Synod Theme 1: Journeying Companions

This is Part 2 of a series of articles on the 2021-2023 Synod process: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” opened by Pope Francis on Sunday, October 10, 2021. The quotes in this article come from “Vademecum, the Official Handbook for Listening and Discernment in the Local Churches.” (V) and The Preparatory Document (PD)

Key Words

There are three key words that describe this synodal process: “Communion, Participation and Mission.”

By “communion” we recognize that “God calls us together as diverse peoples in one faith, through the covenant that he offers to his people. The communion we share finds its deepest roots in the love and unity of the Trinity…. We all have a role to play in discerning and living out God’s call for his people.” (V Section.5)

By “participation,” we understand the importance of involving “all who belong to the People of God – laity, consecrated and ordained” in the “exercise of deep and respectful listening to one another…. Participation is based on the fact that all the faithful are qualified and are called to serve one another through the gifts they have each received from the Holy Spirit.” (V 1.5)

“Mission” affirms once more that “The Church exists to evangelize. We can never be centered on ourselves. Our mission is to witness to the love of God in the midst of the whole human family.” (V 1.5)

Fundamental Question of the Listening Phase of the Synod

“The fundamental question that guides this consultation of the People of God, as mentioned at the beginning, is the following: A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together:” How is this “journeying together” happening today in your particular Church? What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “journeying together”? (PD 26)

The First of Ten Themes: Journeying Companions

The lived experiences of the People of God are extremely important in answering the key question above. To draw out and explore more fully the rich and diverse experiences of the People of God, Pope Francis offered ten themes which are listed in the Synod’s Preparatory Document. (PD 30) The first one is: Journeying Companions.

Here is what the Holy Father wrote about this theme: “In the Church and in society, we are side by side on the same road. In your local Church, who are the ones “journeying together”? When we say: “our Church,” who is part of it? Who is asking us to journey together? Who are the road companions, including those outside the ecclesial perimeter? What persons or groups are left on the margins, expressly or in fact?

These are important questions that we will be answering as dioceses and those answers will be greatly influenced by our lived experiences.

For Online Communicators

These questions are also important for those of us who engage in online communications for parishes and dioceses. We have the means to reach the “companions” who are physically in Church as well as those who are not. Whether they are in church or not, are we aware of the diverse circumstances, needs and concerns of all of our companions?

Who are the companions that your online content includes and addresses? What challenges does this theme offer to your ministry?