Reflecting together with Fr Romano Sala from the UPS in Rome, about the Youth synod and its ripples in the Church and for our own Salesian youth ministry, as part of the study day in the Province, I was inspired by many insights. The most significant of these insights is perhaps the notion of synodality that Fr Sala was emphasising to be the process being pushed for by Pope Francis.
The youth synod, not only spoke to the youth but also very concretely involved them in the process of the synod - from the beginning to the end! This method of inviting them on board, this involvement of the youth in discussing matters of faith and vocation in the Church made a huge impact on the mood and mode of the synod itself. I think it made a deep impact most of all on those participating in the synod. Going forward, I think this method of involving all the stake holders in all the processes of decision-making, right since the beginning is the key to resolving quite a few issues that plague (or lack of which, hinder growth in) the Church and the congregation - clericalism, ecumenism, inter-religious dialogue, bureaucracy, transparency and collective responsibility.
This attitude and concrete method of synodality shifts the predominant mentality of the church and the congregation, from 'doing something' for the young to 'being with' the young.
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