For A Synodal Church

Here are my answers to the Synod question about "COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY."  In the Church and in society we are side by side on the same road. In our local Church, who are those who “walk together”? 

(1) Those who truthfully and faithfully follow Jesus and understand him as our Christ.

(2) Those who acknowledge we “walk together” with those of other faiths and not just with Catholics.  

(3) Those who seek and work for the common good and live out the words of the Lord’s Prayer such as: “They Kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” all the while not being deterred by evil that separates those who should walk together through compromise, accommodation, kindness, and trust.

(4) We walk together through Church ministries helping the poor, disadvantaged, and marginalized.  Food Pantries are especially important for that walk as are initiatives by the St. Vincent DePaul Society and those who deal with grieving families.

(5) We walk together through agreement or consensus on issues such as abortion, welcoming refugees, feeding the poor and disadvantaged, and receipt of the Eucharist.  Unfortunately, disagreements are common and have many of us walk separate paths.  For example, from the Catholic News Service we read (October 26, 2021): “Most U.S Catholics [69% from Pew 2019 Research Study] believe the Eucharist is just a symbol. The bishops want to change that.” 

(6) Those who will not follow false teachers and purveyors of lies, disinformation, and misinformation intended to divide those who walk together.  Nationwide, some bishops, priests, and deacons do not fall into this category.  For example, in his August 25, 2021 address dealing with hypocrisy, Pope Francis said: “Hypocrisy in the Church is particularly detestable; and unfortunately, hypocrisy exists in the Church, and there are many hypocritical Christians and ministers…A hypocrite does not know how to love.  To act other than truthfully means jeopardizing the unity of the Church, that unity for which the Lord himself prayed.”

(7) Those who despite being conservative or progressive Catholics decide to acknowledge differences and listen to each other with respect and understanding, as difficult as that may be; hence, the importance of this Synod and participates adhering to its protocol and instruction.

We all will have different answers with there being some similarities.  This Sunday after 10:30 Mass there will an opportunity to share our thoughts for the benefit of our pastor and bishop.

Deacon David Pierce