Synodality

Pope Francis has put forward the idea of synodality to highlight that all of us together form the Church and that life in the Church is a journey. The term ‘synodality’ owes its origin to two Greek words sun (with) and hé hodos (the road/journey): we journey on the one road together. The basis of synodality is the incarnation: the Son of God became one of us and joined us on the journey of life with its joys and sorrows, until he met with a most brutal death. And he continues to journey with us: ‘And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’ (Mt 28:20). We too need to journey together. Though we have different functions in the Church and different vocations, nonetheless, we are all travelling together. The Church is a body, as St Paul highlights (1Cor 12:12-27), but she must give a place to each of her members: the inarticulate, the poor, those in precarious situations. As the preparatory document affirms: “I]t will be of fundamental importance that the voice of the poor and excluded also find a place, not only that of those who have some role or responsibility within the particular Churches.” (Synod 2023 Preparatory Document: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission (Vatican City, 2021), 31). Synodality is not a new pastoral experiment which gives a platform to the theologically articulate. It is a constitutive dimension of the Church and always has been. St John Chrysostom (347-407) stated that ‘Church and Synod are synonymous’ (St John Chrysostom, Explanation of Psalm 149, Patrologia Graeca 55, 493, quoted in Synod 2023, 11). Pope Francis has proposed three pillars of synodality: communion, participation and mission. I like to think of these as synodal signposts: they indicate the way forward.

Local Application

In the Autumn of this year our parish will become part of a Family of Parishes with Douglas/Rochestown and Frankfield/Grange. We will retain our individual identity and structure but we will move forward as a wider community.

Recent Deaths:

Ray Cowhie, Green Lawn; Br Jeremiah Finbar (Br de Lellis) O’Sullivan, Maiville. Ken Moore, Montenotte. Mary O’Dwyer, Derrynane Road. Leaba i measc na naomh go raibh acu. We sympathise with their families and with the Presentation Brothers.