With the opening of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2021, Pope Francis has called the entire People of God to listen, dialogue, pray, discern, and make decisions together for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop da Cunha expressed this call as “Journeying Together with Jesus on the Path of Faith & Hope.” The hope is to reorient the local Church toward an inherent synodal attitude in decision making processes through communion, participation, and mission.
St. Francis Xavier Parish will carry out this call by holding an in-person consultation session on Saturday, March 26 from 10am-12pm at SFX school gym to hear concerns, to determine how our parish can better serve people, and to deepen our celebration of the Eucharist in our local church. An anonymous online survey will also be shared in the coming weeks for those unable to participate in the March 26 meeting.
What is the goal of the consultation session? This gathering will give us the opportunity to hear from parishioners about their experience of journeying toward the face of Christ. The goal is to prayerfully discuss what the Church is doing well and what the Church can improve upon as we journey together.
What this is…The Synod Gatherings Session is an opportunity to share your perspective. Be prepared to also offer solutions and share elements of parish life that lead people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.
What this is not…The Synod Gathering is not an opportunity to point out all of the flaws of the Catholic Church without providing reasonable solutions that are rooted in truth. We are guided by the principle caritas in veritate, charity in truth. More information can be found on the diocesan website: https://www.fallriverdiocese.org/synod-2021-2023/