“The participation of everyone, guided by the Holy Spirit”

By Robin Gomes

As the Universal Church is about to embark on the synodal journey, Pope Francis on Saturday invoked the Holy Spirit on the People of God so that they will be able to move forward together, to listen to one another and discern our times, in solidarity with the struggles and aspirations of all humanity.

The Pope prayed as he presided over a moment of reflection in the Vatican’s Synod Hall, on the eve the official inauguration of the diocesan phase of the Synod for all the dioceses around the world, marked by a solemn Mass in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Oct. 10. Dioceses across the world will inaugurate the synodal journey at the local level on Oct. 17.

A special Synod

The theme of the upcoming 16th Synod of Bishops is: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”.  Synodality indicates walking together and listening to one another but above all to the Holy Spirit.  To deepen this essential characteristic of the Church, the upcoming synod is unlike any previous one.  It starts with, and involves all the faithful at local Churches across the world, promising to listen to all, especially to laypeople. That is why this Synod is a 2-year process, starting from October 10, 2021, to October 2023.

The diocesan listening phase will run until April 2022 and will be followed by a continental phase from September 2022 to March 2023.  The final “universal Church phase” will culminate in the traditional assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican in October 2023.

The protagonist of the Synod – the Spirit

In his discourse at Saturday’s moment of prayer and reflection, Pope Francis dwelt on how the synodality of the Church is achieved, namely, through communion, participation, and mission. He also pointed out the dangers it can run into, as well as the opportunities it offers.

“In the one People of God, therefore, let us journey together, in order to experience a Church that receives and lives this gift of unity, and is open to the voice of the Spirit,” Pope Francis said, stressing that the Synod is an “ecclesial moment”, not a parliament or an investigation into opinions, but “an ecclesial moment” whose protagonist is the Holy Spirit.  “Without the Spirit, there is no Synod,” he stressed.

Communion, participation, mission

Explaining the Synod’s three key words – communion, participation, and mission – he said that communion and mission describe the mystery of the Church.  Communion expresses the very nature of the Church, according to the Second Vatican Council.

According to Saint Paul VI “communion, that is, cohesion and interior fullness, in grace, truth and collaboration… and mission, that is, apostolic commitment to the world of today”.  Saint John Paul II stressed that koinonia gives rise to the Church’s mission of serving as a sign of the human family’s intimate union with God.

For this reason, Pope Francis said, Synods must be well prepared for, especially at the local level with the participation of all.

All are called to participate

He pointed out that ‘communion’ and ‘mission’ can risk remaining somewhat abstract, unless synodality is concretely expressed at every step of the synodal journey and activity, encouraging real involvement on the part of each and all”.   “All the baptized are called to take part in the Church’s life and mission.”

He acknowledged the frustration and impatience felt by many pastoral workers, members of diocesan and parish consultative bodies, and women, who frequently remain on the fringes.  “Enabling everyone to participate is an essential ecclesial duty!” he stressed, adding, it is an indispensable ecclesial commitment based on the “identity card” of the baptism.

Three risks to avoid

The Pope warned that a Synod can run the risk of being a mere formal external event, instead of being “a process of authentic spiritual discernment that we undertake, not to project a good image of ourselves, but to cooperate more effectively with the work of God in history”.  For this, “we need content, means, and structures that can facilitate dialogue and interaction within the People of God, especially between priests and laity”.

He noted that at times there is a type of “elitism” among the clergy that distances them from the laity, which makes them the “lord of the house” and not a shepherd.  This, the Pope said, requires changing certain overly vertical, distorted, and partial visions of the Church, the priestly ministry, the role of the laity, ecclesial responsibilities, roles of governance, and so forth.

Another risk that a Synod can run into is becoming intellectual, offering learned but abstract approaches to the problems of the Church and the evils in our world, which are far removed from the reality of the holy People of God and the concrete life of communities around the world.

A third danger that a Synod should avoid, the Pope said, is the temptation to complacency, which says, we have always done it this way” and it is better not to change.  The word ‘complacency’ “is a  poison in the life of the Church”.  People with such an attitude apply old solutions to new problems.  The Holy Father stressed that the synodal process should involve the local Churches, in different phases and from the bottom up, in an exciting and engaging effort that can forge a style of communion and participation directed to mission”.   

Three opportunities

Pope Francis pointed out that the synodal process of encounter, listening, and reflection help the People of God, the Church, to recognize at least three opportunities.  First, it must move not occasionally but structurally towards a synodal Church, where all can feel at home and participate.

Second, the Synod offers us the opportunity to become a listening Church, to break out of our routine in order to stop and listen, firstly to the Spirit in adoration and prayer, and then to our brothers and sisters, their hopes, the crises of faith around the world, the need for renewed pastoral life.

Keeping in mind that God’s style is one of closeness, compassion and tenderness, the Pope said the Synod is also an occasion for the People of God not to be aloof but to become a Church of closeness by her very presence, bandaging wounds and healing broken hearts with the balm of God.

Not another Church but a different Church

For this, the Holy Father said, we need the ever new breath of God, the Spirit, who sets us free from every form of self-absorption, revives what is moribund, loosens shackles, and spreads joy. “There is no need to create another Church, but to create a different Church,” the Pope said citing Dominican priest Father Yves Marie-Joseph Congar.  “For a ‘different Church’, the Pope urged all to invoke the Holy Spirit with greater fervour and frequency and humbly listen to Him.

09 October 2021, 10:56

M E S S A G E

We, your Pastors and Bishops, wish to add our voices to that of the entire nation in congratulating Ms. Maria Ressa, for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts “to safeguard freedom of expression.”

Our recent Popes have on occasion highlighted the important role that the press play in gauging the health of a healthy democratic society. It is not a surprise, then, that the Church “find the right esteem for your work and the recognition of the freedom of the press.” (17 January 1988: Teachings XI, 1 [1988], 135).

Today, all over the world, this journalistic work has become more and more difficult because of the level of disinformation and fake news that continue to spread through the means of social communications. The vocation and mission, therefore, of the members of the Press (as envisioned by our Popes) is to contribute not only for the search for truth, but more importantly, to help build a culture of dialogue. (cf. Pope Francis, Message to the Members of the Foreign Press Association in Italy, 18 May 2019).

We are grateful that Ms. Ressa, together with many of the distinguished and dedicated members of the fourth estate, have discerned the signs of the times and have valiantly responded and continue to respond to this particular invitation.

This important recognition – the first for a Filipino – would hopefully strengthen our people’s conviction to build a nation where journalism “is free, at the service of truth, goodness and justice.” (Pontifex Tweet, 03 May 2019).

As Filipinos and Bishops, we commit our continued collaboration in order to uphold these values.

29 September 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

Malacañang Complex J.P. Laurel Street San Miguel, Manila

Subject: Request for Immediate Release of List of Non-Environmentally Acceptable Products and Packaging and Include Single-Use Plastics

Dear President Duterte:

Green greetings! We, the undersigned organizations, are working on lasting solutions to end the plastic pollution crisis in the country. Single-use plastic is a problematic material. It is designed to be used once but lasts for decades in our ecosystems. We can see its effects not just in our coastal communities but in urban areas as well, especially during typhoon season. Our county is drowning in plastic waste. The staggering volume of plastic waste in the country has become unmanageable.

It has been twenty years since the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or RA 9003. However, implementation still falls short. We therefore note the following to include single-use plastics in the list of Non-Environmentally Acceptable Products and Packaging (NEAPP) as mandated by the Act:

Plastic is not just a waste management issue but a climate and health concern as well. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of plastic is made of fossil fuel, and the entire plastic life cycle – from production to disposal – causes high volumes of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions massively accelerate climate change. Moreover, plastic breaks down into smaller pieces called micro or nano plastics that find their way into the food chain, the water that we drink and, recent studies show, even the air we breathe. These micro-plastics may cause oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, inflammation, or immune reactions, and cause lesions in the respiratory system.

The plastic pollution crisis worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, it has been reported that the average Filipino uses 591 sachets, 174 shopping bags, and 163 labo bags every year. Nationally, this results in almost 17.5 billion pieces shopping bags and 16.5 billion pieces labo bags every year. From July to December 2020, the country generated 362,000 metric tons of waste. This volume is about four times greater than the 88,000 metric tons of waste generated in 2019.

There is strong clamor for a single-use plastic ban from the Filipino people. In a 2020 Social Weather Survey, it was found that 7 out of 10 Filipinos are in favor of banning single use plastics. Moreover, there are, currently, 488 local governments (including Davao City) that already have ordinances regulating single-use plastics. It is worth noting that these local ordinances have contributed to significant decreases in the volume of plastic waste in local communities. Unfortunately, local ordinances are not enough to address the plastic waste crisis. A national uniformed ban on single use plastics is necessary to ensure plastic waste volume reduction across the country. So far, 95 cities, municipalities and provinces passed resolutions urging the National Solid Waste Management Commission to release the list of NEAPP and include single-use plastic.

Our existing environmental laws are powerful, it is powerful enough to end the plastic crisis. RA 9003 established the National Solid Waste Management Commission under the Office of the President by virtue of Section 4 of the Act. RA 9003 prohibits the use, manufacture, distribution, and importation of Non- Environmentally Acceptable Products and Packaging (NEAPP). Its implementing rules and regulations define NEAPP as “unsafe in production, use, post-consumer use, or that produce or release harmful by-products when discarded.” Clearly, single-use plastic falls within this definition. Section 29 of the law states that within one year from the effectivity “the National Solid Waste Management Commission shall, after public notice and hearing, prepare a list of NEAPP that shall be prohibited according to a schedule that shall be prepared by the Commission.” It has been two decades; the Commission is still to release the NEAPP list. This mandate is long overdue.

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Religious Discernment Group

is inviting you to a series of discussions on “Philippine Politics in Context”

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First Part:        Saturday, 16 October 2021, 9:00 am – 11:30am

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PROGRAM

9:00 am          

Opening Prayer                                   Sr. Arlyne Casas, nds (Notre Dame de Sion)

Welcome Remarks                              Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, Jr., op

Introduction of Speakers and Reactors              Sr. Ma. Arabella Balingao, rgs

9:10 am          

Main Speaker:             Dr. Mike Pante,                       Ateneo de Manila University

Panel of Reactors:

1. Professor Fe Mangahas

2. Ms. Rosario Guzman of Ibon

10:10 am    

Open Forum/Sharing from Participants

10:50 am    

Involvement in Politics – A Right and Responsibility                  Fr. Wifredo Dulay, mdj

11:00am         

Closing Prayer

Closing video

Moderator: Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, Jr., OP

Meeting ID: 893 1271 4998
Passcode: 242927

October 4 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In celebration of the Season of Creation, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas in collaboration with the National Laudato Si’ Program will be having a webinar on:  “Alternative Economic Models/ Development Paradigms”

This will be on October 7, 2021, Thursday, from 3-5 pm.

I will be moderating the event so kindly email laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph  if you wish to join.

Thank you very much!

Jun Cruz
P.R.O.
CBCP- Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas