Synod… There’s that word again!
Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM,
Pastor
Letter from the Pastor
Second Sunday of Lent
March 13, 2022
Do you remember Ed Koch? When he was mayor of New York City he would always ask, in his thick New York accent, “So how’m I doin’?” Not a bad question to keep asking ourselves!
Right now the Catholic Church is in the midst of asking a similar question, “How are you doing?” It is not the same as Mayor Koch’s query, and the motivation is certainly different, but it is an opportunity for the church to get a better sense of the sensus fidelium – the sense of the faithful.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sensus fidelium as "the supernatural appreciation of faith on the part of the whole people, when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals."[1] Lumen Gentium, from the Second Vatican Council, says, "By this appreciation of the faith, aroused and sustained by the Spirit of truth, the People of God, guided by the sacred teaching authority,... receives... the faith, once for all delivered to the saints. ...The People unfailingly adheres to this faith, penetrates it more deeply with right judgment, and applies it more fully in daily life."[2] Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew [16:18] that "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it," [the Church.] Fr. Gerard O’Collins, in his book Fundamental Theology, defines church as “the Lord's people that carries forward the living tradition of essential beliefs throughout history, with the Bishops overseeing that this tradition does not pursue the way of error.[3]
Everyone is invited to participate in these prayerful conversations. The first will be after the 10 AM Mass today, Sunday, March 13th, in the Parish Center. Another will be Saturday, March 26th at 10 AM in the church hall and the third is a zoom meeting at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 23rd. Please see the letter in today’s bulletin for more details. If you have not signed up for today’s meeting, don’t worry. Just go!
I participated in a diocesan wide conversation as well as facilitated a number of these conversations in preparation for the Synod of 2023. I have found them all to be very affirming and uplifting as I listened to the love that our fellow parishioners have for the church as well as the challenges that we encounter along the path of our own lives.
I would encourage you to participate in one of these conversations. I suspect that you too will find it to be a grace-filled experience and an opportunity to witness the Holy Spirit in action.
Unlike Mayor Koch’s appeal, this is not a vote on truth or doctrine. This is not a debate where one side tries to convince the other that they are right. This is simply a time to listen to the church, from the individual voices at a specific meeting, as well as the collective voice of the sensus fidelium when ultimately our voice will be added to the collected responses. Fear not, the Holy Spirit is always in charge.
Peace and All Good
Fr. Francis J. Di Spigno, OFM
Pastor