Not Usual News-Grabbers

Vatican synods are important in the life of the church. However, the world outside the church, many inside and the media that make stories have not found synods attractive stories— until Pope Francis. Mr. John L. Allen Jr. reported that in today’s All Things Catholic as well as informing about synods and the upcoming one.

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Wiki-image by User:Mattes of sign pointing to Vatican City CC BY-SA 3.0.

Jesuit General Superior on Evangelization

Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, the General Superior of the Society of Jesus, was present during the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization. He began his intervention at the synod:

Coming from a Missionary Order, I feel the obligation to reflect on our past history. We can hardly think of a New Evangelization, unless we are sure we have learnt something from the First Evangelization, from the things we did well and from the mistakes we committed as well as the insufficiencies we suffered in our desire to communicate the Gospel.

A summary article is at the National Jesuit News with link to his intervention text.  

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Wiki-image by Jessie Eastland aka Robert DeMeo of moon art sunrise used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

“On the Wings of Martyrs and the Mentally Handicapped”

Thinking he “was taking a break from the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization,” Mr. John L. Allen Jr. visited Lviv, Ukraine. He returned to Rome “believing instead that I had seen the New Evangelization in action.” Find out what he discovered and his “remember you heard it here first” portent.

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Wiki-image by Jost2211 of ambo in Dominican Church, Lviv, used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

As Paul VI Envisioned

The Synod of Bishops—still continuing in Rome—named a delegation which will visit Syria next week. Mr. John L. Allen Jr. lists four reasons why the visit by the delegation is “actually important.” 

In his review of synod activity this week, Mr. Allen noted a brief comment about Islam in the secretary’s official summary “doesn’t come close to capturing the flavor of what’s been said.” Find and read Mr. Allen’s synod review here.

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Wiki-image by Lienhard Schulz at the German language Wikipedia of light entering a church window used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Humility, Cheeseburgers and Original Sin

Mr. John L. Allen Jr. offers today his “report from the Oct. 7-28 Synod of Bishops in Rome on the new evangelization.” He closes with a “couple of nuggets,” one sobering, one not without humor.

Ironic Timing

In the United States 1 in 5 people have no belief, according to this Pew Forum study. The study calls them “nones,” and that moniker is already a Twitter hashtag: #nones. The study indicated “one in three U.S. adults under 30 are now considered nones.”

     The study’s timing is ironic in light of the current General Synod of Bishops with its theme of the new evangelization. “Fraternal delegates” (non-Catholics) are making interventions along with the bishops. Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas blogged what one fraternal delegate said yesterday:

One fraternal delegate from the Lutheran church indicated that the synod is crucial to all Christian churches. All are eager to recover the joy of believing. He expressed concern that so many were not bringing their children to be baptized  He rejoiced that we no longer have to condemn one another but we have learned to respect one another and strive together for deep internal renewal. We need an ongoing renewal for all Christians.

Evangelizers will need renewal to make the good news good enough for “nones” and others to consider seriously.
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P.S. For readers wondering what a synod is, what it can accomplish and what is the new evangelization: here’s a Q&A by Mr. John L. Allen Jr. for the NCR.

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User:Yellowblood released into the public domain Wiki-image Atheist.

Down to Business

In Rome on Monday morning the 260-plus delegates of this year’s General Synod of Bishops began to address the business for which they prepared. Vatican Radio website described their goal as “re-energizing a hackneyed faithful and reaching out to those who have yet to believe in Jesus Christ.” Among the most tested faithful currently are the Christians in the Middle East.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai and his Patriarchal Vicar General, Archbishop Paul Sayah, are attending the Synod. Ahead of the Synod Tracey McClure asked Archbishop Sayah what the Patriarch will be bringing to the synod. After an extract of the interview on the Vatican Radio site a link to listen follows.

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Wiki-image by Faris knight of Gospel book in Arabic used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

“Aims and Hopes”

This General Synod of Bishops is number thirteen. Its topic is the New Evangeliza-tion. Croatian Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod, presented the aims and hopes of this 13^th ordinary general assembly last Friday. Later, Philippa Hitchen spoke to him to learn more. Listeners may enjoy the interview at Vatican Radio.

Readers may follow the council through the blog posts of one of the U.S. delegates to the Synod, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona. Catholic News Service made available yesterday his first post. It covers many things, including the opening mass.

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Wiki-image of Evangelium is in the public domain in the U.S.