The Synod of Bishops is in itself an Assembly of Bishops from the different regions of the world, although the Pope always invites religious and lay men and women, not only as listeners but also with the possibility of intervening and offering their point of view. The ordinary Assembly is usually held in October, every three or four years. The Synod of Bishops is an ancient ecclesial institution, which was revitalized by the Second Vatican Council (1965). The First Assembly was held in October 1967, and the last one, the XV, in 2018. In addition, three extraordinary General Assemblies and ten special Assemblies of continents or regions have been held during this time.
Unlike the Councils, which have the capacity to define dogmas and legislate (always with the Pope’s permission), the Synods are only consultative and their primary mission is to advise the Pope on the proposed theme (diverse in each Assembly), sharing the vision of the different realities of the world and strengthening unity as a universal Church.
Now, since October 2021, we are already working at the level of all the Dioceses on the XVI Assembly of Bishops to be held in October 2023, with the theme of synodality. We are all called together for a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. «Synodality» means «walking together» and is what best realizes the nature of the Church, a community of believers united as brothers and sisters around Jesus, the pilgrim People of God to bring the light of the Gospel, sowing love and hope to our world.
It is the Pope’s wish that all the People of God be able to participate, that is, all the baptized without exclusion: bishops, priests, consecrated and lay faithful, including those who are in the marginal situations. That a participatory and inclusive ecclesial process be lived, so that all can express themselves and be heard and take advantage of the richness and variety of gifts and charisms that the Spirit freely distributes for the good of the community and for the whole human family.
This journey together requires a spiritual process of truly listening to one another, to the tradition of faith and to the signs of the times, so as to discern together what God is saying to us. Communal discernment will help to build flourishing and resilient communities for the mission of the Church so that it can better walk together with the whole human family under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Well, a General Chapter, like the XXIII General Chapter that the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family will celebrate in Rome from September 8 to October 4, 2022, is like a Synod at the level of the Congregation and, rather, it resembles a Council for its decision-making power that marks its future journey as a Congregation and where the Superior General and her Council are elected. Together, in synodality, our identity and mission at the service of the Church and the world are strengthened and expressed in the participation, communion and collaboration of all the members, this «walking together», with the same spiritual attitudes indicated when we speak of a Synod.
Here is the logo and motto of our Chapter, the theme of which is: «Strengthened in the Spirit, we embrace our reality and the suffering humanity, moving forward with hope on a synodal journey.
The coincidence of both events is providential: walking together! it is our identity as a Congregation; we profess the same Constitutions, we are animated by the same spirit and charism and, living it as an authentic fraternity of love and mission, characterizes us as followers of Francis of Assisi, the humble universal brother, as well as the traits of openness to others, and apostolic passion, which our Father Founder, Luis Amigó, left to us.
All of us are already immersed in this synodal, ecclesial and Chapter process, trying to make room for the Spirit to guide us and make us instruments of salvation together with the other believers and, in particular, with our Sisters of the Congregation. We have already held the “conversations” with the General Council and we continue the other activities of evaluations and elections and, above all, our daily prayer asking for the action of the Spirit in the whole process of the Chapter.
As commended by our General Superior, Sr. Ana Tulia Lopez, let us be synodal women, beginning in our own community, humble in listening with our hearts to God, to his Word, to one another and also to the suffering humanity that surrounds us and that we serve in particular in our apostolates.
Opening ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to experience marvels; in the words of Pope Francis to the youth, «Dreams will sprout and hopes will blossom» and we will give the response of fidelity that corresponds to us.
Sr. Maria Elena Echavarren, TC
