FOLLOW UP ON THE SYNOD MEETINGS HELD AT ST. MARY’S IN SUMMER 2022
Another bit of feedback from our Town Hall meetings this past month is an interest in “What happened to our input at last year’s SYNOD meetings at St Mary’s?”
To refresh, in early 2022, the Catholic Church officially began the largest consultative process in human history. Pope Francis invited the entire people of God to participate in a process of listening and engagement together. He wanted to hear from all of us about our experiences of the Church, our questions, hopes, and dreams for the Church.
Simply put, the word ‘Synod’ or living as a synodal Church means journeying together. All of St Mary’s family were invited to speak from the heart, boldly, freely, and courageously. We held three listening sessions on various days and at various times in May last year. About 50 participated.
ST MARY’S
All the comments from our parishioners were prayerfully condensed into a document that was sent to the Albany Diocese. Here is that document: https://stmaryscoop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Synod-Report-to-Diocese.pdf
ALBANY DIOCESE
More than a thousand of our fellow Catholics and non-Catholics shared their hopes and fears, and joyful and sorrowful experiences. Key ideas included Women in the Catholic Church, Families and Young Adults, Respect Life, Clergy, The Joy of Living our Faith, and Celebrating the Eucharist, Life Long Faith Formation and Catechesis, and Diversity and Inclusion. This document can be retrieved at https://www.rcda.org/application/files/4316/5938/0336/Synthesis_Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Albany_final.pdf
ALL NEW YORK STATE DIOCESES
This document can be reviewed at https://www.usccb.org/resources/Region%20II%20Synthesis%20Final.pdf
NATIONAL
https://www.usccb.org/resources/US%20National%20Synthesis%202021-2023%20Synod.pdf
CONTINENT
During February and March 2023, seven continental meetings took place in order to reflect on themes that emerged during the first phase of the synod process, which included tens of thousands of listening sessions with Catholics around the world. The United States and Canada held twelve virtual assemblies: last winter. The final document for this stage is called “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission and is available at https://www.usccb.org/resources/North%20American%20Final%20Document%20-%20English.pdf
WORLDWIDE
Finally, the culmination of worldwide listening sessions through local churches and seven continental gatherings held in early 2023, the Synod report from US & Canadian Bishops was sent to the Vatican. It is titled FOR A SYNODAL CHURCH: COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION, MISSION and will be considered in October 2023 at the Vatican. The 60-page document will guide the monthlong Vatican summit on a number of themes and concerns that have emerged during the three-year consultative process, which has focused on how the church could become more focused on greater listening and participation of all of the baptized, not just the Catholic hierarchy. It is available at https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/06/20/0456/01015.html#en
November 2023 update:
The Universal Phase of the Synod on Synodality completed its work for 2023 at the end of October. The members of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops adopted the Synthesis Report.
It can be found at https://www.synod.va/en/synodal-process/the-universal-phase/documents.html
Pope Francis decided that the Synodal Assembly would be held in two sessions. The main objective of the first session was to outline paths of in-depth study to be carried out in a synodal style. The second session will be completed in October 2024. Proposals on how we can grow as a synodal Church will then be presented to the Holy Father.