St Mary Star of the Sea Church, Synod Update, October 2025
Recently, at the hairdressers, the lady in the chair next to me asked if I were a Catholic – I replied ‘yes, I expect my Irish lilt gave me away’…… she said she used to be a Catholic, but because of all the abuse in the Church, and with no apology from the Pope, she remained dismayed. I listened.
Luckily, I had the text of Pope Francis’ Penitential Prayer Vigil’ on my iPhone. During the Penitential Vigil in Saint Peter’s Basilica, on October 1, 2024, seven cardinals, on behalf of the Church, expressed shame and articulated specific requests for forgiveness, each addressing particular transgressions.
There and then, I was able to show my companion these requests for forgiveness for the sins of the Church. I passed my phone to her to read the text. She showed visible relief on knowing about this.
Later, it dawned on me that, maybe, there were people in my own parish who hadn’t heard about this Vigil. Meeting the lady prompted me to provide this Synod Update.
The full Penitential Prayer Vigil is available on YouTube. There you will find the moving testimony of three survivors and the full text of each request for forgiveness, expressions of shame, and an acknowledgement of the Church being complicit in the betrayal of many.
Below are the seven specific requests for forgiveness expressed by the Cardinals. These are abbreviated. Full texts are available at the Penitential Prayer Vigil on YouTube.
1 Sin against Peace:
Cardinal Oswald Gracias sought forgiveness for the Church’s lack of courage in pursuing peace and recognising the dignity of every human life across all stages.
2 Sin of Abuse:
Cardinal Seán O’Malley expressed deep remorse and shame for the sexual abuse, abusive power, and abuse of conscience committed by clergy, acknowledging the betrayal and harm inflicted upon victims.
3 Sin against Creation, Indigenous Populations, and Migrants:
Cardinal Michael Czerney apologised for the exploitation of the environment, complicity in systems favouring slavery and colonialism, and the Church’s role in the suffering of migrants.
4 Sin against Women, Family, and Youth :
Cardinal Kevin Farrell sought forgiveness and expressed shame for failing to recognise and defend the dignity of women, for making women mute and subservient, for judging and condemning the frailties within families, and for not supporting the growth and talents of younger generations.
5 Sin of Using Doctrine as Stones to be Hurled:
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández asked pardon for instances where Church doctrine was used as stones to be hurled at people, and misused as a tool for judgement rather than guidance, leading to inhumane treatment and hindering unity among Christians.
6 Sin against Poverty:
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero acknowledged the Church’s failure in embodying the virtue of poverty, seeking forgiveness for times when materialism overshadowed spiritual values.
7 Sin against Synodality:
Cardinal Christophe Sean Byrne expressed regret for not fostering a spirit of communion and participation within the Church, recognising that such shortcomings have hindered the Church’s mission.
These confessions were part of the Church’s broader effort to acknowledge past mistakes and seek a path towards healing and renewal. I also see it as a response to the Worldwide Listening Exercise that took place as part of the Synod for Synodality.
……………………………………
Our Way Ahead
1 Both The Final Synod Document and Pathways for the Implementation Phase of The Synod are on St Mary Star of the Sea website under the heading SYNOD 2021-2024 …This period has now been extended by three years, with implementation being so significant.
2 TheJubilee of Diocesan Synodal Teams & Participatory Bodies will take place in Rome 24th–26th October 2025. We look forward to further practical guidance arising from this when our diocesan team returns..
3 The two SMSS Parish Synod Listening Reports are on the website.
4 The School for Synodality is an excellent online resource for documents, information, guidance, and podcasts.
Please contact me if I can help you.
Maggi Vine. maggivine@icloud.com
Working Document for the October Session of the Synod
LGBT+ Catholics Westminster welcome Synod working document
Draft Working Document for the Synod on Synodality approved
On 10-11 May, the 15th Ordinary Council* of the General Secretariat of the Synod met in Rome to discuss the Instrumentum laboris: the working document for participants in the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (4-29 October 2023).
In plenary session and in language working groups, the Council members accompanied by some consultants reviewed, amended and approved the Instrumentum laboris, which is scheduled to be published in early June.
The participants also approved the assembly’s methodology. Furthermore, the work included a reflection on the preparation of the participants and some information on the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil on 30 September next as part of the Together2023 initiative (for more information: www.together2023.net) and the spiritual retreat for participants of the assembly (1-3 October 2023).
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of great fraternity and was marked by several moments of prayer and time for personal reflection.
***************************
*Members of the Ordinary Council take office at the end of the Ordinary General Assembly that elected them. They are members of the following Ordinary General Assembly and cease their mandate when the latter is dissolved.
Who are the members of the Ordinary Council?
Laymen and laywomen eligible to vote at General Assembly
The Secretariat for the Synod announces that 70 “non-bishop members” appointed by the Pope—half of whom will be women—will be able to vote at the Synod General Assembly in October.
Pope Tawadros II blesses the synodal process of the Catholic Church
The role of the bishop in the synodal process
Letter of Cardinals Grech and Hollerich to the Bishops of the World
Vatican City, 30 January 2023
On the eve of the celebration of the Continental Assemblies, it is with a letter addressed to all the eparchial bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches and diocesan bishops around the world that the Secretary General of the Synod, Cardinal Mario Grech, and the General Relator of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, address the topic of the bishop’s role in the ongoing synodal process.
Recalling the process-oriented nature of the Synod on Synodality convened by Pope Francis, the two cardinals recall the responsibility of Pastors, “the principle and foundation of unity of the holy People of God” (LG 23), with respect to the synodal process.
In fact, write the two cardinals, “there is no exercise of ecclesial synodality without the exercise of episcopal collegiality,” testifying to how these two ‘dimensions’ of the Church’s life are not in opposition, but that one cannot exist without the other.
To avoid any misunderstanding, the letter then strongly reiterates the primary theme – that of synodality – chosen by Pope Francis for the work of the synodal assembly of bishops next October. “There are in fact some who presume to already know what the conclusions of the Synodal Assembly will be. Others would like to impose an agenda on the Synod, with the intention of steering the discussion and determining its outcome. However, the theme that the Pope has assigned to the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is clear: ‘For a Synodal Church: communion, participation, mission’. This is therefore the sole theme that we are called to explore in each of the stages within the process. The expectations for Synod 2021-2024 are many and varied, but it is not the task of the Assembly to address all the issues being debated in the Church”.
On the eve of the continental Synod Assemblies, the letter then dwells on the primary goal of these assemblies: to grow in the synodal style of being Church. “The more we grow in a synodal style of Church, the more all of us as members of the People of God — faithful and Pastors — will learn to feel cum Ecclesia, in fidelity to the Word of God and Tradition. Besides, how could we address pointed questions, often divisive, without first answering the great question that has been challenging the Church since the Second Vatican Council: “Church, what do you say of yourself?”.
| Registration now open for the Multilingual Course on Synodality promoted by the Evangelii Gaudium Centre It is with a first introductory lecture entrusted to Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, on 17 January 2023 that the multilingual course on synodality promoted by the Evangelii Gaudium Centre of the Sophia University Institute will begin. The course, realised in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod, will consist of four stages: three academic modules and a residential meeting. They will deal with topics related to the synodal process: what is synodality? Is it in line with what is expressed in the Magisterium of the Church and Canon Law? How is it possible to live it in the Church? Addressed to the entire People of God (from bishops to pastoral workers, from priests to consecrated men and women, from seminarians to lay people), the course aims to offer a wide-ranging theological and pastoral preparation with the objective of providing the Christian community with a model for the communal exercise of Christian thinking and acting. The lectures will be held on the ZOOM platform. It is possible to register for the entire course or for a single module. The lessons will be held in Italian, with simultaneous translation into Spanish, Portuguese and English. The course is also aimed at members of the same community (parish, association, friends,..) who will thus be able to gain direct experience of the method of listening, dialogue and discernment at the basis of the Synodal Church. For information and registration contact: ceg@sophiauniversity.org https://www.sophiauniversity.org/it/centro-evangelii-gaudium Registration Those who intend to register for the entire course must do so by 15 January 2023. Those wishing to follow one or more modules, on the other hand, have a deadline of: 4 February for the 1st Module;4 March for the 2nd Module;6 May for the 3rd Module.Links to register: https://forms.gle/xb1SmD5mYW3zTo1A6 FLYER in ENG – ESP – ITA – POR |
| Copyright © 2022 General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: General Secretariat for the Synod of BishopsVia della Conciliazione, 34Vatican City 00120Vatican City State (Holy See)Aggiungi il nostro indirizzo alla tua rubrica Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
National Synthesis
Monday, June 27th, 2022 @ 3:05 pm
The National Synthesis – reflects on Synod reports received by the national synthesis team, discerning the main themes that have emerged from the listening conversations, and collating them together to give a picture of the synodal process in England and Wales.
It’s a free online program aimed at all continents in order to train more than 100,000 people of all nationalities.
Enrollments will be open for the month of JUNE. The online course starts on JULY 4 and has the possibility to do it in Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese or French.
Find more information or sign up at: https://formaciononline.bc.edu/es/register-home/
· See original
·
BIBLICAL RESOURCES
“The Synodal process in our parish was truly a joy to be part of. Very many new friendships and connections have been formed across the Parish as a result. There was a great hunger among people to meet, talk and share their views (or Encounter, Listen and Discern). There is renewed energy to heal our parish after Covid and multiple plans for Synod Action Groups to look at how we can be better at welcoming people, including young people, looking after the elderly and the sick, and improving our music. Ideas range from an annual Parish Picnic to a new prayer group for men, to Pilgrimages and special celebrations. The Synod has been wonderful for our parish and has brought many people together.”
Janet Obeney-Williams, Farm Street Parish, London
Pope Francis speaks to LGBT Catholics in new letter: God ‘does not disown any of his children.’
Please click DOWNLOAD below to read the response of our parish groups to the Synod
ABOUT
For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission
A two-year ‘synodal’ process is taking place across the Catholic Church. This is an important moment in the life of the world Church, with Pope Francis calling us all to reflect on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.” The Pope is inviting us to take this journey together. As the Preparatory Document for the Synod expresses, “This path of walking together is the most effective way of manifesting and putting into practice the nature of the Church as the pilgrim and missionary People of God.”
SYNOD 2021 – 2023 ONLINE EVENT- BISHOP RICHARD- 9 MARCH, 7.30PM
Bishop Richard presented a Summary of Feedback received from Parish Synod discussions during an online meeting which took place on 9 March at 7.30pm. It can be viewed below.
St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church Hastings 