Parish Synodal Consultations

February 21, 2022 Archive, Gallery

The word “synod” traces its roots to the first centuries of the Church. Coming from Greek words meaning the “same road,” synod and synodality are expressions of the fundamental mystery of the Church: people who are gathered from every corner of the earth to be “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2: 9).

Throughout our history as Catholics, synods have been convened to walk with one another in the Holy Spirit, to listen and discern how the Church is being called in communion, to respond in faith and to participate in the work of the Gospel and the mission that Our Lord has entrusted to us as the People of God.

Gatherings of leaders have been a part of Church history since its earliest beginnings, usually distinguished as a “council” or a “synod.” While the results of a council are binding to the universal Church, a synod typically focuses on new approaches to issues, rather than binding law.

Pope Francis invites the entire Church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission: “It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium.” This journey, which follows in the wake of the Church’s “renewal” proposed by the Second Vatican Council, is both a gift and a task: by journeying together and reflecting together on the journey that has been made, the Church will be able to learn through Her experience which processes can help Her to live communion, to achieve participation, to open Herself to mission. A unique aspect of this Synod is that the process of listening well and dialogue is for the conversion of the entire local Church, not just local leadership, and not for the production of a report or a document.

Most important is the “process of humbly learning together how God is calling us to be as the Church in the third millennium” (1.1 Vademecum). At the 2018 Synod on Young People, for instance, Pope Francis explained that, “the first step in helping the journey of faith” is “listening.” It is “the apostolate of the ear: listening before speaking.”

Each diocese is being called upon to create opportunities for listening and dialogue on the parish and diocesan levels. The processes implemented in each diocese will be followed by national and regional discussions leading to the Synod itself, which will take place in Rome in 2023.

Plans are underway in the Diocese of Paranaque to respond to Holy Father Pope Francis’ call for a two-year process of preparation for the 2023 XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, under the guiding title, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.”

Beginning December 2021, the faithful in the Diocese of Paranaque, including the unchurched and the marginalized, even those no longer affiliated with the Church are invited to provide their thoughts regarding Communion, Participation and Mission in the Church.

In the Parish of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, consultations started on February 19 and extended to the month of March. Invitations were sent to forty people open to attending in-person listening and dialogue sessions. The culmination of these sessions was a pilgrimage to selected churches in Tagaytay City held on March 19, 2022. On Holy Thursday, four of these participants participated in the Washing of the Feet.

PARISH SYNODAL TEAM

Head: Ramon Rafael Dolor
Members: Ma. Joyce Pavino
Ma. Paulita Asor
Ma. Nanette Mojica
Consultant: Emilia Capito
Adviser: Msgr Melchor David

TIMELINE

May 21, 2021: Pope Francis announces Synod of Bishops in 2023
October 10, 2021: Pope Francis presides Mass Inaugurating the Synodal Process in the Church
October 17, 2021: Bishop Jesse Mercado presides the Mass Inaugurating the Synodal Process in the Diocese of Paranaque
October 23, 2021: Orientation Program for all Parish Synodal Teams by the Diocese of Paranaque
October 30, 2021: Diocesan Recollection for all Parish Synodal Teams
November 20, 2021: Training of MMGCP Parish Synodal Team
February 19/ 26, 2022: Parish Consultations (Group 1)
March 5/12, 2022: Parish Consultations (Group 2)
March 19, 2022: Fellowship for Consultees (Tagaytay)
March 26, 2022: Submission of Parish Synthesis Report to the Diocese
June 25, 2022: Diocesan Assembly
June 30, 2022: Submission of Diocesan Report to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
October 2023: Synod of Bishops in Rome