Synod of the Family begins tomorrow: Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod, said there will be 61 Cardinals, 1 Cardinal Patriarch, 7 Patriarchs, 1 major archbishop, 67 metropolitan archbishops, 47 bishops, 1 auxiliary bishop, 1 priest & 6 religious. Also 16 experts, 38 auditors & 8 fraternal delegates. Special emphasis has been given to married couples, parents & family heads -total of 12 persons & a married couple within the group of experts. The Holy Fathers wishes to undertake an innovative & original Synodal path, structured in 2 phases: the current Extraordinary Assembly, on the theme Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation & next years Ordinary Assembly, which will take as its theme The vocation & the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world”. During the preparatory phase, there resounded the voice of all of the People of God, from bishops to lay faithful, expressing their opinions through the questionnaire distributed by the Episcopal Conferences. The large number of responses is due to the theme of the Synod, which regards the life of the community, families & people & reflects the pastoral care that bishops have always had in relation to the family. On the other hand, the breadth of the material that was submitted is without doubt an indication of the frankness & freeness with which the consultation was carried out. This broad-ranging freedom of expression will also characterize the Synod Assembly, which will certainly take place in an atmosphere of respect for every position, with mutual charity & a genuinely constructive approach. Other new elements: The Secretariat General asked the Synod fathers to transmit their contributions in advance, indicating the issue on which they intended to speak during the Assembly, respecting the order of themes. These texts were taken into consideration during the drafting of the Relatio ante disceptationem which becomes the reference point to be worked upon in the Assembly. During the debate of week 1, each general Congregation will open with the announcement of the theme by the president delegate, followed by an intervention by a married couple of Auditors, who will offer the Synod Fathers their testimony of family life, contributing to the enrichment of the debate on pastoral action. During the “Relatio post disceptationem” issued at the end of the 1st week will provide the basis for the work of the 2nd week by the “small groups”, when the Fathers prepare the final document, the “Relatio Synodi”, to be submitted to the Holy Father. Each day there will be a Briefing in the Holy See Press Office, with the collaboration of the Press Secretaries & participation of various Synod Fathers. The Press Office Bulletin will contain information regarding the days work. There will be a Twitter service to transmit brief summaries of the most important news in real time. The work of the Synod Fathers will be accompanied by the prayer of the people of God. In Romes Salus Populi Romani chapel in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a bishop or cardinal will celebrate Holy Mass for the family. The presence of the relics of the Blessed couple Zelie & Louis Martin & their daughter St. Therese of the Child Jesus, are significant, as are those of the Blessed couple Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi. Throughout the world, prayers will be offered in shrines, especially dedicated to the Holy Family, in monasteries, communities of consecrated life, dioceses & parishes.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:58:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015