The Synod and Church Unity

I wish the Synod of Bishops did not use such words as Synodality or Dicastery. Bear with them! This is their latest Press Release!

ES – IT Dear fellow travellers. We send greetings to everyone! In this week’s newsletter, in addition to news from around the world with initiatives and celebrations related to the synodal process, we give importance to Ecumenism, in the context of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, this year with the theme: “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him” (Mt 2:2). Ecumenism and synodality The aim of the synodal process is “a hugely increased participation of the whole people of God in the life, the governance and mission of the church… If the process is successful, I think there will be a different appreciation of the Catholic Church, which will be very beneficial in the search for Christian unity.” Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in an interview to the Lutheran World Federation Ecumenical Meeting in Austria at the end of January At the end of 2021, the Archbishop of Salzburg (Austria), Franz Lackner OFM, informed ecumenical dialogue partners about the synodal process and asked them to join the common journey on the basis of the bond of baptism and to share synodal experiences and traditions from their own confessional tradition. To make this possible, a meeting entitled “Synodality – Ecumenical Perspectives” will be held on 31 January, with the following speeches by Serbian Orthodox Bishop Andrej Cilderzic, Protestant Evangelical Methodist pastor Mag. Dorothee Büürma, the Lutheran superintendent Mag. Olivier Dantine and the former Catholic Vicar General Mag. Martin Eisenbraun. For more information… Northern Portugal hosted an ecumenical celebration On the evening of January 18, in the Basilica of the Congregates of Braga, in the north of Portugal, several dozens of Christians participated in an ecumenical celebration with the theme “Following together the star that is Jesus Christ”. Archbishop Jorge Ortiga, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Braga, said: “We are here today to become aware that the world needs unity and communion, which begins by following that star. Only then will we be able to do something so that others may also follow us”. Jorge Pina Cabral, Bishop of the Lusitanian Church, said, he hopes that new paths will open up in the synodal journey, in the ecumenical movement and in the reality of Portugal, “so that the Epiphany of Jesus Christ will continue to happen in this time”. D. Sifredo Teixeira, bishop of the Methodist Church, said that “the churches need to cooperate to relieve the afflicted and burdened, to build a more just and honest society”. Ecumenism and synodality hand in hand From Argentina, the journalist and priest Marcelo Figueroa, has pointed out the importance of not forgetting the ecumenical and interreligious perspectives on the of the Latin American and Caribbean Ecclesial Assembly and the future of the Church in the continent, also taking advantage of the momentum of the synodal journey. It would be important “to be united with other Christian confessions of faith through prayer and the Word of God in a practical and not merely declaratory way. In humble listening, empathy, and acceptance of the worldviews of the native peoples of this indigenous, multicultural and multilingual continent”. Sharing creativity This week we suggest some audiovisual materials to deepen the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with creativity: Father Zezinho invites us to meditate with his songs “Iguais”: “But in one thing we are the same. We seek the same God We love the same Father We want the same heaven We cry the same laments”.   Iguais – Pe. Zezinho (Feat. Coro Edipaul) Paulinas Comep, Brazil PRAYER FOR THE ECUMENICAL FELLOWSHIP CAMPAIGN – 2021   God of life, justice and love, we praise you for the gift of fraternity and for granting us the grace to live communion in diversity. Through this Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign help us to be witnesses of the beauty of dialogue as a commitment of love, creating bridges that unite instead of walls that separate and generate indifference and hatred. Make us sensible and ready to serve all humanity, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, that we may be witnesses of your redeeming love and share their pain and anguish, their joys and hopes, walking the paths of love. Through Jesus Christ, our peace, in the Holy Spirit, restorer of the breath of life. Amen.   * The Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign is an initiative organised every five years by the National Council of Churches of Brazil, formed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Confession of Brazil, the Episcopal Anglican of Brazil, the United Presbyterian, the Syrian Orthodox of Antioch and the Alliance of Baptists of Brazil. We also recommend the sacred Oratorio SMOTRENJE “Lo sguardo” composed by Monsignor Marco Frisina, member of the Commission on Spirituality, performed on January 20, 2019 at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Synod in the world Politicians in the diocesan phase of the Synod in Madrid “What would you ask of the Church?”: this is the question that the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Carlos Osoro, launched to more than twenty politicians from different parties in the chapter hall of the Cathedral of Almudena to participate in the diocesan phase of the Synod of Bishops.Before giving way to the reflections of the leaders – among them, believers, and non-believers and of all the formations (Ciudadanos, Más Madrid, Podemos, PP, PSOE, Recupera Madrid and Vox) -, the Archbishop of Madrid thanked them for their good disposition and encouraged them to “build bridges”. Several local and regional leaders have valued the figure of Pope Francis and have cited the encyclical Fratelli tutti. They stressed the urgency of ensuring “respect for human dignity” and the centrality of the human being, while celebrating the work of the Successor of Peter for the care of creation or in defense of migrants. Synodality: a possible solution in crisis situations  At the end of their Plenary Assembly, the bishops of the Central African Episcopal Conference issued a message in which they attempt to outline, in the light of synodality, some ways to find solutions to some of the country’s challenges.Read the message in French Superiors of Congregations animate in the diocesan phase The Superior General of the Daughters of Jesus, Graciela Francovig, invited all the sisters of the congregation to participate in the synodal process in the parishes because it can be a very rich moment of ecclesial collaboration.For his part, Alberto Toutin, Superior General of the Sacred Hearts, invited his religious family to “listen to one another, so that this listening changes us, disposes us to the God who never tires of coming to meet us, through the voice of his Spirit”, within the synodal process in the different communities and works where the Congregation serves. Listening to the voice of the poorest The Centre Sèvres-Paris is planning a study day on 27 January on the “missionary dream of reaching out to all”. (Evangelii Gaudium 31). Can participatory processes make this dream possible? How can listening to the poorest be a promise for the whole Church?If you want to know more… The Diocese of Aveyron (France) has launched an original proposal to celebrate a family or friends’ meal to talk about the Synod. With the participation of all the diners, each dish deals with a question related to the Church. To know more… We go to Quebec, where three bishops invite us to have coffee. Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Bishop Marc Pelchat and Bishop Martin Laliberté discuss the Synod.To know more … Synod is for everyone The Society for the Latin Mass of England and Wales has developed a guide for the participation of its members.If you want to know more… The Synod on TVEThe program Últimas Preguntas on TVE, which is broadcasted every Sunday, is continuously monitoring the Synod. On January 16, it looked at the work being done in the different Spanish dioceses, mainly in the diocese of Palencia, which has stood out for the variety of materials offered to address the synodality in all ages. Share your story! Are you witnessing or living a particular synodal experience? Do you think you have experienced a good practice and want to share it? Fill in the attached form and send it to media@synod.va. If your story appears to be original or considered a good practice, we will publish it in our next newsletter and who knows… maybe even in VaticanNews! The Synod in the Vatican: the Dicastery for Communication Next to every diocese in the world, next to every believer and next to every other dicastery of the Roman Curia, we too, as the Dicastery for Communication, have asked ourselves how we can take up the invitation to participate in the synodal process. How can we ensure that our contribution is not simply limited to ‘amplifying the voice of the Pope’, but rather becomes an opportunity for a synodal conversion, which concerns us all? How can we rediscover ourselves as ‘members of one another’ even in a body of the Roman Curia? How can we adhere to…Continue to read… Pray for the Synod In order to support the synodal journey and ask for the Spirit’s assistance, together with the World Network of Prayers of the Pope and UISG, we have set up a website in 5 languages: Church on the Way. Pray for the Synod. From 2 November, you too can send your prayer. See how to do it… Copyright  2022 General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops Via della Conciliazione, 34 Vatican City 00120 Vatican City State (Holy See) Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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