Welcome to the Cardinal’s Call for Renewed Synodality
The Cardinal Archbishop of Manila has issued a call to the Church, urging a renewed focus on the virtues of hospitality, boldness, and hope to enhance its synodality.
During the opening Mass of the National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod in Manila on July 29, Cardinal Jose Advincula delivered a powerful homily stressing the importance of a welcoming Church. Drawing inspiration from the example of Martha in the Gospel of Luke, the Cardinal emphasized the need for the Church to let go of its systems and arrangements to fully welcome Jesus into its midst.
Cardinal Advincula challenged the Church to expand its tent and embrace a truly welcoming community, highlighting the importance of reaching out to those who feel marginalized or excluded. He urged priests to follow Mary’s boldness in faith and encouraged them to recognize and promote the boldness of their parishioners.
The Cardinal called for a revitalized sense of mission, inspired by Lazarus’s emergence from the tomb, and urged the faithful to actively engage in the Church’s mission. The National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod brought together over 250 priests from various dioceses to discern ways to rejuvenate their priesthood and parish life.
Organized by the bishops’ conference and the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization (OPNE), the gathering aimed to continue the synodal conversation initiated by Pope Francis. Fr. Jayson Laguerta, OPNE director, expressed hopes that the meeting would inspire priests to embrace a more communal leadership style and strengthen unity among the clergy.
As Pope Francis has emphasized the vital role of parish priests in the synodal process, this gathering serves as a pivotal moment for priests to lead by example and set the stage for laypeople to follow suit. Let us all heed the Cardinal’s call for renewed synodality and work towards building a more welcoming and inclusive Church.
(With reports from Roy Lagarde, CBCP News)
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