A synod is an assembly of Bishops under the leadership of a Pope convened for the purpose of the pastoral care of the People of God.[1] The first such assembly was held in Jerusalem (Acts 15) where certain issues pertaining to the life of believers in the changing scenario were discussed. The practice of hierarchy deciding the life and mission of the Church continued until Pope Francis issued a clarion call for “Synod for Synodality” to listen, reflect and discern as one family, known as “People of God.” The People of God is an “assembly of various people” with “different ranks” exercising sacred and secular duties by virtue of her condition and manner of life (LG 13). Due to its sacred, secular and plural nature, the Church needs to update its theological and social way of life in a changing space and time in order to maintain its catholicity. Though the weltanschauung of one society differs from the other, a fundamental Catholic tradition can be thought of if one sits and discusses as a family of believers under one umbrella redefining ‘traditional hierarchism’ which Pope Francis is trying to achieve through the synod. To that matter, Pope Francis considers the Church to be a “Polyhedron,”[2] a multifaceted sphere where vox populi is heard and understood as one family. He expresses it, “The polyhedron has a form similar to the sphere, but it is multifaceted. I like to imagine humanity as a polyhedron, in which the multiple forms, in expressing themselves, constitute the elements that compose the one human family in a plurality. And this is true globalization. The other globalization—that of the sphere—is an [sic] homologation.”[3]
The basic assumption for achieving this renewal is noteworthy: the part and the whole relationship between the universal and the particular Church. By strengthening the particular Church, one can strengthen the universal Church as the Vatican Council II expresses, “the whole and each of the parts are strengthened by the common sharing of all things and by the common effort to attain to fullness in unity” (LG 13). Ever since the synodal process was initiated in the local Churches, significant changes in the life and mission of the church have been noticed when taken seriously. The community which has been lethargic otherwise, has become enthusiastic. The working document that came up after the first round of synodal hearing from the respective dioceses and episcopal conferences is itself self-sufficient to prove this fact. This implies, with positive hope, that the community of believers have become more vibrant than it was otherwise. I believe that with the fresh transfusion of synodal spirit in the veins of the Being, the Church will surely realize a Pentecostal experience.
Keeping the spirit of synodality, St. Albert’s College framed the theme for the academic year 2023-24 as the “Synodal Way for the Vibrant Community.” I began to reflect on how to make the seminary, per se any formation house into a vibrant synodal community. Basically, to create a vibrant and synodal community, the seminary needs to foster a sense of collaboration, open communication and shared responsibility among the staff and students. Given below are 12 tips to build a vibrant community.
1. Cultivating a Culture of Dialogue
Dialogue is the life of any community. If healthy communication is missing, a community can become a place of chaos and confusion like that of the Tower of Babel. Therefore, one needs to Encourage open and respectful communication among the staff and seminarians. Creating spaces for dialogue where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions is the task of the formators. They must understand that fostering an environment where questioning and discussion are nothing but opportunities for growth rather than challenges to authority.
2. Implementing Regular Community Meetings
At times a number of meetings seem a nuisance, but they are essential for the success of an organization or any event. In the seminary, one should schedule regular community meetings to discuss important matters, share updates, and allow seminarians to voice their concerns or ideas. For this purpose, every major seminary has a platform known as ‘students’ council’ or ‘staff-student dialogue’ sessions. Formators need to ensure that these meetings are inclusive and participatory, involving input from all members of the seminary community.
3. Establishing Small Faith-Sharing Groups
Most of the major seminaries have smaller units under the guidance of a formator known differently by different seminaries: living groups, animation groups, sharing groups, etc. These groups can provide a more intimate setting for seminarians to discuss their spiritual journeys, challenges, and successes.
4. Promoting Team Building Activities
Events like sports, competitions, skill-developing activities, retreats, certain seminars, cultural programmes, etc., help the seminarians in team-building and strengthen bonds among them. Besides these things, they instil a sense of self-confidence and motivation in them.
5. Encouraging Diversity and Inclusivity
Diversity is the spice of life. The beauty of a peacock is in its colour-filled feathers. So too cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity adds flavour to the seminary. The more diverse the staff and students in a seminary, the better the formation. It is not sufficient to have these kinds, but it is essential to celebrate these diverse cultures and traditions. One must ensure that different voices, perspectives and experiences are heard, and felt regardless of their background.
6. Developing Leadership Skills
Formation house is a laboratory where skills, talents and qualities like leadership, empathy, collaboration, etc., are identified and nourished. Therefore, it is the duty of the formators to provide sufficient opportunities for the formees to excel in them. This can include assigning roles for organizing events, leading discussions, or managing specific aspects of seminary life.
7. Creating Collaborative Projects
For any mission to be successful, the partakers need to collaborate effectively. The seeds of such collaboration are formed in the formation houses. The collaboration makes the community vibrant. Therefore, sufficient projects and initiatives must be provided to exercise this virtue to build a sense of shared purpose and accomplishment.
8. Promoting Accountability
Accountability is an assurance that a seminarian or a formator is evaluated on one’s performance or behaviour related to something for which one is responsible. The term is related to responsibility but is regarded more from the perspective of oversight. This includes holding each other accountable for commitments and actions and fostering a culture of trust; and accountability with regard to one’s pocket money or expenses incurred while in the seminary, etc.
9. Seeking Feedback and Input
Often, seminarians are afraid of the ‘final report’ or evaluation prepared by the formator due to which they fail to grow naturally. Timely corrections and feedback become burdensome if the superiors don’t understand their real psychological state. Instead of making them fearful, regular correction, feedback, group dynamics, programs related to personality growth, human formation, and psycho-sexual integration seminars do help.
10. Providing Mentorship Opportunities
Facilitate mentorship programs where more experienced seminarians or faculty members can support the development of others. This helps create a sense of continuity and guidance within the community.
11. Providing Healthy Food and Living Conditions
This is a common adage, “If food is taken care of, everything is taken care of.” The majority of issues that pop up in the formation of houses can be averted if healthy food and living conditions are provided. Complaints about food is a common problem in seminaries. While healthy food and living conditions heal many sicknesses and psychological pressures, they also ease the holistic growth of individuals. Add to this, a neat and clean environment is also a factor for a healthy life.
12. Celebrating Milestones and Achievements
The community needs to recognize and celebrate individual and collective achievements within the seminary. This can contribute to a positive and uplifting atmosphere. The celebrations also could be days of special significance like minor orders, major orders, jubilees, and even birthdays and feast days, if possible.
Conclusion
Creating a vibrant and synodal community is an ongoing process that requires commitment from both leadership and seminarians. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your initiatives and be willing to adapt and evolve based on the needs and dynamics of the community.
Fr. Raju Felix Crasta
19 November 2023
Endnotes
[1] Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Vatican Council II, ed. Austin Flannery (Bombay: St. Paul’s Publication, 2007): 320-390. Henceforth LG.
[2] Querida Amazonia, no. 29. “The Amazon region is host to many peoples and nationalities, and over 110 indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation. Their situation is very tenuous and many feel that they are the last bearers of a treasure doomed to disappear, allowed to survive only if they make no trouble, while the postmodern colonization advances. They should not be viewed as “uncivilized” savages. They are simply heirs to different cultures and other forms of civilization that in earlier times were quite developed.” Available, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazioneap_202 00202_querida-amazonia.html.
[3] Pope Francis, “Video Message of Pope Francis for the Third Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church” held in Verna, 21-23 November 2013, accessed http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages /pontmessages/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20131121_videomessaggiofestival-dottrina-sociale.html.
No comments:
Post a Comment