Participating in a Synod means placing ourselves on the same path as the Word made flesh. It means following in his footsteps, listening to his word along with the words of others. It means discovering with amazement that the Holy Spirit always surprises us, to suggest fresh paths and new ways of speaking.
Acting on Our Faith Through Encounter, Listening and Discernment
What is the fundamental question that guides a Synodal Church?
In announcing the Gospel, we “journey together:”
- How is this “journeying together” happening today in our particular Church?
- What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “journeying together”?
Pope Francis has called St. Andrew as part of the larger Catholic family into an invitation to respond by:
a) asking ourselves what experiences in our particular Church the fundamental question calls to mind;
b) rereading these experiences in greater depth:
c) reflecting on: What joys did they provoke? What difficulties and obstacles have they encountered? What wounds have they brought to light? What insights have they elicited?
d) gathering the fruits to share: Where, in these experiences, does the voice of the Spirit resound? What is the Spirit asking of us? What are the points to be confirmed, the prospects for change, the steps to be taken? Where do we register a consensus? What paths are opening up for our particular Church?
In his own words — Pope Francis
En sus propias palabras – Papa Francisco
UPDATE: New Synod Documents Are Available
St. Andrew July 10th Connections
US National Synthesis 2021-2023 Synod
US National Synthesis 2021-2023 Synod (Spanish)
Thank You For Your Participation
Many parishioners took the opportunity to share their thoughts on the questions below, through participation in Zoom calls, in person meetings and by submitting written answers to the questions. This information has been compiled for sharing with the archdiocese and the larger church, as well as serving to help set priorities for our own parish. Stay tuned for additional information from Father Dave on this effort.
You can read the summary of the responses from our community here:
The Questions
At the core of this process are three questions for each of us to reflect on and share our heartfelt responses:
- How is God present in your life? How does the Catholic Church support your spiritual journey or fail to support you?
- How has your attitude towards the Catholic Church been formed by your own experiences, positive or negative, with the Catholic Church?
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A.) What is the single most important step the Catholic Church can take in the next 5 years? Where do you want to see the Catholic Church in 10 years?B.) What does the Catholic Church need to do to move forward in order to demonstrate the Gospel?
What Follows: Call to Discernment
All St. Andrew feedback will be summarized and themes will be created and posted here after March 31st, with the assistance of a lay-led Synod team which created the questions through relational meetings. They will also be sent anonymously to the Archdiocese, and perhaps directly to the Vatican, reflecting our participation in Pope Francis’ call to the worldwide Synod on Synodality 2023.
Resources
US Conference of Bishops Synod Website
Archdiocese of Portland Synod Info
A New Way of Being Church: On Latin American Roots of Pope Francis’ Reforms (YouTube)
New Ways Ministry Search Synod Articles
Rafael Luciano Latin American Theologian: The Synod on Synodality: Becoming a Co-Responsible Church (YouTube)