March 3, 2022

Bishop Byrne celebrates Synod Mass as consultation phase begins

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

 

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne celebrated the Synod Mass, Monday, Feb. 28 at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield. The Mass initiated the next phase of the Diocese of Springfield’s participation in the worldwide synod, with consultation sessions now scheduled for March and April.

“What is love? The great love is to ask somebody how they are doing and then care about the answer,” said Bishop Byrne in his homily. “I think this is what the Lord is calling us to be:  a loving church by being a listening church, by being courageous enough to come together to meet, but also being wise enough to not be too rich in our ideas. Then great things can happen.”

Pope Francis called for the Synod on Synodality with a theme of “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.”

The pope is asking Catholics to discern God’s mission for the church.

“Well, the pope asks and we say yes,” Bishop Byrne told the congregation. “He asked us to be a more listening church, to be a church that journeys with people on the way.”

The synodal team is reaching out to all 79 parishes, religious communities, and Catholic and non-Catholic agencies that care for those who are often marginalized.

“We have two more months and those two months are probably the heart of this whole program,” said Mikie Cook, a synodal team member. “It has to do with the setting up of consultation sessions which is really a time of radical listening.

“It’s all about listening. It’s not about debating,” she said. “It’s all about all of us understanding one another so that we can truly walk together as we approach the throne of God.”

The team has been holding information sessions around the diocese to recruit volunteers who will serve as ambassadors, promoting the effort in their parishes and regionally. The team also is looking for volunteers that can help with facilitating, notetaking, hospitality, communications, and prayer.

“It’s like an awakening, if you will, of the church again, to gather together, especially after these two years of COVID, gathering people together to again share what faith is, what church is, bringing people that probably stepped away, and others that might not be sure,” said Deacon Angel Delgado, of Blessed Sacrament and All Souls parishes, Springfield.

“Bringing those people into that dialogue also to help them understand that we’re all here,” he said. “We’re part of God’s great big family and we want to hear from you.”

During these sessions, which will be held in community centers, senior centers, libraries, and coffee shops, people from throughout the diocese will be able to meet one another and listen to hopes and concerns.

Some of the questions to be considered in the diocesan consultations include:

• What particular issues in the church and society should we pay more attention to?
• How is God speaking to us through voices we sometimes ignore?
• What are difficulties, obstacles, and wounds in the local church.

The results of the listening sessions will be synthesized, sent to Bishop Byrne and then to Pope Francis.

For more information on the synod process, go to http://diospringfield.org/synod/.