The Archdiocese of San Fernando joined the whole Catholic Church in formally launching the consultation process we call the Synod on Synodality.
Preaching at the opening mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando on October 17, Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias said that the Synod on Synodality calls the whole People of God.
“We are all called not to organize this consultation as an event but also journey together with the Holy Spirit in bringing peace, holiness, and love to one another,” the archbishop said. “But we cannot just simply talk and listen,” he added, “We must ask the Lord to give us the gift of Love — the universal language that can be understood and experienced by all.”
The live-streamed mass, dedicated to asking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, our Virgen de los Remedios, was the first of the four-month series of activities of the archdiocese on the consultation process. Last October 15, we launched the local synod on synodality we called “Mákiramdam.”
Mákiramdam is divided into three phases: Miaslagan, Mipasiknangan, Makiagum.
The Miaslagan phase will share the concept of Synodality, from history, the scripture, liturgy, theology, and how everyone can practice it. It will be a series of videos uploaded on the archdiocesan Facebook and Youtube accounts.
Mipasiknangan, the second activity, will be a series of focus group discussions in parishes, schools, organizations, and institutions where synod stewards or volunteers will lead a conversation for every one of us.
The second activity also involves the production of an archdiocesan live Facebook show, where Archbishop Lavarias will listen to various guests and discern together.
Lastly, in the last activity, Miabe, the archdiocese encourages all visual and music artists to share their gifts through a contest about their interpretation of Synodality.
The Archdiocese of San Fernando invites all of us to participate and be involved in this Synod on Synodality, whether ordained, consecrated, a parish officer, or a layperson; whether you are a practicing catholic or not, or not catholic at all, no matter what your gender identity is. The archdiocese will listen on this journey together.
Announcements and activities will be posted on our archdiocesan website in the following days.
May our mission be grace-filled with opportunities born of encounter, listening, and discernment through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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The Synod on Synodality is a universal activity of the Catholic Church from 2021 to 2023. The consultation will begin with the diocesan phase, then continental phase will take place from September 2022 to March 2023. The third, universal phase will begin with the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, dedicated to the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” at the Vatican in October 2023.