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Called to proclaim the Gospel
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March 11, 2024The Synod on Synodality is not finished—and while the international meeting in October at the Vatican received extensive coverage, the Synod is an ongoing process. Before the next worldwide gathering, two questions were sent to the dioceses to gather input from Wednesday, October 2, to Sunday, October 27.
On March 2nd, a small group gathered at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Calallen. On March 9th, around 40 people from different parishes came together at St. Pius X. in Corpus Christi. Fr. James Stembler, Vicar General and Rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral, led the sessions with SOLT General Servant Fr. Pater Marsalek.
Starting with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, Fr. Stembler recalled the specific method of the synodal gatherings, the “conversation in the Spirit”: first, listening attentively to each person’s sharing without any comments. In a second round, each one is invited to share based on the input from other people – what changed one’s mind or opened a new perspective. The third step is looking for consensus and recognizing points of divergence.
The participants, gathered at round tables just as in Rome, chose facilitators and scribes as they approached the two questions — the first on successes and distresses within the Church’s structure, organization, leadership, and life, and the second on how the Church's structures and organization can help all the baptized respond to the call to proclaim the Gospel and to live “as a community of love and mercy in Christ.”
Every table engaged in lively discussions, and more time was needed to conclude the questions. Participants shared about the difficulties of reaching people when everyone “is just so busy” and how even longtime Catholics leave the Catholic Church and join non-denominational churches. “Some young people say our meetings are boring, and they want to join the ‘fun church’ with their friends,” one parishioner shared. However, there were also ideas on encountering those difficulties – why don’t some parishes join forces and offer youth meetings with more participants? What about more education so that people know about the treasures of the Church, like the real presence in the Eucharist? What about learning from the “fun churches” and welcoming people to hang out after Mass with coffee and donuts?
Each member of the Church has a gift and a calling – that came out in many conversations. Proclaiming the Good News is not only a duty of those ordained or working in the Church but every Christian is called to give witness and be a sign of God’s love. “We should have these conversations more often also on a parish level,” said several participants.
