Synod observers participate in prayer at the start of a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 18, 2018. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Whenever we enter into dialogue, we allow ourselves to be challenged, to advance on a journey. And in the end, we are no longer the same; we are changed.” (Pope Francis, Synod invitation, October 2021
While many are contemplating ways of moving ahead into a better year, Pope Francis and Bishop Larry Silva continue to invite the Diocese of Honolulu to participate in a synod journey that can be transformative for all involved to impact many years to come. Last autumn, Pope Francis opened a two-year synod process (October 2021 through October 2023) to focus on the theme: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.” As an essential part of this synod process, our Holy Father asked every diocese in the world to conduct its own consultation involving and listening to all the faithful in the local churches between October 2021 and February 2022. Bishop Silva immediately invited all in the Diocese of Honolulu to respond to this synod consultation process as the pope requested.
As Pope Francis explains, “Synodality indicates walking together and listening to one another, but above all to the Holy Spirit.” Pope Francis says that three verbs — encounter, listen and discern — are vital for the synod process. “We are called to become experts in the art of taking time to encounter the Lord and one another. True encounter arises only from listening, which happens whenever we listen with the heart and people feel they are heard not judged.” Encounter and listening then lead to discernment which allows ourselves to be “challenged” and changed together as a church.
This synod process includes a total of 10 sub-themes: 1) Companions on the journey, 2) Listening, 3) Speaking out, 4) Celebration, 5) Sharing responsibility for our common mission, 6) Dialogue in church and society, 7) Ecumenism, 8) Authority and participation, 9) Discerning and deciding, 10) Forming ourselves in synodality.
The Vatican suggested several questions with each sub-theme, such as: In our local Church, who are those who “walk together” and what groups or individuals are left out on the margins? How is God speaking to us through voices we sometimes ignore and how well do we listen to those on the peripheries? Since we are all missionary disciples, how is every baptized person called to participate in the mission of the church?
To make the synod more effective in the Diocese of Honolulu, our bishop simplified the process further by focusing on one of the sub-theme questions: “How can all the members of the Catholic Church be more effective in proclaiming the living Jesus Christ to the world?” Groups around the diocese are already gathering to discuss this one question, including the Diocesan Pastoral Council, religious congregations in the diocese, religious affiliated organizations such as Catholic Charities Hawaii, and different diocese departments including the Office for Social Ministry (OSM).
In response to Bishop Silva’s invitation, OSM is conducting “listening sessions” involving volunteers engaged in social ministry with vulnerable persons throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Before the holidays, food ministry coordinators serving parish pantries in West Hawaii gathered on Zoom to talk story through this synod process.
In 2022, OSM has continued this process with the remaining vicariates beginning on Kauai. OSM is hosting additional listening sessions with diocese and parish outreach volunteers serving persons returning from prison, individuals struggling to overcome homelessness, families with persons with disabilities, wellness support groups, and organizations working for migrants’ services and citizenship.
For more information on these synod listening sessions and how to participate, please visit the OSM website www.officeforsocialministry.org where there are inspiring words about the transformative synod process, such as: “Let us journey together to experience a Church that receives and lives this gift of unity, and is open to the voice of the Spirit,” (Pope Francis) and “Thank you for your participation in the Synod consultation process. May it bear much good fruit for our diocese.” (Bishop Larry Silva)
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
