Michelle Donovan, Edward Trendowski, and Bishop Thomas Tobin at meeting of Major Superiors
Much has been reported from our pulpits and in the press recently, both secular and religious, about the Synod of Bishops which will convene in the fall of 2023. Pope Francis has chosen as the theme for this 16th Ordinary Synod of Bishops, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” Desiring that the whole Church reflect on what synodality means today, the Holy See is inviting all the faithful – clergy, religious, and lay men and women – to consider how we are journeying together. To that end, four phases of preparation and participation will lead up to and include the synod. The Diocese of Providence began its local phase on Sunday, October 17, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. The goal both here and around the world will be, “to hear as many voices as possible, active and inactive Catholics, and other non-Catholic voices as well.” In other words, according to a recent summary published by the diocese, the overarching question posed will be: “What has been everyone’s experience of journeying with the Church?”
Sr. Elizabeth Castro, H.M.S.P. with Prior Michael Brunner at the Providence gathering
Following up on this diocesan kickoff of the synodal process, Prior Michael Brunner, as monastic superior, and with myself representing the Monastic Council, attended the meeting of the Major Superiors of Religious Congregations in the Diocese of Providence with Bishop Tobin on Tuesday, October 26. The event was organized by Sr. Elizabeth Castro, H.M.S.P. and her staff in the Office for Religious, and gathered in the crypt hall of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in the state capital across the bay. The day began with Mid-Morning Prayer, followed by Bishop Tobin’s presentation on the topic of the synod. Bishop Tobin explained that Pope Francis is asking each of us to look at our own lives and to examine how we are journeying with others on the way to God and the Kingdom of Heaven. He then introduced Michelle Donovan and Edward J. Trendowski from the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, both serving as contact persons, who turned to the topics of the synod. In his remarks, Mr. Trendowski quoted from a Vatican document which offers that, “a synodal Church journeys together” and suggested that we begin by asking ourselves, “How is our journeying together happening today?” Thinking “within the box,” or within our own community, is a start, but that train of thought must expand to include those without, to embrace other communities of consecrated religious. He noted that in the synodal process the pope wants to hear from inactive Catholics as well, to understand what their experience of the Church has been. Others to be sought out are individuals or communities who might be considered “outliers” or labeled as “the other.”
The spirit of the synodal process was also articulated in a letter from Cardinal Mario Grech, previously disseminated to the meeting’s participants, under the letterhead of Synodus Episcoporum, or Synod of Bishops. Addressed to, “Dearest brothers and sisters called to a monastic and contemplative life,” it refers directly in its opening paragraph to the importance of listening. Cardinal Grech writes that as, “men and women of prayer, you know from experience that there can be no synodal way without mutual listening, without attention to the Holy Spirit or without prayer.” Mr. Trendowski developed the theme of the letter, commenting that while the directive to “Listen!” may lead Americans to think they are being scolded, that is not the pope’s intent. This led the two Benedictines in the room to point out that on most nights, before the community begins its formal dinner with a reading, and just after grace is prayed, the monks “listen” to a portion of the 1,500-year-old Rule of Saint Benedict, whose thematic opening words are “Listen, my child.”
Sisters serving within the Diocese of Providence at the annual meeting of Major Superiors.
While the meeting of Major Superiors with Bishop Tobin is an annual event, no gathering was held in 2020 due to the pandemic, leaving an agenda that was quite full for this year. The meeting moved to a general discussion about the diocese, and the activities and programs provided by the religious communities gathered. The diversity of the sisters, priests and brothers in attendance reflected the demographic make-up of the populations served throughout Rhode Island. In light of this diversity, the pope’s inclusion of the word “mission” in the theme of the synod gave pause as to how the sense of the “mission” has changed for many religious communities. A century ago, it was Americans, be they Maryknoll sisters or Xaverian brothers or Jesuit priests, who were sent on mission abroad or south of the equator to evangelize and teach in schools or minister in hospitals worldwide. With the dearth of domestic vocations, especially in the U.S., the tables are now turned and we see an influx of religious missionaries, both men and women, from India, the Philippines, Italy and even from the African continent being posted in America. The formal discussions ended with the recitation of the Prayer of the Year of Saint Joseph, followed by a Mass in the Cathedral, and the event concluded with lunch and informal discussions.
We shall talk more about the synod and its benefits, as well as the ramifications for us locally on this side of Narragansett Bay in future editions of The Current. The meaning of the word “synod” alone is worthy of a dive into its etymology, to illuminate what the process is about. In the meantime, let’s all strive to be better listeners.