Dear Friends in Christ,
This October the universal Church is meeting in Rome for the final month-long meeting for the Synod on Synodality. Archbishop Lori will be there along with more than 300 bishops and other invited guests to pray and listen to the Holy Spirit guiding our Church on a synodal path. What does being a Synodal Church really mean? The way I understand it, this means we are called to be more open to the Spirit speaking through all of us for a hopeful future and the realization of the Kingdom of God. It means that everyone shares the responsibility of leading and guiding our Church at every level: world, nation, archdiocese, and parish. While the Catholic Church has a leader in Pope Francis, it seems he wants all of us to know we have a voice, and the Holy Spirit works through us all.
While I don’t have much control over how the universal Church or the Archdiocese implements this new synodal way, we do have an opportunity as a parish to embrace the synodal model. The pastoral council and I would like to hold a “Synod Gathering” towards the end of October. The purpose of the parish wide gathering would be to listen to everyone’s hopes and dreams for our parish. To discern where the Holy Spirit may be leading us through the voice of the people of God. It is our hope that spending this time together in prayer and listening to each other can help us discern possible new focus areas for our parish. This is different than a “town hall” type of meeting in that it is a prayerful process of listening and discernment. We don’t want to be guided just by our own desires, wants, or opinions but by the Holy Spirit alive and working through us all together. This can be a little chaotic, confusing, and creative. It is new and a little different, but that is the way the Holy Spirit works. Let us pray for Archbishop Lori and the whole Church this special month and I hope you prayerfully consider joining us for our parish synod gathering when it takes place. God Bless you!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Matt
