ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE: POPE CALLING US TO BECOME MORE SYNODAL
By Christopher Wells, Vatican News
Vatican News has this week reported that Archbishop Timothy Costelloe of Perth a newly-appointed member of the preparatory committee for the General Assembly of the Synod, says Pope Francis is calling us to become “more fully a synodal Church.”
Pope Francis’ call for the Church to be more synodal is a call to all of us “to recognise and accept that we are all engaged in the mission of the Church,” Archbishop Costelloe said. The adventure of synodality
“It’s all about recognising that we all have a part to play,” Archbishop Costelloe said, explaining that Pope Francis, throughout his pontificate, has been striving “to shift the Church’s culture to one of active engagement in this task of being the visible sign that Christ is with us.”
“This is an adventure to give yourself to,” he continued. “I’d hope to be
able to encourage people to see it that way.”
Preparatory Commission for General Assembly of Bishops established
Role of the preparatory commission
Archbishop Costelloe explained that the role of the preparatory is “to look at the mechanics of the Synod and how it will operate and some of the various elements of the process.”
He continued, “It’s very much a planning body, and a body that’s kind of trying to foresee how we might best structure things to make the Synod as successful as it can be.”
Responding to a question about the composition of the commission, Archbishop Costelloe noted that the members are representative of the various continental gatherings.
“I think those members of the commission are meant to just be a reassurance to everybody that a voice from each continental
gathering is part of this preparatory commission,” he said.
Discerning the voice of the Spirit
He also spoke about the need for discernment as the Synod goes forward.
“I think the work of the commission might focus on the kinds of discernment processes that we might engage in during the course of the Synod Assembly.”
According to Archbishop Costelloe, “the challenge for us will be to find a way of hearing for thought the multiplicity of voices.”
“And there is a multiplicity of voices obviously coming through the whole consultation, part of the Synod hearing or catching the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through all of this,” he said.
That, he said, is “the great challenge of discernment. I think it's something that we are learning as we go along. And we can't constrain the Holy Spirit.”
Perth Archbishop the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB sits down to speak with Pope Francis, Thursday 6 October 2022, in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. Archbishop Costelloe was in Rome for a meeting to draft the Document for the Continental Stage of the 2021-2023 Synodal Process.
PHOTO: CNS/VATICAN MEDIA.
SYNODALITY AND THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
A JOURNEY TOWARDS
COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION AND MISSION
As the universal Church is engaged in a synod on the topic of synodality from 2021-2024, people of the Archdiocese of Perth gathered to explore synodality and its significance at this moment in time.
Facilitated by visiting scholar Fr Eamonn Conway, the talk series Synodality and The Future of The Catholic Church: A Journey Towards Communion, Participation and Mission was held at the Centre for Faith Enrichment on Thursdays 2 March and 9 March attracted more than 40 participants who were able to ask questions throughout the sessions.
Fr Conway is a priest of the Archdiocese of Tuam (Ireland) and Professor of Integral Human Development in the School of Philosophy & Theology, University of Notre Dame Australia. He also edited the recent book The Synodal Pathway: when Rhetoric meets Reality (2022).
Fr Eamonn endeavored to answer What is synodality and why does it
matter? in depth in both sessions. He brought home to the audience that synodality is about prayerfully listening to one other on all levels of interaction in the church.
A synodal style encompasses journeying together as God’s people under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It denotes a way of being church that involves “a conversion of mindset and mentalities; deep, attentive and faithful listening; as well as frank speaking.”
This is not just about the Synod of Bishops or a synodal assembly such as the recent Plenary Council held here in Australia, but about an attentiveness to the style we work together on all levels of the local and universal church, a movement in and of the church which aims at a cultural change.
The global crisis requires the Church to change in order to remain faithful to its mission, as Pope Francis, citing St John XXII at the Opening of Vatican II, reminds us: … today’s vast and rapid cultural
changes demand that we constantly seek ways of expressing unchanging truths in a language which brings out their abiding newness. “The deposit of the faith is one thing... the way it is expressed is another.”
Moreover, explains La Civiltà Cattolica Editor, Fr Anthony Spadaro, “synodality is what the Church is called to in the twenty-first century … it defines a new way of proceeding that gives form to the Church as People of God.” According to Pope Francis, it is the best means of addressing the many crisis faced by the Church, both within and outside.
Synodality provides an opportunity for openness to the perspective of others, being drawn into a communion and community that changes everyone and for deepening a sense of co-responsibility among all God’s people for the mission of the Church.
What Pope Francis wants us to rediscover and place our confidence in is "the action of the Spirit in the communion of the Body of Christ and in the missionary journey of the People of God.” [He] has described the transformation that is required in terms of shifting from a pyramidal to a synodal Church:
“There is a pyramidal Church, in which what Peter says is done, or there is a synodal Church, in which Peter is Peter but he accompanies the Church, he lets her grow, he listens to her, he learns from this reality and goes about harmonising it, discerning what comes from the Church and restoring it to her.”
“A synodal Church can only come to be if it is led by bishops, priests and deacons capable of providing a synodal style of leadership along the lines Francis has described here,” Fr Conway said.
In a second step, Fr Eamonn told participants about the significance of the current XVI Synod of Bishops 2021-2024.
Fr Eamonn Conway is a priest of the Archdiocese of Tuam (Ireland) and Professor of Integral Human Development in the School of Philosophy & Theology, University of Notre Dame Australia. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/ CENTRE FOR FAITH ENRICHMENT,.
IN PRAYER AND SERVICE; ANNUAL WALK FOR REFUGEES TAKING PLACE THIS SUNDAY 2 APRIL
The annual Walk for Refugees is on again this Palm Sunday.
The annual event will commence at St George’s Cathedral on Sunday 2 April starting at 1pm and is organised by several Christian faith groups and various agencies including the Archdiocese of Perth’s Justice, Ecology and Development Office (JEDO).
The annual walk for refugees takes place every Palm Sunday, in prayer and service against the horrors of
war and persecution that forces people to flee their homes.
Speaking in 2017, JEDO Director, Carol Mitchell said the Palm Sunday Walk was an important event in the agency’s calendar.
“It’s a time when we can walk in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who had to seek refuge, safety or asylum due to dire circumstances in their home country,” she said.
“It’s a time when we can give hope to those in detention on Manus
Island and Nauru, to let them know they are not forgotten and that they matter to us.
“That we will continue to keep them in our minds, hearts and our actions.”
“In particular, opening people’s hearts to refugees and others in difficult circumstances was a way of connecting to the teachings of Jesus,” she added.
“It’s also a time when we can welcome the perceived stranger who comes knocking on our door, demonstrating our faith and being people of welcome and hospitality,”
Ms Mitchell said.
“At a time when there is increasing media coverage of those wanting to build walls and barriers where there are differences, we can be people of hope building bridges and celebrating cultural and religious diversity.
“Critically, it’s important for us to remember that a life lived according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ has a commitment to social justice as an essential characteristic. Through our faith, we are called to such action.”
www.therecord.com.au
MUSIC FOR EASTER SUNDAY TO FEATURE PASSION BY HOWARD GOODALL
Perth Symphonic Chorus are presenting a special program of music written for Easter, featuring talented soloists, a chamber orchestra, a 60-voice choir and an Australian premiere!
JS Bach’s Easter cantata, Christ
lag in Todes Banden and Howard Goodall’s Easter oratorio Invictus: A Passion were written over 300 years apart, but together they offer the perfect accompaniment to themes central to the Easter holidays, and still relevant today.
The concert will take place Sunday 9 April 2023 from 3pm to 5pm at St Joseph’s Church
3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco WA 6008
Bach's immortal cantata was composed in 1707 with inspiration from a Gregorian Chant Victimae Paschali and features beautiful chorales, duets and arias performed by the choir.
Based on the Gregorian chant Victimae Paschalis, Bach's setting
of the Lutheran hymn is hauntingly beautiful.
Goodall's Invictus sets the passion story in a one-part oratorio with choir, soprano and tenor soloists and chamber orchestra. Invictus (“unconquered" in latin) features movements with text by several poets including Emilia Lanier and Christina Rosetti.
His more recent composition shines with all the beauty of his most famous work, Psalm 23 the Lord is My Shepherd (the theme tune to the TV show The Vicar of Dibley) with music set to texts by modern female authors.
JEDO Director Carol Mitchell at the annual walk for refugees in 2017, with St Mary’s Cathedral Dean, Rev Dr Sean Fernandez and fellow participants. PHOTO: THE RECORD.
JEDO Director Carol Mitchell at the annual walk for refugees in 2017, with St Mary’s Cathedral Dean, Rev Dr Sean Fernandez and fellow participants.
PHOTO: THE RECORD.
ST JOHN OF GOD FOUNDATION GRANT TO HELP VULNERABLE
BABIES THANKS TO FIRST EVER TELETHON FUNDING
St John of God Foundation has been awarded a grant from Channel 7 Telethon Trust for the first time ever, which will be used to help monitor the health and wellbeing of newborns who need specialist care.
Telethon formally announced the organisations and charities that will benefit from the 2023 grants last week.
Funding will directly help families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Nursery at both St John of God Murdoch and St John of God Subiaco Hospitals, through the purchase of ‘Angel Eyes’ camera systems.
The Angel Eyes camera system provides live video streaming from NICU and Special Care Nursery cots, allowing parents and other
family members to watch their vulnerable infants in real time, no matter where they are located.
St John of God Foundation CEO Bianca Pietralla said for families of newborn babies whose first few days, weeks or even months are spent in the NICU or Special Care Nursery, the joy of their baby’s arrival can be tempered by the anxieties brought on by separation and the strain of managing visits.
“The Angel Eyes camera system can help to bring comfort and connection to families during this challenging time, and is the very definition of the compassionate care that we pride ourselves on at St John of God Health Care,” Ms Pietralla said.
Last year, St John of God Subiaco and Murdoch Hospitals welcomed
almost 5,000 babies into the world, of which, 924 were treated in NICUs or special care nurseries.
During long stays, parents will often stay with their vulnerable newborns for as many hours as they can, which can cause distress for other family members and reduce the opportunity for mothers to heal after childbirth.
This Angel Eyes camera system is a simple and secure solution that provides reassurance, reduces anxiety and allows parents to feel more connected and involved in the care of their newborn.
The Angel Eyes camera systems are expected to arrive in hospitals in 2023.
A SJGHC nurse with a newborn. The St John of God Foundation has been awarded a grant from Channel 7 Telethon Trust for the first time ever, which will be used to help monitor the health and wellbeing of newborns who need specialist care. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/SJG FOUNDATION.