Synod on Synodality 2022

What is it?

The Synod on Synodality is an assembling of the entire Church over the next two years, at the invitation of our Holy Father, to encounter Christ, journey together and listen to the Holy Spirit. In the local diocesan pre-synodal phase which goes through May 2022, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver will be engaged in a process of formation and listening in each parish and in diocesan-wide gatherings in order to regain clarity on the mission God has given to his Church and listen collectively for where and how he is inviting us to extend that mission today in our new apostolic age.

Archbishop Aquila: Welcome to our Discernment Process: Why are we doing this? What is it? What is discernment – Archbishop Aquila

Tim Glemkowski: Our Vision: Christendom to Apostolic Mission, The Why, Overview of the Missions – Tim Glemkowski

 When?

We will meet for our local “Listening Session”, on Thursday, February 17th, 5:30-6:30pm. Please RSVP by Saturday Feb. 12 to let us know you will be joining this event.

  • We will start promptly at 5:30pm. Please plan to arrive at SFA St. Clare Hall earlier to get your name tag and table assignment, and be seated and ready to go at 5:30pm.

  • Bring your journal/notes from your prayer sessions.

How?

  • Please pray with the 3 questions below. (Scroll below to see “discernment guidelines”)

  • Record what you hear from the Holy Spirit in a notebook or journal.

  • On the day of the Listening Session, we will organize participants into groups, and assign a table leader for each group.

  • Each participant will have approximately 2 mins per question to share, so plan to come with a summary or themes of your input for each question.

  • Table leaders will be given resources and instruction on how to gather and share the themes of each group.

The Questions

Please start praying with the following 3 questions:

1) The mission of the Archdiocese of Denver is “that in Jesus Christ all might be rescued and have abundant life, for the glory of the Father.” What do you hear the Holy Spirit saying in prayer to the Church of northern Colorado about how he wants that mission to be carried out today in this apostolic time?

2) The mission of the parish is to accomplish the mission of the Church. In supporting the Church’s mission, the parish functions like an “embassy” – a place of home and freedom in a foreign and sometimes hostile land where anyone can find support and refuge. What do you hear the Holy Spirit saying in prayer to the Church of Denver about how our parishes can more effectively live out that “embassy” mission?

 

3) The mission of each disciple is given to them in baptism. This mission is to become a saint by being “on mission” in their individual lives and families “so that all might be rescued.”  What do you hear the Holy Spirit saying to you personally, in prayer, about how you are being called to live out that mission today? 

Discernment Guidelines

Before you start, remember…

  • Trust, with fierce docility, that your Loving and Good Father wants to speak to you!

  • God speaks to us through:

    • Jesus Christ

    • His Church (because we are joined together in Christ, God speaks to us through other people)

    • Visible creation around us

    • The events of our lives

    • Holy Scripture

  • Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Prepare:

  • Seek silence:, spend a few minutes quieting yourself and relaxing, settling yourself into a prayerful and comfortable position.

  • Be prepared with journal, pen and bible.

  • Don’t rush (the discernment may occur over time)

Pray:

  • Ask the questions directly (God is present as a person, in you through His Holy Spirit).

  • How may the Lord be speaking to me?

    • Seeing - images/scenes in the imagination

    • Hearing- word or phrase- voice of the mind

    • Feeling - intuitions or senses upon your heart

    • Knowing - information in the form of whole thoughts or impressions

  • ARRR:

    • Acknowledge (your thoughts, feelings, distractions, etc)

    • Relate

    • Receive

    • Response

  • How do I know it is God who’s speaking? (Voice can be divine, from ourselves, distractions from the world, or the evil one).

    • What comes from God will not contradict

      • Authority

      • Church Teaching

      • Scripture

      • Spiritual Direction

    • Is this coming with Peace or Fear?

  • Write down everything that comes to you in prayer:

    • Do not discard the “odd” or something you can’t explain right away

    • Pray into it

    • Look for confirmations