Around 200 people gathered at St. James Cathedral on Friday, Nov. 19. Father Dominic Buckley and Jesuit seminarian Orlando Portalatín spoke about the Synod of Synodality.
Encountering Holy Spirit
In a report with The Florida Catholic, both priests explained how the process would work in the Diocese.
Father Buckley stressed the goal of the Synod. According to the priest, it aimed for Catholics to encounter, listen, and discern with the desire for the Holy Spirit.
"Pope Francis is inviting us to return to our roots and to remind ourselves of what it means to be Christians, what it means to follow Christ," the priest said.
Portalatín explained that Synod meant "to walk together or to travel in the company of others." He encouraged Catholics to use this opportunity to grow in faith.
He told the attendees that Pope Francis asked the Church to reflect on the Spirit of God. The Catholic priest added that the Holy Spirit invited everyone to walk together in faith.
The priest said that God is a shepherd who wanted to be close to His people.
The Road to Emmaus
Bishop John Noonan called the Synod an experience like the Road to Emmaus. He recalled how the two disciples encountered Christ on the journey. The bishop pointed out how they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread.
He said the road to Emmaus was an encounter with Christ. The entire experience was the company of Jesus in one's life and discernment.
Bishop Noonan invited everyone to attend the Synod. He stressed it was all about listening to each other. It also meant being mindful of the needs of others.
The Synod spoke of the relationship one had with God and with others. He reminded everyone that Christ invited them to love one another.
No One is Excluded From Church
Father Buckley stressed that the Pope excluded no one from the Synod. He said that Pope Francis believed that "no one should be excluded from the Church."
According to the Catholic priest, this meant that this included those in religion.
He said that the Pope and the Holy Spirit invited everyone to renew their relationship with one another. The priest urged everyone that they should not cast stones at one another.
Father Buckley said that it was not for them to decide on God's plans for them. Questioning God's plans would mean that they deny God the possibility of saving that person's soul.
Those who attended the service were eager to grow in faith. Some had their doubts and questioned their encounters with the Holy Spirit.
Importance of Discernment
Father Buckley stressed the importance of discernment. He said that Pope Francis was the one who would decide how things would go moving forward.
He reminded the attendees that they should not overanalyze the Church. Instead, they should put their faith and trust in it.
The priest also challenged their faith in the Holy Spirit. He reminded them of their oath as Catholics and that everyone was invited to recognize their Baptismal calling.
The mission work was not limited to the Pope, bishops, and priests. Father Buckley stressed that everyone shared a role in the mission of the Church due to the Sacrament of Baptism.
Pillar Catholic said that the role of the Synod was to help the Church shape a new way for evangelization.
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