For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission

I am happy to admit that I was overjoyed when I heard the Pope had delayed the Synod of Bishops by a year to allow every diocese in the world to be involved. I say this because I am confident the Synod will be the greatest grace since Vatican II. What a wonderful opportunity is being offered to the whole Church which will never be quite the same again; that might sound overly dramatic but I believe it. The importance of this event, this Synod, should not be underestimated. In future we shall speak of 'pre and post Synod,' just as we speak of 'pre and post Vatican II.'

The 2023 Synod is an answer to the prayers of all those who see the future of our Church being much more open to the involvement of the entire People of God. It's not a novel idea but a continuation of the Church's understanding of itself, an understanding that we can see in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 'Lumen Gentium', first written in 1964. My copy of the various documents is falling to pieces being 45 years old, but the contents are still as relevant as ever. It should be noted that the second chapter of Lumen Gentium is entitled 'The People of God' and that it comes before the chapter on the hierarchy. In many ways this has not been our experience of Church; i.e., in the last 60 years it has been predominantly hierarchical. Still today when people think of Church they think of priests and bishops and cardinals. Now this 2023 Synod is about to change that and to restore the role of the People of God to its rightful place.

Synodality means 'walking together': priests, religious and laity. In September the process of walking together will begin and for the best part of a year everyone will have an opportunity to have their voice heard, indeed, every member of the Church has a right to speak. As Pope Francis said: "All must be heard, listened to and discerned by their Bishops." Parish groups will be formed in which we will be given the opportunity to listen to everyone. Above all we shall be listening to what the Holy Spirit will have to say to us. When the 2018 Synod on Youth took place there was at least three years of prior consultation; we only have two. The Bishops of England and Wales must act quickly, hit the ground running, if they are to give everyone adequate time to be heard.

It will be so interesting to see what comes from this consultation. This is not a new idea, way back in the 1840's Cardinal, now Saint, John Henry Newman, thought of consulting the laity in matters of faith and morals. Such was his conviction that God speaks to the whole people of God and not just a section. Now at last we shall hear what they have to say. I expect it to be a blessing for the Church. For too long the hierarchy have tried to resolve the problems of the Church on their own. Now they will see for the first time what a great resource the laity are.

Some of us have been waiting a long time for this moment. I for one cannot wait for the process to begin. Now we must pray that all will be well.