge and uncertainty, the Synod offers us an opportunity to listen deeply to each other about the aspirations we each have about being, together, disciples of Jesus in Seattle, western Washington, the Pacific northwest, the United States and in the world. A Synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together.” The Synodal process offered by Pope Francis poses these two fundamental questions:
How is this “journeying together” happening today in our Saint Patrick's Church?
What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together?
Please plan to join us in January, February and March, via Zoom and / or in person for Synodal sessions as envisioned by Pope Francis. In closing we (Ann Mescher and Jackie McWalter) ask that you consider helping us to serve as Synodal listeners and scribes. Please contact Jackie at jamcwalter@aol.com for links to the diocese’s recorded training sessions (which you can also find at the Archdiocese of Seattle website).