All PAX members are invited to take an active part in the Synod on Synodality by envisioning our church’s future as one that authentically reflects the Gospel messages of justice, peace, love and inclusion. As part of our participation, PAX members are encouraged to review the resource list below, which will be regularly updated, as we engage in education opportunities and listening sessions that will result in a summary of our to be sent to the Vatican Synod office in 2022.
Synod on Synodality, (regularly updated list of Synod articles from Global Sisters Report, which features “news and information about Catholic sisters and the critical issues facing the people they serve”)
Particularly noteworthy in the list above: Q&A with Sister Nathalie Becquart, who will be a recipient of our final statement. As Marie Dennis told us after her recent trip to Rome, there are several signs of hope in the Church, including: “… the Synod on Synodality. To meet with Sister Nathalie was a gift. I had not realized before how the Synod on Synodality was about the transformation of the institutional Church and our relationships with each other. Nathalie talked about the synod process as a renewal of the Church, especially of internal relationships, building on Vatican II. She said that the main focus would be on reconciliation and urged us to develop our thinking about synodality as an expression of nonviolence. She also asked us to participate in the synod process as much as possible through the local church – parishes, dioceses, etc. but also to send material directly to the Synod office as the Pax Christi International network, which we will do. I hope the Pax Community will do the same – perhaps in cooperation with other Eucharistic Communities in the US and beyond.”
Homily of Pope Francis during Opening Mass of Synod
“Vatican includes group backing women’s ordination on [synod] website” (from the National Catholic Reporter)
Excerpt: “The inclusion of the Women’s Ordination Conference on the website promoting the Vatican’s 2023 ‘synod,’ or meeting of bishops, is significant since the Vatican has long held the group at arm’s length. Catholic doctrine forbids the ordination of women as priests. In the run-up to the synod, the Vatican has asked dioceses, religious orders and other Catholic groups to embark on listening sessions so ordinary Catholics can talk about their needs and hopes for the church. The Women’s Ordination Conference launched a “Let Her Voice Carry” campaign to do just that, providing a “tool kit” for users to understand the synod process and participate in it. It has also launched a series of online listening sessions so participants can engage virtually. Last year, the Vatican office made headlines after it initially included and then removed a link to an advocacy group for the Catholic LGBTQ community which had also launched a campaign to seek the views of gay Catholics in the pre-synod process. The website moderators apologized and restored the link to the group, New Ways Ministry.”
Walking Together: Sharing Resources for the Synod (from the Vatican website)
The Suggested tools for reflecting, sharing, and responding to the questions of the Synod (from the Vatican website)
“Catholic leaders need to start listening to those who have left religion behind“(editorial from America: The Jesuit Review)
Synod Handbook
New Ways Ministry Synod webinar from January 2022
New Ways Ministry Synod webinar from November 2021 (more basic than January 22 webinar)