In talking to those assembled for the climate summit pre-meeting last month Pope Francis said, “This is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities – what we value, what we want, what we seek – (to) re-plan our future, committing to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of. The time to act, and to act together, is now!"/ "Este es un momento para soñar en grande, para repensar nuestras prioridades -lo que valoramos, lo que queremos, lo que buscamos- y replantear nuestro futuro, comprometiéndonos a actuar cada día de acuerdo con lo que hemos soñado. ¡Ahora es el momento de actuar juntos!"
What the Pope said can also be applied to the Synod 2022; to bring about a successful synod we need to participate and dream big. Here is what the synod document says about participation:
Participation: A call for the involvement of all who belong to the People of God – laity, consecrated and ordained – to engage in the exercise of deep and respectful listening to one another. This listening creates space for us to hear the Holy Spirit together, and guides our aspirations for the Church of the Third Millennium. Participation is based on the fact that all the faithful are qualified and are called to serve one another through the gifts they have each received from the Holy Spirit. In a synodal Church the whole community, in the free and rich diversity of its members, is called together to pray, listen, analyse, dialogue, discern and offer advice on making pastoral decisions which correspond as closely as possible to God’s will (ICT, Syn., 67-68). Genuine efforts must be made to ensure the inclusion of those at the margins or who feel excluded.
Participación: Una llamada a la participación de todos los que pertenecen al Pueblo de Dios -laicos, consagrados y ordenados- para que se comprometan en el ejercicio de la escucha profunda y respetuosa de los demás. Esta actitud crea un espacio para escuchar juntos al Espíritu Santo y guía nuestras aspiraciones en beneficio de la Iglesia del Tercer Milenio. La participación se basa en que todos los fieles están cualificados y llamados a servirse recíprocamente a través de los dones que cada uno ha recibido del Espíritu Santo. En una Iglesia sinodal, toda la comunidad, en la libre y rica diversidad de sus miembros, está llamada a rezar, escuchar, analizar, dialogar, discernir y aconsejar para tomar decisiones pastorales que correspondan lo más posible a la voluntad de Dios (ICT, Syn., 67-68). Hay que hacer esfuerzos genuinos para asegurar la inclusión de los que están en los márgenes o se sienten excluidos.
Showcasing SHA talent: As we participate in the synod we can look to the drawing Sophia P, 7th, did about a moose who likes to be involved.
God bless,
Mrs. Alhadef
Campus Minister
4th Grade Aide
Jr. High ELA Aide