PASTOR’S NOTES

Out of the Second Vatican Council came many initiatives to strengthen the ecclesial reality of communion and its related concept of collegiality. On a regular basis the Holy See calls for a synod which fulfills these purposes in discussing issues of concern to a particular part or totality of the universal Church. For example Pope John Paul II called for gatherings which discussed the family and its essence, the mission of the laity, the vocation of consecrated religious, and the ministry of bishops. Additionally, in view of the approaching millennium, the Holy Father called for reflection on the material and spiritual realities of each of the five continents (the Western Hemisphere was considered as one by the Universal Shepherd). Each synod begins with a linementa (a series of questions) on the topic chosen by the Pope. It is sent to various episcopal conferences, the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, ecclesial groups of clergy, religious, and laity, and various experts in the areas under study. The curial department of the Synod of Bishops then places the responses received, in a document which will serve as a working paper (instrumentum laboris) for the discussion which will take place under the presidency of the Holy Father. Each participant at that time can express their views in a five minute (intervention). Some months after the two or three meetings the Holy Father will publish his response to what he heard and what he perceives the direction in which the Church should head in an apostolic post-synodal exhortation. These works assist all in establishing their priorities in fulfilling the purposes of the Church.

The preface of the latest working paper serves as the platform for the discussion of the Church’s mission to the ancient lands of our faith community’s infancy. “For many, the present-day situation in the Middle East is much like that of the primitive Christian community in the Holy Land, where men, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote the books of the New Testament. These holy writings, read in the intimacy of the Holy Spirit, are a call to Christian witness for individuals and entire communities. This is especially the case of the faithful living in the land of Jesus, where, oftentimes in adverse conditions which have lasted for almost two millennia, they have proclaimed in word and deed, the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth: ‘He is Risen, He is not here’ (Mk 16;6); He is the ‘Living One’ (Rev 1:18), ‘the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End’ (Rev 22, 13) These biblical meditations are particularly timely and appropriate in preparing for the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled to take place from 10 to 24 October 2010 to treat the topic: the Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness. ‘Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul’ (Acts 4: 32)…The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has honored its publication (the Instrumentum Laboris) by wishing to present it to the representatives from the different traditions in the episcopate of the Middle East, during the Apostolic Visit to Cyprus. This gesture is yet another indication of the particular concern the Bishop of Rome has for the beloved Churches of the Middle East. Given the present of the members of the Pre-Synodal Council for the Middle East, this gesture also serves to express his gratitude for their collaboration and is a fortuitous anticipation of the synod’s work to begin on Sunday 10 October 2010 in Rome, with the Eucharistic con-celebration at which the Supreme Pontiff will preside. We entrust the successful outcome of the synod to the prayers of many members of the faithful in the Middle East and the entire Catholic Church. In particular, we invoke the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, her spouse. They themselves came from the Middle East and raised the Son of God in the land which was their own. We ask them to continue to be spiritually near at this time, protecting the Holy Churches of God in the Middle East, which, in their pilgrim journey, must pass through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God (cf. Acts 14:22).”

One must recognize the dual purpose of this papal meeting as well as clarify some realities. The first goal that is present is to support those faith communities which are united to Rome through submission to the Holy See. These various Catholic Churches in their sacramental rites and institutional governance preserve their cultural uniqueness of their origins. When speaking of these believers one must make a distinction between them and the members of various orthodox churches who also inhabit the various countries in the area. The second goal is to maintain the Christian witness among peoples of other religious traditions. It must be acknowledged that there are grave difficulties presented daily to the Church by the tumultuous political situation and theological discord.   The Holy Father advised in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est: “Those who practice charity in the Church’s name will never seek to impose the Church’s faith upon others. They realize that a pure and generous love is the best witness to the God in whom we believe and by whom we are driven to love.” (31) The working papers inform us that many of the respondents to the questionnaires sent out recognized the validity of these sentiments. “To create the conditions needed for a change in people’s mentalities and in society as a whole, some responses speak of the importance of an ongoing instruction and discussion on freedom, respect for the freedom of others and going beyond confessional interests, towards greater justice and equality in law, in short, towards a ‘positive laicity’. Some call for political and church initiatives on the international level, or even insisting among political leaders on respect for religious freedom and freedom of conscience.” (39)

Let us pray for the unity of the churches and peace in the world.

Vivat Jesus

Fr. Brian