By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Jon James is a retired Chaminade University English professor, the founder of an orphanage in India, and a perennially disappointed fan of the University of Notre Dame’s football team. He is also the biggest promoter in Hawaii of the spirituality of Taize, the international ecumenical religious community based in […]
Synod’s LGBTQ discussion raises pastoral questions
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News Those who minister to, or are part of, the community of people who identify as LGBTQ+ have observed a noted shift with respect to them and their concerns in the working document for the Catholic Church’s forthcoming synod of bishops convened by Pope Francis. The working document, or “Instrumentum Laboris,” […]
Pope decides women will be voting members of synod
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — At least three dozen women will be voting members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October, Pope Francis has decided. In a decision formalized April 17, “the Holy Father approved the extension of participation in the synodal assembly to ‘non-bishops’ — priests, […]
Synodality moves forward
Synod’s ‘messy,’ ‘joyful’ North American phase concludes with call to mission, moves to Rome By Gina Christian OSV News The final document for the North American phase of the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality was released April 12, capturing a process of dialogue and discernment that two participants described as ‘messy,’ ‘joyful’ and unifying — like […]
‘More catechesis’ emerging as a theme in local synod discussions
By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald After the call for local synod discussions within the Diocese of Honolulu, one may have wondered where all the individual parish and group reports went. The answer is to Faith Leasiolagi, the chair of the Diocese Pastoral Council. She and the DPC are going over all the forms to […]
Photo: Synodal discussion
Students and staff of the Newman Center at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and Chaminade University of Honolulu campus ministry huddle Feb. 16 at the Newman Center for an evening of discussion in response to Bishop Larry Silva’s request for input for the 2023 Synod of Bishops. (Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)
2023 Synod of Bishops: Beginning a good journey, together
By listening to the Holy Spirit, the synod can be a process of healing, Pope Francis says By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A synod calls on everyone to become experts in “the art of encounter” in a way that is uplifting and transformative, Pope Francis said, formally opening the process leading […]