The Synod and the Parokyano (Part 1)

Synod is a Greek word meaning a council. It is associated with a church activity like a consultative council of the clergy. There had been more than 21 synods. The first was held in 325 in Nicaea which made a formula of faith called the Nicene Creed. The 21st synod was started in 1962 by Pope John 23rd. When he died in 1963, his successor Pope Paul 6th continued the synod which was finished in 1965. It was called the Vatican II synod because from 1869 to 1870 there was also a synod held in Vatican called the Vatican I synod.

The coming synod will be very different from the past synods. One: only the clergy, bishops, cardinals, head of congregations, religious orders participated in the previous synods. For the first time, the one billion Catholics worldwide will participate through the parishes and the dioceses. Two: The synod will begin in October 2021 continuing the whole year of 2022 collating and finalizing the papers submitted by the hundreds of dioceses all over the world culminating with an assembly of all the bishops in a synod in October, 2023.

This will be the greatest legacy of the Jesuits to the Church. The first Jesuit Pope called for a synod which will focus on the relationship of the faithful, with the parish, the clergy, and the Church from the eyes of the one billion Catholics. The think tank of Pope Francis made a clear detailed procedure or plan to be completed in 3 years, which the Synod General Secretariat, in turn, sent to all bishops. It consists of 5 documents. 1) VADEMECUM or official hand book for listening and discernment in local churches, 17 pages. 2) The Process of the Synod; 15 pages. 3) Resources for organizing the synodal process; 6 pages. 4) Appendices: A. The Diocesan Contact Person Team, B. Suggested Guide for Organizing a Synodal Consultation Meeting, C. Diocese Pre-synodal Meeting, D. Preparing the Diocesan Synthesis, 5) Bolettino or Preparatory Document for the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops starting October 2023, 12 pages.