Page 11 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

DIOCESE

there finished with prayers for all who had
gone before us in the faith and the singing of
the Salve Regina as the final act of worship.
The day was one of worship and exploration,
of meeting new friends and gaining greater
insight into the Catholic heritage of this part
of Scotland. People left full of enthusiasm
that another similar pilgrimage should be
planned in the near future. It was a privilege
to have many non-Ordinariate Catholics and
others with us on the day, allowing us the
opportunity to share some of the particular
liturgical traditions that nourish members
of the Ordinariate in the Catholic Faith - a
treasure I do hope we shared.
Bryan Miller A group photograph at St Ninian's, Tynet

The listening Church - synod on synodality

n October Pope Francis formally opened a two-year
process called “a synod on synodality,” officially known
Ias “Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church.” In brief,
the process involves an expansion of an established
institution, called the “Synod of Bishops.” This means that
bishops around the world will consult with everyone from
parishioners to monks, nuns and Catholic universities
before coming together for a discussion in 2023.
Pope Francis has said he wants every Catholic in the world
to be involved, and it is to be on the theme of synodality.
The different dioceses of Scotland will meet in parishes and
other groups over the next six months. Those discussions
will be summarised in Diocesan Documents which are
shared at national level. These will then be shared at the
Continental level before the final Synod in the Vatican in
2023.
Bishop Hugh Gilbert explained the meaning of the word
‘synodality’ in his homily at the opening Mass of the Synod
at St Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen. “It’s a theological word
which goes back to a Greek word which means to ‘travel
together’ and to ‘meet together’. And it means a third thing
too, which makes sense of the other two, road or way. So,
the Pope would like us to meet together to see how we can
better travel together, along Christ’s way.” Photo courtesy of Jeon Han, Korean Culture and Information
Bishop Hugh said there are 1.3 billion Catholics in the Service via Wikimedia Commons
world, of every kind, ‘but beyond the variety is a unity’. freaks? Or, conversely, are we allowing them to shepherd us
“We have one Lord and Master, Jesus Christ,” he said. as they are called to? How do women feel? Young people?
“One Faith. We are all children of God through baptism. The The elderly? And so on.”
Holy Spirit is part of our lives. We are all under the same The General Secretariat for the Synod has published a
commandment to love as Christ loved us.” Vademecum (or handbook) to indicate the guiding principles
He said the question that Pope Francis is posing with the that will direct the path of the Synod on Synodality “The
synod was ‘how are we doing with this?’ purpose of this synod is not to produce more documents,”
“Do we allow each other to make our contributions to the says the Vademecum. “Rather, it is intended to inspire
whole? As we know, there are people in the Church who are people to dream about the Church we are called to be, to
disconnected, who feel marginalised, sometimes hurt. Are make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up
we listening to and supporting one another as much as we wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn
could? What forums do we have for doing this? Could they from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds,
be improved or new ones created? What is our experience warm hearts and restore strength to our hands for our
of walking together? Are the clergy too clerical, control- common mission.”
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