Signs of God’s action in our time 

By Rev Dr Gerard Kelly, 15 Decmeber 2023
Peritus Dr Gerard Kelly (third right) from the Archdiocese of Sydney speaks during the Diocesan Synod at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta. Image: Diocese of Parramatta

 

My overall sense of the Synod was the harmony that was evident. I don’t mean that everyone agreed on every matter, but that among the diversity of people and viewpoints, there was a respectful listening. The Church was on display! Theologically, the Church is not a gathering of like-minded people; it is not like a club. Rather, the Church is the assembly of those gathered by the Spirit; it is a communion. Precisely as communion, it is marked by diversity. This is where we recognise the unity of the Church. 

A further aspect of communion was the diversity of roles exercised by those involved in the Synod. Bishop Vincent, as the convenor, had a noticeable influence. His words were well chosen and invited people to be part of the synodal journey. He also showed the primacy of listening. This approach made the “sense of the faith” of the assembled People of God visible throughout the days of Synod. Through engaging in spiritual conversation, listening to each other and listening to the Spirit, the “consensus of faith” in the local Church of Parramatta came to expression. While the faith of the Church is succinctly expressed in age-old formulas, it came to expression during the synod in the “soil” of the diocese. Winemakers speak of terroir to refer to the local conditions that give a particular wine its unique characteristics. The faith of the Church found expression in the terroir of the diocese. 

In this I see the connection between faith and mission, between communion and mission. The table conversations reflected on who might be at the margins. Looking beyond those we might first notice at the margins, some conversations brought to light some who are at the margins but who remain invisible. Others may have struggled with the idea of listening to those at the margins. 

All who were on the synodal journey were engaged in a reading of the “signs of the times”. Given the damaged state of the Church’s reputation today, the signs of the times can appear rather bleak. When the expression “signs of the times” is used in Scripture and Church documents, it invites us to look for the signs of God’s action in the world, rather than simply at the woes of the world. My impression was that the signs of the times were read in this positive light. It is not that the challenges were ignored or that everything was seen through rose-coloured glasses. Rather, signs of life were identified and reasons for hope were given. The synodal assembly was itself a sign of the times: it demonstrated that the Lord has not abandoned His people. 

The process also engaged all the participants in synodal practices. In many ways, an important outcome of the synod was that people have become skilled in the art of spiritual conversation. Many commented that the art of spiritual conversation was something that they would like to take into other dimensions of their lives. This, I believe, may well be an essential element in the Church’s prophetic witness today. In a world that is becoming more polarised, being a witness to the power of attentive listening may be the Church’s gift to the world at this time. 

At the organisational level, I noted how all the roles were undertaken by competent people who clearly had the trust of the Bishop. This also modelled what a synodal Church looks like. The innovation of having forms where those who voted against a particular motion could express ways it could be improved, was most beneficial. Likewise, the forms to suggest ways some of the motions could be implemented should provide valuable insights for pathways to the next stage. 

The agenda for the Synod was expansive and important directions for the diocese have been agreed upon. The extensive listening and dialogue within the diocese over recent years should have prepared the various entities of the diocese to continue, as a synodal Church, to implement the resolutions. These include specific measures for ongoing formation and the development or implementation of appropriate structures. In doing this, it will be important to recognise that a synodal way is about a change of culture, not simply the introduction of different mechanisms. For instance, even if your parish already has a parish council, how will it operate differently after the synodal experience? 

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to participate at the Synod as a peritus. It is work that, more often than not, goes on in the background, but it was also a place for useful conversations. I thank you for paving the way for the third millennium. As Pope Francis stated in 2015, “It is precisely the path of synodality that God expects of the Church in the third millennium”. 

Rev Dr Gerard Kelly is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, served as president of the Catholic Institute of Sydney from 2004 – 2017 and for over 20 years, has been the editor of the Australasian Catholic Record.

The Diocesan Synod Report summarising the Synod and its outcomes was released to the people of God in the Diocese of Parramatta on Friday 1 December. To read and download the document, and for future updates, visit the Synod website: https://parracatholic.org/synod2023/

 

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