Pope Francis wants to hear from us

Since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the bishops of the world have gathered in “synod” periodically to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is prompting and guiding the Church on its pilgrim journey. 

Usually, the synodal gatherings of bishops have occurred every three years with representative groups of bishops from each episcopal conference meeting to pray and reflect on predetermined pastoral themes over the course of several weeks. Subsequently a teaching document has been prepared and issued by the pope. Some of the many topics addressed have been themes such as evangelization, the family, justice and priestly formation.

The next synod will be different from previous ones in various ways. For one, the theme is much broader than previous synods. The theme for the upcoming process is “For a Synodal Church; Communion, Participation and Mission.” It is a synod on synodality. Another clear difference is that this synod will be preceded by a much broader consultation conducted over the course of two years before the bishops gather in 2023. It will proceed in phases involving consultation, synthesis and reporting.

Pope Francis officially opened the process leading to the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Oct. 13 with a Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Each diocesan bishop will subsequently open the diocesan phase of the synod at a Mass in each cathedral this month. 

The opening of the synod process in our archdiocese took place on Oct. 24 at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The diocesan phase will be conducted between now and April 2022. It will be followed by a national/continental phase and then the synod of bishop delegates who will gather in Rome in October 2023.

The word “synod” has a rich theological meaning and history. It comes from a Greek word and means “journeying together.” The Church on earth is a pilgrim Church, journeying through history along the way of discipleship and mission with its eyes fixed on Jesus who is “the way, the truth and the life.” 

This synod will invite the Church to focus on how we live out this call to be a “synodal” Church that promotes deeper communion through listening, through broad participation and by living our mission to be light for the world and salt for the earth. 

In many ways what we are being called to undertake is what we already have been living and doing here in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. We already have conducted various consultations in recent years as we developed the pastoral letter, “Go Make Disciples: Building a Culture of Conversion and Discipleship,” and our pastoral plan, Vision 2030. During this synodal process, we will build on these initiatives as we discern locally how the Holy Spirit is moving us to become an even more effective instrument of God’s mercy and abiding presence through history. 

Between now and the end of the year, we will be designing a process to consult and gather responses that we will be able to submit as our local input for the broader national and global consultation. In the months of January and February 2022, there will be listening sessions in each of the six deanery regions of the archdiocese. These will involve providing some information about the process as well as gathering input from participants.

For those who will be unable to attend or who wish to participate in written form, there will be a survey link provided. We will gather and synthesize our responses and submit them for inclusion in the national phase by April 1.  

There will be more information provided in the weeks and months ahead. I encourage your participation and your prayers throughout this process so we will be able to discern more clearly and respond more faithfully to the Lord’s providential plans for his Church and our wounded but redeemed world.