Pope Francis leads a meeting with young people at Lokomotiva Stadium in Koice, Slovakia, Sept. 14, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
We are in the midst of an amazing time for our holy Catholic Church. A time where you have been invited to share your thoughts on how we can gather together in communion as communities of faith, how we can be in active participation in parish life and define the future mission of our Universal Church.
So many of us yearn to be heard by our church and this invitation allows you have a say. The pope really wants to hear from you!
In centuries past, the only voices that were considered in defining the future of our church, were high-ranking clergy members. This synodal process provides ordinary Catholics with an opportunity to share what they think the church should do to promote community among its members, encourage participation in parishes and promote the mission of our Universal Church.
While still in a pandemic, Pope Francis calls us to gather in our parishes to listening sessions worldwide. Parishes here on our islands developed in person and online opportunities to allow members to share their dreams for our church. It is an opportunity to design what the church will look like for the next generation of Catholics.
The pandemic forced the church to rely on online resources to evangelize and put some of our prayerful practices on full display on the worldwide web, teaching even cradle Catholics some new ways to worship. Two years into the pandemic, people are chomping at the bit to return to the way things used to be, but these listening sessions will undoubtedly reflect that those days are gone forever, much like Vatican II removed altar rails!
Younger Catholics are the future of our church. To them, it is not about the building and only experienced in the pews but also online, in the hand, heart and mind. When your parish invites you to pray to the Holy Spirit and lift your voice in sharing what your vision is for our Holy Catholic Church, think about a shift from a church of obligation to a church of opportunity that deeply connects with Christ and the community of believers.
While the listening sessions may be ending, the process continues and what you have shared will be lifted up and heard by our Holy Father. It is exciting to know what we shared will most certainly impact and shape the future of how our faith is practiced, evangelized and modeled to the world.
There are many ways for you to follow the progress of the Synod. You may visit its website Synod.va and click the news tab or follow them on social media. They have a Facebook page titled Synod.va, Instagram page @Synod.va, Twitter page @synod_va, TikTok page @Synod and a Synod.va YouTube page too!
Let us continue to pray the Synod Prayer through this journey:
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a church social media consultant based in California.
