The Third night of Formation for the Pastoral Council was addressed by Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He gave a presentation on Synodality. He said it is all about walking the pathway together. Vatican 11 spoke about being a” Pilgrim People” and we are exiled from our home meaning heaven. The Lord is walking with us as he walked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection.
Fr Eamonn said that 112 Bishops Conferences sent their synod reports to Rome out of a total of 114. There is too much instability and violence in the other two to do it at present. He explained the synod process is about meeting, listening, debating, praying, and deciding. The Spirit is involved and must be consulted. Fr Gerry O’Hanlon talks about a “Quiet Revolution” going on where the faithful are actively involved in the work and decisions of the Church and parish. Their responsibility comes from the fact they are Baptised. At Baptism they are reminded of their responsibility “As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.”
Synodality is all about how we exercise power in the Church. In a very real sense, the clergy and the faithful are all at the service the Church. As Pope Francis reminded the faithful in April” Ego trips” are out. The process is calling people to listen to each other, to the vulnerable, and to the Holy Spirit. Listen to “Sense of the Faithful”. It is about accepting, accompanying, discerning and reinstating. Jessie Rodgers speaks about, “Listening together for the Divine Whisper”.
God is at work in the world, and we are called to tune in to the Spirit. Silence and reflection and a love of Jesus are essential on the way.
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The final night of Formation for PPC takes place on this Monday night at 7.30p.m. in the Vincent’s Hall. Fr Gearoid Godley will talk about the Nuts and Bolts of an effective Pastoral Council.
