2023-10-10 11:34:40
At the 4th General Congregation of the 16th Ordinary Synod session, the thoughts that the real wealth of the Church is in the spirit of life were shared.
Fr. Jinu Jacob, Vatican City
Four members from different continents shared their ecclesiastical testimonies at the 4th General Congregation of the 16th Ordinary Synod. Members demanded that synodality should not be a momentary issue, but should become the general character of the Church. Therefore, the people of the Synod emphasized that the life spirit of the members of the Church walking together is the real wealth of the Church and not money.
Professor Anna Rowlands, a teacher at Durham University in Great Britain, highlighted the meaning and scope of communion in the church. Communion is a sign and tool of unity with God and others, but the professor added that living communion requires courage and grace. Anna pointed out that communion is our activity and existence.
In a modern world that tends towards unity and fragmentation, collectivism is the language of beauty, adding that it is a synthesis of unity and diversity. Anna points out that humility and service characterize this community experience. The professor also pointed out that this community is meaningful when it is close to people who are poor. In the Holy Eucharist, the vastness of God who invites us to this communion is manifested.
After Anna Rowlands, who spoke in the light of her experiences, the testimony of Sonia Gómez de Oliveira, a member of the Brazilian National Council of Laity, was also shared. Sonia said that synodality should be a practice of the church, and we should keep our doors open to listen to others and receive them by offering the presence of Jesus.
Then Metropolitan Job Gecha of the Ecumenical Patriarchate also spoke. The Metropolitan mentioned some historical situations in which the Orthodox Church included priests and laity in the process of synod. Then Clarence Dawedus, a Malaysian priest from Asia, also shared his testimony.
He highlighted that the Synodal Church is characterized by the Asian culture of being connected to God, self, other human beings and the universe. Although the Church is considered a minority, it is not an insignificant minority, but in many places it becomes a majority in the service of holistic human development and common good.
Another Asian, Siu Wai Vanessa Cheng from Hong Kong, also shared her testimony. She emphasized that listening to others means respecting them, and the need to pay attention to those who stay silent for fear of disapproval and distance themselves from authorities.
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