FORMATION FOR A MORE GENUINE SYNODAL SPIRITUALITY IS AT THE HEART OF THE RENEWAL OF THE CHURCH (Instrumentum Laboris).  

Dear Friends,

We are living historic moments in the life of the Church. Since Pope Francis announced in 2015 that: "The path of synodality is the path that God expects for the Church in this new millennium", we have sought, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, to get closer and closer to a Church that listens; to a Church of communion, participation and mission.

WUCWO and the path of the Synod

The first phase of listening at the parish, diocesan, national and continental level concluded on June 20, with the publication of the Instrumentum Laboris (IL). Now we are facing the beginning of the second phase with the two sessions of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023 and 2024. The objective of these Assemblies will be to present to the Holy Father concrete proposals to grow as a Synodal Church.

Many women from our organisations participated in one or more stages of the listening phase. In addition, WUCWO carried out, through the World Women's Observatory (WWO), the project: “Synodality according to co-responsible women of the synodal process. Their contributions and challenges.” We listened to nearly 500 women co-responsible for the process at the diocesan, national or continental level in the world and, with the results, we prepared and delivered to the Synod Secretariat the report called: Responses to the Document for the Continental Stage (DCS). We invite you to read this report and some testimonials from women committed to the synod who perform an important service for the Church little known and/or valued https://www.worldwomensobservatory.org/en/global-projects

We also received, with great joy and hope, the news of the Pope's decision that lay women and women representing religious congregations, will participate in the Synod Assembly with voice and vote. On the other hand, we see with satisfaction that the results of our work in the Observatory are reflected, in a certain way, in the IL.

A call to formation

Considering the resolution that we adopted at the Assisi Assembly on formation for a synodal conversion that leads us to full participation in the Church and in the world, I invite all the women of WUCWO and our member organisations to become more involved in this process.

For this, it is important to analyse the content of the IL that gathers the fruits of the path travelled, including the great advances and learnings. I recommend its reading! I copy some points that can help us reflect more deeply on the steps to take in our personal lives and in our organisations, parishes and communities to walk towards synodal conversion:

·       “The need for formation is not limited to the updating of content, but has an integral scope, affecting all the abilities and dispositions of the person, including mission orientation, the ability to relate and build community, willingness to listen spiritually, and familiarity with personal and community discernment. Also necessary are patience, perseverance, confidence and freedom in speaking the truth (parrhesia).” (IL 58)

·       “…the more one is called to serve the Church, the more one must feel the urgency of formation… all those who exercise a ministry need formation to renew the ways of exercising authority and decision-making processes in a synodal key, and to learn how to accompany community discernment and conversation in the Spirit.” (IL 59)

Certainly, for us at WUCWO, the IL is a guide that will help us discern how to live, in our own circumstances, the essence of synodality that makes us all feel co-responsible for the good being of the Church, knowing how to integrate differences and work in ecclesial harmony.

You will soon receive an invitation to participate in the seminars that we are preparing for the month of September, with women from different parts of the world who have participated in the synodal process in all its stages and who will share their experience and learning with us. Likewise, in October we will organise, together with the International Forum of Catholic Action (FIAC), the cycle of meetings "Walking with the Synod", where some of the participants in the Synodal Assembly that will be taking place in those days will be able to talk with the press and with representatives of Catholic organisations. We will send you the links so that you can participate!

I conclude by encouraging you to accompany this process with our prayers entrusted to the Lord, without forgetting that the protagonist of this whole process is the Holy Spirit. You can find various prayers on the portal https://www.prayforthesynod.va/en/

Mónica Santamarina

WUCWO’s President General