As we move closer to Synod 2008, it might be helpful to begin to revisit the issue of consultation in the Church and its theological consequence: communion.

The archdiocese now has many structures to facilitate dialogue, planning and decision-making. These structures have involved many new people in the process of archdiocesan community building.

While there will always be need for growth and development, the people of the archdiocese are obviously becoming accustomed to the process. The ongoing challenge is to help more and more people understand the spirituality of the consultation process so it never degenerates into a “business only” approach to a pastoral/spiritual agenda.

As my recently published Pastoral Letter stated, we must choose to move forward as an archdiocese by collaborating in solidarity to build the future of the archdiocese. We must face whatever challenges confront us – together.  

The teaching of John Paul II

In many ways, the Church is still reflecting on and digesting the wisdom contained in the many writings of Pope John Paul II. I suspect that process will continue for years to come.

For example, in paragraph 43 of his Apostolic Letter “At the Close of the Great Jubilee Year” (January 2001), the Holy Father stressed the importance of the spirituality of communion.

He wrote that without the spirituality of communion, the structures of consultation would be “mechanisms without a soul”. To avoid soulless structures, he called for the Church to become the home and the school of communion.

Pope John Paul II presents the following points about the spirituality of communion:
1) Christ reveals the Father to us;
2) Christ reveals that divine life is a Trinitarian communion, the highest mystery of union;
3) Through Christ humanity can participate in Trinitarian life and can direct human dynamics to reflect the mystery of God that has been revealed to us;
4) Evangelisation is the call to participate in Trinitarian Communion.
5) Consultation is a privileged opportunity for growth in the process of building communion.

Structures of the archdiocese

The structures of the archdiocese are intended to help the various levels of the archdiocese interact on a regular basis i.e. the parish level, the vicariate level and the archdiocesan level.

The system is designed to operate in this way: the council of each chapel community in each parish is to relate to the parish council. The parish councils are to relate to the vicariate councils.

The vicariate councils are to relate to the archdiocesan level through the various councils, commissions and secretariats of the archdiocese.

Finance councils in particular on both the parish and archdiocesan levels make important and realistic contributions to the ever-present issue of good stewardship of Church finances and properties.

Since many of the buildings of the archdiocese are quite old, the issue of preventive maintenance takes on special importance.

I am particularly pleased that more and more professionally certified people in many fields are making themselves more available to the Church e.g. in the areas of finance, construction, public relations, law, education and medical care.

Everyone involved in the process of consultation must understand the importance of being prepared for meetings, sharing information/proposals respectfully, listening to others carefully, collaborating toward informed decision-making and sharing in the   responsibility of implementing decisions.

The spirituality of the process is found in the five points listed above from the apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II. Without that spirituality, the structures can appear to be a burden. When the spirituality is present, the solidarity of the parish, vicariate and archdiocese improves considerably.

Synod 2008   

As we all recall, Synod 2005 shortened the period of time that was proposed by the synod committee for the next synod. I thought that the decision of the synod was a very positive sign.

To me, the decision indicated an acceptance by the delegates – priests, religious and laypersons – that the canonical instrument of synod was becoming more and more accepted as an important way of the archdiocese to act in solidarity.

There was a resolution at the last synod that showed the delegates were committed to dialogue, consultation and implementation. Resolution 43 requested that each parish have an assembly at least once each year to focus on the implementation of the synod in the parish.

Each vicariate was asked to hold a vicariate assembly each year to consider the reports from the parishes. The Archbishop was asked to appoint a synod implementation committee which would assist the parishes and vicariates in the implementation process.

The synod implementation committee was appointed and it issued Guidelines for Implementation in the form of a 10-page booklet.

The obvious questions that each parish and vicariate should consider are:
1) Have the Guidelines for Implementation been followed?
2) Is the spirit of dialogue, consultation and implementation present and active within the parishes and vicariates? and 3) Have the written reports from the Assemblies been prepared for the scrutiny of Synod 2008

Conclusion

To be effective, consultation must flow from the attitude of knowing how to listen wisely. To lead to communion, consultation must reflect the spirituality of Trinitarian Communion that was taught by Pope John Paul II.

When the spirituality of Trinitarian Communion is rooted in the hearts of the participants, the people of a parish, a vicariate and an archdiocese will be comfortable with each other, interested in sharing their insights, hopes and proposals, involved in decision making and personally committed to helping with implementation.  
May God bless the pre-synod process!