杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

As the Church in England and Wales concludes the first phase of the synodal journey leading to the 2023 Synod on synodality, English and Welsh Bishops have pledged to continue working for a more listening, collaborative and inclusive Church,  acknowledging the need to reflect further on the 鈥渉urt and pain鈥� voiced during the diocesan consultations, but also pointing to the 鈥渕any signs of hope鈥� that have emerged.

鈥淪eeking Our Hearts鈥� Desire鈥�

In a statement released on Tuesday,  the bishops offer their initial reflections on the National Synthesis issued early in June by a special team collating the submissions presented by parishes and dioceses as well as Catholic organisations and individuals after their synodal encounters.

Concerns

Titled  ,  the document acknowleges the concerns expressed by many participants about 鈥渉ow power is exercised in the Catholic Church鈥� as well as 鈥渢he devastating impact of clerical sexual abuse on survivors and within the wider Church鈥�. It further notes that: 鈥淭he voices of those who feel marginalised or unwelcome because of their marital situation, sexual orientation or gender identity鈥�, and of others 鈥渨ho feel excluded from the life of the Church, or identify as being on the peripheries鈥� have been 鈥渞aised and heard鈥� during the synodal process of encounter.

Participation 

Noting that 鈥渟ome voices鈥� are absent, 鈥渘ot least, the distinctive voice of different ethnic communities who enrich many parishes in the Church in England and Wales鈥�,  the bishops pledge to try and engage with 鈥渢he nine in ten Catholics that attend Sunday Mass but have not yet taken part in any of the synodal process鈥�.

Missionary dynamism and formation

On a positive note, the English and Welsh bishops remark the concern emerged from all responses  鈥渢o renew the missionary dynamism of the Church at local level鈥�, and 鈥渢o provide increased opportunities for lay formation in the faith鈥�.

They 鈥渆cho strongly鈥� the desire expressed for a schooling in prayer, spirituality and liturgy, stressing that 鈥渢he  more we are formed in the love of Christ the better equipped we are to be the love of Christ to and for others鈥�. 鈥淭his 鈥� they say 鈥� is especially so as we look to greater clergy and lay collaboration in serving the Church鈥檚 missionary mandate鈥�

Journeying together

The reflection finally emphasizes the importance of 鈥渏ourneying together鈥�  in the ecclesial community and of accompanying those 鈥渨ho experience hurt, pain and a sense of distance or exclusion from the life of the Church鈥�,  noting that  the recent experience of the pandemic has revealed a 鈥渄eep yearning for human and spiritual communion鈥�.

鈥淥ur synodal conversations have increased this desire through an emphasis on welcome, evangelisation and outreach鈥�, the reflection concludes.

The bishops鈥� reflection, together with the National Synthesis document, wil form part of the European continental synodal phase planned in March 2023 and the process will culminate with the Synod of Bishops in Rome in the following October.