Servants of Charity

My Dear Confreres, 

The Synod on Synodality of Pope Francis comes with lots of excitement, misgivings, and misconceptions. Some have asked whether it is a product of coercion or freedom. Some have wondered whether it is a true renewal or a disguised trap. Some have questioned the intention of this synod. It is factual that every synod is shrouded in mystery, and the Holy Spirit is the principle of communion and mission in the Church, the principle of synodality. The fears, anxiety, tensions, joys, and excitement this Synod has generated seem unprecedented in the recent history of the Church.
The invitation of Pope Francis on synodality for the universal Church is to gather together and discuss how we are to stay together today in the world in the light of the Gospel. This is not just the meeting of the collegial government or episcopal collegiality but the ecclesial communion, the entire people of God. It is the gathering of the people of God who constitute the Church of Christ: the clerics and laity. The greatest aim of the Synod is to listen and discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church, and how we can live together today. It is to listen and discern the image of the Church envisaged by Christ. The way of synod is a way of collective discernment, collaboration, sharing, participation, and communion. The idea of synodality has increased mixed feelings of fears, suspicions, hopes, excitement, and more in the universal Church.
However, no matter what one thinks about the synod and the outcome of the synodal process, the potential dangers and abuses, the enormous promises of the synod cannot be ignored.
Therefore, Catholics, both great and small, rich and poor, saints and sinners are encouraged to give in their best of bests and engage actively, passionately, prayerfully, wisely, and honestly in the Synod and the synodal process. This will bring about a purified, balanced, and enriched outcome for the Church. What is important is to religiously follow the virtues of the Church in a journey together and overcome the tendencies to slack towards the vices.
The virtues of the Church on a journey together, make the journey the symbol and characteristic of a pilgrim Church. The Vademecum, or manual, for the synod on synodality views it as the principles and attitudes of synodality. They are such as innovative outlook, inclusivity, open-mindedness, accompaniment, co-responsibility, listening and dialogue.
The vices of a journey together in the Church can be seen as various stumbling blocks to our achieving the good desires of the Synod on Synodality. The Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality captures these vices as temptations or pitfalls that we must do well not to fall into during the process of this synod.
By and large, if this journeying together in synodality is going to be a lasting work of the Holy Spirit, we must try to discern and practice together the virtues of the Church on a journey and prevent the vices of a journey in the Church. In any case, our faith and assurance is that divine providence will not allow the fruits of our Synodal aircraft to be hijacked by unscrupulous elements within and outside the Church to a scandalous demonically arranged airport. After all, the Holy Spirit is in each of us, and this Spirit is the principle of communion and mission. This is the faith of the Church. This we must confess with confidence and great expectation.
Every Synod in the Catholic Church is a time of grace. It is primarily a golden opportunity offered to the members of the universal Church to encounter, listen, and reflect upon the Gospel of Christ more intently. It is a time to listen to the Spirit, which speaks to us in prayer and adoration.

 It is a “time to listen to our brothers and sisters” of their hopes and expectations from the Church.

. His Holiness, Pope Francis clearly defines the Synod as a “process of becoming, a process that involves the local Churches” in order to “forge a style of communion and participation directed to the mission”. Let us try to make use of this grace-filled time at our disposal to seriously review and renew our commitment to the mission of Christ.
To conclude, may I request you to spare some time to read and understand the meaning and the purpose of the Synod. I wish that we could come together for a Recollection at the community level. Let us educate ourselves in order to educate the faithful who are under our care. I do pray that this Synod would help us to “look within” and discern rightly God's message for the Church today and for the years to come! I wish you all a good preparation to celebrate the feast of the Mother of Divine Providence. May she continue to intercede for us that our province and communities may be abundantly blessed with the providence of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

• It is a gentle reminder for all the superiors and administrators to partake actively in the superiors and administrators meet, without fail to be held on November 16- 17, 2023.
• It is a gentle reminder for all the vocation coordinators of the respective communities to partake actively in the Vocation Coordinators meet, without fail to be held on November 17, 2023(6-8pm).
• It is a gentle reminder for all the superiors to encourage and send the Guanellian Youth Movement members of the respective communities to partake actively in the Guanellian Youth Movement meet, without fail to be held on November 19, 2023.
• It is a gentle reminder for all the formators to partake actively in the Formators meet, without fail to be held on November 28-29, 2023.

Fr. Ronald J, SdC

Provincial Superior