A Breath of Fresh Air

In a recollection where I was invited to share my synodal experience, there was this question deeply embedded in my mind, “how can we sustain this?” He was referring to the consultation process. Knowing the plans that Fr. Allan Rodriguez had in mind, I readily answered that stewardship would be the next thing that comes close to Synod for San Pablo Parish. On my way home, I continued to reflect on the question, not much on the answer, but where the question was coming from. I came to realize that it is one of the deepest longings of the people, the longing to be heard without prejudice and the longing to be listened to regardless of identity.

Why is it so important to “walk together” in the Church? Much so why is it important to sustain the synod experience? The Synod is a breath of fresh air because we are called to become a listening Church, we are challenged to get out of the four walls and leave our comfort zones in order to stop and listen. “This journey, which follows in the wake of the Church’s “renewal” proposed by the Second Vatican Council, is both a gift and a task: by journeying together and reflecting together on the journey that has been made, the Church will be able to learn through Her experience which processes can help Her to live communion, to achieve participation, to open Herself to mission. Our “journeying together” is, in fact, what most effectively enacts and manifests the nature of the Church as the pilgrim and missionary People of God” (PD, 11).

Fr. Allan’s reflection on this journey speaks of personal and communal conversion which makes us see things as the Lord does. It is the idea of receptive listening during the consultation where one is required to put aside one’s ego and pay attention to what is being shared. It is not a matter of doing exceptional things, but it’s all about one’s commitment to act as collaborator in Christ’s mission and an inspiration for the community to follow. “Even sa mga downs, naa pud mga ups na kinahanglan ipadayon sa simbahan, dili diay tanan reklamo lang sa simbahan, naa pod diay nalipay sa among ginahimo” (Fr. Allan, Advent Recollection, 2021).

Lastly, the Synod “is intended to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission (PD, 32). Thus, the objective of this Synodal Process is not only a series of exercises that start and stop, but rather a journey of growing authentically towards the communion and mission that God calls the Church to live out in the third millennium” (Vademecum, 11). (Catherine V. Sison)