The Synodal Pathway at Farm Street Church
Written by our parish representative for the synodal process, Dr Janet Obeney-Williams
Pope Francis has launched a worldwide process of listening and discerning, a ‘synodal pathway’ from October 2021-2023.
Synodal means ‘journeying together’. The Pope is inviting the entire Church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission.
This is one of the most exciting developments in the Roman Catholic church since Vatican 2.
There will be three types of synodal conversations:
1. Listening Events with Area Bishops
One to One Area Listening Events
Paired Listening Events for Young Adults, Ethnic Chaplaincies, Social Justice and Peace Network, and School Leaders
2. Online Listening Events for those who cannot attend locally.
The diocese is inviting groups and individuals to join in area, parish, and online conversations.
Please look for the details online at details at www.rcdow.org.uk/synod
3. A variety of listening activities in our own Parish.
Father Dominic has asked me to be the parish representative for the synodal process, and I have been spending time considering how best to serve in this role.
We have started by gathering a team of individuals and have representatives who will be putting on a range of events.
At Farm Street there will be different activities, which we hope will gather the views of as many people within our church as possible, those perhaps on the margins or considering getting involved, and those connected with the church through volunteering or other projects.
Some of us in the parish identify with particular groups – it may be that you go to one of the masses regularly, you may attend on weekdays, occasionally, or at festivals and events.
You may be somebody who has popped into the church to look at the art, to pray or to spend time in our peaceful and contemplative environment.
You may be a volunteer or a client/guest of the various services for homeless people that Farm Street is involved with – SVP, homeless hub, visiting the housebound.
Or be part of the ever-growing on-line community.
The parish also has connections with CLC, catholic schools through young people and their parents and universities and colleges.
Of course, many will consider themselves part of more than one group or none.
Some of the events/activities are already planned:
Steven Fachada, our pastoral council chair is arranging some listening sessions for anyone who attends the 11 am congregation.
Steven will publicise these once he has confirmed the details.
Similarly, Debbie Martin and I will be arranging listening sessions for people who attend the 9:30 Mass and we have our first session on Sunday, the 2nd January 2022 in the Arupe Hall after Mass..
There will be sessions for altar servers, led by one of the young people in Farm Street.
Pauline Mercieca is arranging events for anyone who identifies as over 65, and this includes herself, and she will she is aiming to have the first event before Christmas and she will be facilitating this on 17th January 2022-details to follow from Pauline.
The younger adults who attend the 7pm mass are planning events.
Leninha Assis, our catechist, will be gathering the views of the younger children and their parents.
Leslie Giltz is leading on an on-line survey to access all who have given their email contact to the Parish, and those who access the on-line masses.
Yasko Kurahachi and Jen Copestake will be consulting with the volunteers and guests of the SVP and homeless hub.
The Landings program for returning Catholics have begun their listening sessions, as have LGBT Catholics Westminster who have already publicised and held evening events at the Arupe Hall on the 9th and 23rd of November.
There is, of course, scope for others to come forward, and I encourage you to consider if you would like to be part of the Parish Synod Team.
If this interests you, then please email the Farm Street administrator at farmstreetoffice@rcdow.org.uk
The Pope is especially keen to hear from those at the margins of the church, and beyond, and is encouraging us to think about how we can gather the views of those outside our congregations.
We will be distributing a simple questionnaire for people to give their views. These questionnaires will be around the back of church beginning this weekend, inserted into in the newsletter, and we encourage all of us to consider sharing them with family, friends, and colleagues.
The Pope is inviting us to pray thorough this process, listening to the prompts of the Holy Spirit, and to begin to dream about what the catholic church could be like in the future.
Dr Janet Obeney-Williams