Scottish Laity Network: Towards a Synodal Church

Source: SLN

It was during the first Scottish lockdown in April 2020 that the Scottish Laity Network began reflecting on the future of the Church after a time of pandemic and how that related to our core vision of enabling Scottish laity to come together as disciples of Jesus, and through prayer, dialogue and discernment find 'new ways' of being Church in Scotland in the 21st Century.

Rooted in prayer we felt the prompting of the Spirit encouraging us to embrace the key dimensions of synodality that Pope Francis identified:

Listening: which 'is more than simply hearing' ….. 'a mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn.'

Discernment: 'all listening to each other, and all listening to the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of truth".

In May 2020 we then embarked on an initial Journey of Discernment that, prompted by the Spirit, flowed into a number of other events that concluded in May 2021with our Pentecost Retreat 'An Outpouring of Empowerment', that focused on the empowerment that the Spirit breathes into us to 'shape a vision of the future, a vision that points to new ways and gives us strength for the hardest times'.

It has been a very exciting and challenging 'synodal journey' that we have been on and the feedback from participants has indicated that people have felt both affirmed and challenged in their desire to become more authentic followers of Jesus. Our journey has shown the need for us to deepen our understanding and practice of synodality and its core components of listening and discernment. To help us do this we have organised a series of events - Towards a Synodal Church - that we feel can make a positive contribution in Scotland to the forthcoming worldwide synodal process beginning in October and warmly invite everyone to participate in them.

This is a Kairos time for the universal Church. For ultimately at the conclusion of the Synod in 2023 the Pope should be able to unhesitatingly proclaim the fruits of the synod as having been decided by the Holy Spirit and the whole People of God.

Programme

Thursday 26th August - The Synodal Church - A Kairos Time

Massimo Faggioli, professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, Philadelphia. Massimo was a companion on our Journey of Discernment 2020.

Saturday 4th - September Synodality in Practice

Brian Grogan SJ, well known author and spiritual director, will facilitate a practical exploration of a synodal way of listening and discerning.

Thursday 9th September - Synodality and Women

Phyllis Zagano an internationally acclaimed Catholic scholar who has lectured throughout the United States, and in Canada, Europe and Australia. Her groundbreaking work on women in the diaconate led to her appointment to the Pontifical Commission for the Study of the Diaconate of Women in 2016.

Saturday 25th September - Where Now for the SLN?

Brian Grogan SJ will facilitate a listening and discernment exercise that will seek to establish our priorities and the way forward for the years ahead.

Registration Form - https://forms.gle/1LqNGwyrAuw4JhFT6

Further information slaitynetwork@gmail.com