The Synod: A Transformative Process

Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMJC

Of course, it is not an easy path, as it is a call for change that naturally gives rise to fears and resistance. Finding ways to truly walk together as the people of God with and through our differences of vocations, positions, ages, and gender is a challenge. The Catholic Church is re-learning synodality that was the style of the early Church and it is an open path.

In this excerpt from an article in Catholic News Service (June 27, 2022), Xavière Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart reflects on the current state of the Synod on Synodality. In February 2021, Sr. Becquart was appointed as the undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops by Pope Francis. In this role, she holds the highest female appointment at the Vatican and is the first woman ever to have the right to vote in the Synod of Bishops' assemblies. At a recent lecture at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, she encouraged “changing our mindset…from a top-down/ teaching Church to a listening/ learning Church” through the synodal process.

It is striking to hear from so many parts of the world where people had the opportunity to take part in a true synodal consultation, allowing them to pray together, to listen to each other, to dialogue on the fundamental question of the synod, and to experience joy. In fact, many express gratitude saying, “ It is the first time the Church is asking (for) my voice and it makes me realize that we are the Church, not only the priests and the bishops.”

This synod is already bearing fruits, and we can contemplate how the Holy Spirit is leading the Church to a conversion at the grassroots in local churches, embracing synodality with creativity.

Effectively, it is a learning process, a missionary renewal to enter into a new vision of the Church that is a discerning Church, a relational Church, an inclusive Church. In a nutshell, it's a Church on the move, understanding herself as a missionary communion reflecting the mystery of the Trinity.

As many theologians expressed it after the opening of the synod in October 2021, we are living “ the most important ecclesial event after the Second Vatican Council.” In fact, this is the first time in 2,000 years of Church history that a synod is called to involve the entire people of God. So everyone is called to participate, to give his or her voice, especially the poor, those from the margins, the voiceless.

And the conversion to synodality has no end. Therefore, we are invited to continue this crucial journey for the future of the Church and the future of a world longing for peace, reconciliation, and unity. All the baptized have a role to play for promoting and implementing synodality at all levels of the Church. If we believe that “ synodality is the way of being the Church today according to the will of God, in a dynamic of discerning and listening together to the voice of the Holy Spirit,” as stated by Pope Francis, we can be confident that we will receive the grace to answer this call of God to become a synodal Church. ■

The Synodal Journey

The following is an excerpt from a Vatican News story (October 3, 2022) that shares the testimony of the Venezuelan theologian Rafael Luciani, Expert of the General Secretariat of the Synod. The meeting of experts from different parts of the world, held in Frascati, Italy, from September 21 to October 2, is a milestone in the synodal journey that the Church is living.

“ It is a process of listening and discernment,” says Rafael Luciani, associate professor of the practice at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and appointed Expert of the Theological Commission of the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. The theologian points out that one of the central aspects that the pope has always manifested is that the Church needs to renew itself, to undertake a path of reform and, for this, this synod is not a responsibility of two or three or of a group, “ but of everyone in the Church,” emphasizes Luciani. In this way, the process will be able to represent the voices, the problems, the concerns, so that the Church can be the Church of listening, of discernment, and derive in making decisions that respond to the signs of the present times.

Luciani notes that the call has had a massive response as never before in the history of the Church, with the participation of people not only Christians but also agnostics and people of other beliefs who have sent contributions to the Secretariat of the Synod…(And) it is about one more link in the way towards a closer Church, more faithful to Jesus.

For more information on Synod 2021–2024, visit: www.synod.va