Year of the Parish Communion of Communities: Ecclesiological Perspective

“2017- Parish as Communion of Communities: In this year we will discern the quality of faith life in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation experienced by its members. Efforts will be focused on making the parish a communion of communities, a communion of Basic Ecclesial Communities and of covenanted faith-communities and ecclesial movements. All these various communities should be thus integrated into the life and mission of the parish so that the parish will be truly be a faith community immersed in the lives of its people.”

Etymology of Communion – Koinonia
Communion is a translation of the original Greek koinonia which has several connotations:

• Union, unity
• Fellowship
• Community
• Friendship
• Sharing
• Participation
• Partnership

Koinonia in Sacred Scripture
In the New Testament, there are several texts that refer to the theme of koinonia. Among these are the following:

• John 17:20-24 – “they may be one, as we are one.
• 1 Cor 12 – Body of Christ
• 2 Cor 13/Phil 2:1 – Communion of the Holy Spirit
• Acts 2:42-46, 4:32-35 – life of the early Jerusalem community

In these texts, Koinonia has both vertical and horizontal dimension: communion with the divine and communion among the believers.

Dimensions of Communion
An analysis of the description of Koinonia in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35, would show that communion has four dimensions that are interrelated:

• Communion of Mind and Heart (community, solidarity, fellowship, friendship)
• Communion of the Word/Faith (apostolic teachings), Unity in Faith
• Communion of the Table (Table-Fellowship, Eucharist)
• Communion of Goods (sharing of material/spiritual resources, stewardship) collection in liturgy – koinonia

Communion is to be lived and expressed within communities and between communities – at the local, regional, universal levels.

Up to the middle of the first millennium, the dominant model of the Church was that of the Church as communion. This model was later deemphasized with the dominant model of the Church as institution. This was retrieved by Vatican II.

Communion in Vatican II
The dominant image of the Church in Vatican II is that of communion. It is linked with the Church as People of God.

General heading of ch 1 Lumen Gentium: the Mystery of the Church. Church is regarded as the sacrament of communion: “since the Church, is in the nature of sacrament – a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men.” (LG 1)

It is grounded on the Holy Trinity. Echoing St. Cyprian, Vatican II views the Church as “a people made one from the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (LG 4). Thus, Ecclesial Communion is a reflection of Trinitarian Communion.

The Church is the moon that reflects the light from the Sun (Trinity). The loving union (perichoresis) of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is the model and goal of Ecclesial Communion.

Vatican II links communion with the people of God:

“Hence the messianic people, although it does not actually include all men, and at times may appear as a small flock, is, however, a most sure seed of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race. Established as a communion of life, love and truth, it is taken up by him also as the instrument for the salvation of all; as the light of the world and the salt of the earth (cf Mt 5:13-16) it is sent into the whole world.” (LG 9)

In a commentary written before he was elected pope, Karol Wojtyla explains how communion is intimate related the Church as People of God:

“Communion is the link binding together the community of the People of God. Thus it appears that internal development and renewal of the Church in the spirit of Vatican II depends to great extent on the authentic deepening of faith in the Church as community whose essential bonds that of communion.” (Sources of Renewal)

Ecclesial Communion is also manifested among the bishops – in relation to each other and in relation to the pope. This is referred to as hierarchical communion:

“In order that the episcopate itself, however, might be one and undivided he put Peter as the head of the apostles, and in him he set up a lasting and visible source and foundation of the unity both of faith and of communion.” (LG18)

This hierarchical communion is associated with collegiality. It refers to the bond of unity that links the bishop with the college of bishops and with the Roman Pontiff (LG 22). This aspect of communion affirms the vision of the Church as communion of local and particular Churches. (Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD | cbcpbec.com)