More than a few of you are old enough to remember when Vatican Council II was being held and Catholic bishops from all over the world (with selected theologians accompanying them) were called to Rome by then Pope John XXIII to discuss, debate and vote on resoloutions some of which became the documents that helped the church "look forward" to the challenges and blessings of life in the "Modern World" in which we live. At the time (the early 1960's) when it started few could have grasped the direction that society and the Church has gone since Vatican Council II. Some still believe (sadly in my opinion) that the Church did not need Vatican II and its developments in the area of Liturgy, Ecumenism and other issues. Hopefully many more have appreciated and benefitted in many ways from the results of the Counil and recognize that it happened under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised would be the case for the Church until the end of time. Most Catholics recognize that the "Council" was an ongoing meeting (lasting in total over 3 years) of the Ordained leaders of the Church, Pope, bishops and selected priests and theologians AND some Religious and Protestant attendees.
Unlike the social media apparatus of recent times, the reporting of what was happening during the Council was not broadly known by "lay people" throughout the Church and for sure there was little or no input that was received from the laity for the council to consider before or during their meetings. Many (even with the social media appartus we have) are unaware that Pope Francis has announced a meeting of the Synod of Bishops to take place in Rome in October, 2023. To prepare for this meeting, the Pope has asked ALL DIOCESES throughout the world to enter into dialogue with ALL BAPTIZED PERSONS. He has asked that we have various opportunities to get input from the laity on their experiences and concerns that will be helpful when the Synod of Bishops meets with the Pope in 2023. He wants the Church to journey with its members to listen to their experiences and to seek their advise. As I and other parish leaders work and plan to make this happen SOON in our parish, I ask all of you to save and start pondering these questions and even start putting down in print your responses.
How does "journeying together" happen in our local Church?
What has been your experience of how the Church has journeyed with you?
What steps does the Holy Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together?
As Bishop Taylor and our Church leaders listen, what else is important for them to hear?
As large as the Church is, this is a huge undertaking, AND I hope many of you, will see this as a chance for every baptized person to be consulted as the Church moves ahead under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be true to and united in our mission to carry on the "Good News" of Jesus Christ in our lives and throughout the world!
Unlike the social media apparatus of recent times, the reporting of what was happening during the Council was not broadly known by "lay people" throughout the Church and for sure there was little or no input that was received from the laity for the council to consider before or during their meetings. Many (even with the social media appartus we have) are unaware that Pope Francis has announced a meeting of the Synod of Bishops to take place in Rome in October, 2023. To prepare for this meeting, the Pope has asked ALL DIOCESES throughout the world to enter into dialogue with ALL BAPTIZED PERSONS. He has asked that we have various opportunities to get input from the laity on their experiences and concerns that will be helpful when the Synod of Bishops meets with the Pope in 2023. He wants the Church to journey with its members to listen to their experiences and to seek their advise. As I and other parish leaders work and plan to make this happen SOON in our parish, I ask all of you to save and start pondering these questions and even start putting down in print your responses.
How does "journeying together" happen in our local Church?
What has been your experience of how the Church has journeyed with you?
What steps does the Holy Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together?
As Bishop Taylor and our Church leaders listen, what else is important for them to hear?
As large as the Church is, this is a huge undertaking, AND I hope many of you, will see this as a chance for every baptized person to be consulted as the Church moves ahead under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be true to and united in our mission to carry on the "Good News" of Jesus Christ in our lives and throughout the world!