By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — At a time when so much pressure and so many demands are placed on priests, they should find support, freedom and relief in recognizing the gifts of laypeople and collaborating with them, Pope Leo XIV said. “The ministry of the priest must move beyond the model […]
Reflection: Discussing the church’s path of synodality
By Father Alfred Omar GuerreroSpecial to the Herald VATICAN CITY — “The church is called to walk together, to be synodal,” Pope Leo XIV said in his homily at the closing Mass for the Jubilee of the Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies on Oct. 26 in St. Peter’s Basilica. The three-day event, held Oct. 24–26, […]
The assembly meets in 35 small mixed groups, speaking 5 languages
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The 364 members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the 85 experts, facilitators and ecumenical delegates accompanying them began their work in earnest Oct. 5, meeting, sharing and praying in small groups. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the synod, introduced the work […]
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 […]
Common hopes, lingering pain
U.S. synod report finds participants seek a more welcoming church where ‘lived reality’ is prioritized over rules By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Catholics across the country continue to feel wounded by the clergy abuse crisis, seek a more welcoming church in which their “lived reality” is prioritized over rules and regulations, and […]
The synodality report
The diocese submits its findings from consultation sessions held in preparation for the 2023 Synod in Rome By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald In preparation for the October 2023 Synod of Bishops in Rome, Pope Francis asked every diocese in the world to conduct its own consultation process, the findings from which would be filtered […]
‘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 […]
Holy Spirit is guiding synod path, Vatican official tells LGBTQ group
By Julie Asher Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The “main protagonist” in the Catholic Church’s two-year synodal process now underway “is the Holy Spirit, who is ready to guide us on this journey,” Xavière Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart told a U.S. audience April 3. “The aim of a synod is to foster communion and build […]