Synod Session Communique
Session Three:
November 15-16, 2002
“Your
work ends, mine begins,” said Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of
Philadelphia, at the close of the third and final working session of the Tenth
Synod of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday, November 15-16,
2002, at Drexelbrook Conference Center in Delaware County. “In the time
ahead,” the Cardinal told the 242 Synod members, “I have the sacred duty and
responsibility, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, of studying your
recommendations and preparing the acts of the Synod.” In his
closing remarks, the Cardinal asked for continued prayers of the faithful to
assist him in discerning the will of the Holy Spirit as he carries out this
task.
The
three synodal topics addressed in the final session were 1. Moral and
Social Issues — A Pastoral Response, 2. Liturgy and 3.
Evangelization. The Cardinal highlighted the importance of the final three
topics. “All nine issues were very important, but these seem to be the most
momentous ones.” He cited pro-life and race-related issues among the
important moral and social issues of the day. The Cardinal explained that
the liturgy “is supposed to affect your life and bring you to a greater
holiness.... The Sacraments in the liturgy are one of the major means of God
making Himself present to us.” “Evangelization means the preaching and
living the Gospel, bringing it to ourselves and bringing it to others,” said
the Cardinal. “Every activity of the Church is subsumed in evangelization.
That is the reason Christ came to earth — to bring the Good News of the Father
to other people. It’s best done by living it.”
“I
look at these three topics we discussed this weekend as the cornerstone of the
future of our Church,” said Synod member Ms. Josephine Faia, of Saint Donato
Parish in Philadelphia. “All are central points.” Synod member Rev. Mr.
Daniel N. DeLucca, Permanent Deacon at Saint Andrew Parish in Drexel Hill, sees
the interaction, dialogue and exchange among all participants as one of the
significant advantages of the entire Synod process. “For each person to
come away with the views, ideas and background of other people was certainly a
very enriching experience.”
The
first six topics (discussed in September and October) were 1. Spirituality, Call
to Holiness and Sacraments 2. Roles of Service in the Church and in the World:
Role of the Laity; Role of the Religious and Role of the Clergy 3.
Marriage and the Family 4. Youth and Young Adults 5. Catholic Education of Youth
and 6. Adult Faith Formation.
The
last Synod, convoked by Cardinal Dougherty, was held 68 years ago. In
diocesan Synods prior to the Second Vatican Council, only priests participated.
However, in the 2002 Synod, lay members made up approximately half of the 242
member Synod body. Priests, deacons and members of religious orders made
up the other half. Cardinal Bevilacqua served as Chair and observed all
sessions. Now he will take all proposals under consideration and is
expected to announce any actions in early 2003.
All
Catholics in the Archdiocese are invited to attend the Synod’s Closing Mass on
Sunday, December 8, 2002 at 2:30 p.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter
and Paul in Philadelphia, two years from the date Cardinal Bevilacqua called for
the Synod. “The most important element in the Synod is that it is moved by
prayer,” Reverend Monsignor John E. Breslin, Director of the Office for the
Archdiocesan Synod said. “Just as we opened with a special Mass invoking the
Holy Spirit on the work of the Synod, the Closing Mass is very important. We
gather together to give thanks for the grace the Synod is for the diocese.”
