Synod 2021-2023: “Listening to each other, to the poor, to scripture and to the Holy Spirit”

The final document from the continental USA/Canada phase of the Synod on Synodality has been released.

By Peter Oliver

A friend in the diocese of Prince Albert alerted me to Synod 2021-2023.  She said, “you should read the Preparatory Document, it’s just great!”  I did and she’s right, it’s just great!

Being inclined to try to get to the gist of things, I sometimes like to run a piece of text, especially text from Rome, through an online Text Analyzer. It counts the words and phrases, and this sometimes tells you what is important to the author.

I copied the Preparatory Document for Synod 2021-2023 into the Text Analyzer and presto, a clear impression of the Synod’s purpose shone out.  Leaving aside words like is, in, and of, the most common word in the document is “Church” and the second most common word is “God”.  Next in line is the pronoun “we”and the adverb “together”. So, there it is, a picture – Church, God, we, togetherIf I’m not mistaken, those are essential elements of “mission.”

Also essential to “mission” are the words Listen, listening and listens. They surface quite often. The word sin does not make an appearance but the word conversion, often in relation to the Church’s need of conversion in its institutional expression, does occur with some frequency.

So, what is so great about all that?  Well, actually quite a lot. Let me explain.

A recent article from The Catholic Register titled, “A ‘Penitent’Pope Will Be Coming to a Wounded Nation”,  captures Michael Higgins’ observations about the anticipated Papal visit to Canada and the longed-for Papal apology for harms done by the Church to the indigenous peoples of Canada.

Comparing Pope Francis’ visit with previous papal visits, Higgins is quoted as saying, “[Pope Francis] is coming as a penitent. There’s no triumphalism this time. He’s coming to a bruised Church. He’s coming to, in many ways, an angry Church. There are many Catholics who are upset by what has happened. So, he’s coming to a wounded nation.” (Canadian Catholic News – Nov. 3, 2021 )

The article goes on to say, “As luck would have it, the man who now stands in the shoes of the fisherman is uniquely qualified to take on this challenge.”

What makes Pope Francis uniquely qualified?  The article identifies values of attending and listening – the same values that are promoted by the Synod.

The tone set by Synod 2021-2023, with its emphasis on listening to each other, to the poor, to the scripture, and to the Spirit are not just preparatory steps for the next phase of the Synod.  If we really dig into the vision promoted by the Synod, it will deepen our faith as a mission oriented Church, a Church with the strength needed for true reconciliation in our land.

Without this kind of work on the part of all the people of our Church, an apology from the Pope would be little more than another formality.  Something that is not owned by our nation and another failed attempt at peacemaking.

In our polarized, frazzled, angry nation, the Church, The People of God, are being entrusted with a precious gift, a mission.  The Synod is calling us to be for others, as Christ is for us, a loving agent of reconciliation.

In my estimation, that’s pretty darn great!

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Peter Oliver is the new Executive Director for the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) and, with his wife Madeline, the co-founder of Olive Branch Marriage and Family Ministry.