Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., and Vanessa Cheng Siu-wai of the Focolare movement were two participants from Hong Kong in the recently concluded XVI general assembly of the Synod of Bishops “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Mission, and Participation,”. With the four-week-long assembly still fresh in their minds, they shared their experiences and hopes with the diocesan weeklies, the Sunday Examiner and Kung Kao Po.
From the perspective of a layperson, Cheng believes that the synod can bring changes to the laity by showing them how to make “onversations in the Spirit,” which is very important in the process of building up a synodal Church.
The lay representative explained that the synod this time, instead of having one-sided presentations of different viewpoints, focused on discussions in groups supported by a facilitator. “They came from very different backgrounds and it was an opportunity to listen to each other as equals. Cardinals, bishops, lay people and the youth were addressing one another by their names without mentioning their titles,” Cheng recalls.
“There was a wide spectrum of experiences shared by individuals from various backgrounds, including refugees representing hundreds of lives lost in the sea, people from war-torn regions such as Ukraine, a married deacon from Syria, and a lay theologian from Australia who has five children. The input we had was really diverse,” she said, adding she believes that miracles happen when there is a disposition to listen. “Despite divergences and differences, we were able to identify the convergences and proceed to the next levels,” she said.
Cheng felt that the method of discussion could be applied in community meetings in church as well as in the daily lives of the laity. “I will also emphasise that we must not lose spirituality in discussions, if not, it will become a democratic argument … we can have our differences, but we do not have arguments or conflicts, because we are all open to one another, respect and listen to one another,” she said.
There was a wide spectrum of experiences shared by individuals from various backgrounds, including refugees representing hundreds of lives lost in the sea, people from war-torn regions such as Ukraine, a married deacon from Syria, and a lay theologian from Australia who has five children. The input we had was really diverse
Vanessa Cheng
So, she observed that synodality is a matter of life … a style of life. “There may be some ways to promote this to more parishioners, and the more parishioners learn this, the better. Consequently, it becomes a pattern of our lives when we discuss things with others,” she said.
Her participation in the synod made her realise the importance of lay people having the courage to step outside their comfort zones. “If we want to make more contributions, we need to have formation or to know more about our faith, so that we can communicate with others,” she said.
According to her, lay people have played an important role in the discussions of a bridge connecting the Church with society. “They understand the life in modern times, the life of individuals. We must include lay people if we are to have some meaningful reflections so that the clergy and consecrated people will not be isolated from society.
She agreed with many in the synod who pointed out that there should be constant formation for consecrated people as well as lay people, as many discussions demand knowledge in our faith, in different fields or in different religions.
She believes that although many lay people do not have theological knowledge, the specialised knowledge of the lay people can really help the Church in many ways and in the making of evangelisation plans.
There may be some ways to promote this to more parishioners, and the more parishioners learn this, the better. Consequently, it becomes a pattern of our lives when we discuss things with others
Vanessa Cheng
Cardinal Stephen was participating in his first synod, but he was told that this synod was different from previous ones. Prior to this, even the seating arrangements were different, with the cardinals, archbishops and bishops occupying the first rows. In this synod, participants were seated in small groups at round tables where they could listen to one another. “Following the listening process, there is time to reflect and pray about what was heard and identify how it affects me personally. Through them, the Holy Spirit speaks to me in a meaningful way,” the cardinal said.
“In the synod, I could really feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. It does not mean the whole synod is perfect. We had unhappy incidents, but we had to acknowledge that such tensions, difficulties and divergences existed and keep moving on,” Cardinal Stephen said.
He believes that many people still doubt and are suspicious about this process because “we have not really been a ‘listening Church;’ instead, we have been a ‘teaching Church’ for most of the time. We also need to listen so that we can teach better and our teaching can have greater credibility.”
According to the cardinal, “listening and reflecting enable us to contextualise our decision-making based on our experiences. While we hold on to the sacred tradition of the Church, it needs to be contextualised so that it is not completely disconnected from reality.”
The cardinal said it is not realistic to expect that the synod can solve all the problems in its second session next October, but it may give better suggestions on how to deal with certain controversial issues after the first section has laid a foundation for the conversations on such issues.
In the synod, I could really feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. It does not mean the whole synod is perfect. We had unhappy incidents, but we had to acknowledge that such tensions, difficulties and divergences existed and keep moving on
Cardinal Stephen
People began to talk to each other as a result of this listening component, and although they may not have agreed with each other, they became more friendly as a result.
“One thing we’ve learned is to hold tensions when in divergences. We do not try to force solutions or dissolve tensions. It’s not a healthy thing to dissolve tension right away. Meanwhile, we examine our convergences and commonalities because these are the ones that give us energy and some confidence as we move forward,” the cardinal remarked. “Throughout the month, we were learning how to listen to one another and respect one another. As I look around, I see that most of us have the willingness to let go of certain things, to listen, to move forward, and to walk together. By holding the tensions, not focussing on it, we have learned. Otherwise, we will never move forward,” he said.
For the next 10 months, according to the cardinal, the most important thing is to help our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong understand what they have been through and what it could mean for the Church in Hong Kong. “We have our own context, our own needs and our own problems. We also have our own potential and opportunities. So, we need to focus on how we, a synodal Church in Hong Kong, can develop,” Cardinal Stephen said.
According to Cheng, synodality is based on a very strong spiritual foundation. “The three-day retreat before the synod was really crucial, because we had time for prayer and also to build fellowship among us as brothers and sisters, and we could talk to one another without wearing a lot of masks,” she recounted, adding, “There is a need to introduce this process to our people in order to create platforms where they can experience it. You will have fewer doubts when you experience something as opposed to reading a paper or document.”
It has to be a spiritual but at the same time a concrete experience. The phrase “spiritual conversations” was originally used, but it has been changed to “conversation in the Spirit.”
Throughout the month, we were learning how to listen to one another and respect one another. As I look around, I see that most of us have the willingness to let go of certain things, to listen, to move forward, and to walk together
Cardinal Stephen
Cheng recalls that they had 36 groups in the assembly with 36 trained facilitators. Participants with very diverse backgrounds and experiences and with varying agendas were facilitated by them. “In addition to bringing the ideas together, the facilitators helped to highlight the points of convergence and divergence as well as the questions we wanted to discuss further,” she recalled.
According to Cheng, the Synthesis Report is truly a sign of the Holy Spirit working in the synod. Each group submitted different amendments, more than a thousand in total, and the group voted on each amendment in order to reach a consensus.
“However, we were able to experience joy in accepting the amendments when the participants explained why they desired them. Two full days of strenuous work were spent by the groups of experts and theologians in putting together the Synthesis Report. It was indeed the work of the Spirit, and not our work,” she added.
“The whole process is an innovative platform for people to come together to listen to one another and to make discernment at all levels. This is in a community, in a parish or in the diocese. We come together for the evangelising mission of the Church,” Cheng said.
“Specifically, the Church should not fall into the same trap of treating women as an issue or as a problem, as stated in the synthesis report. As a synodal Church, we take into account relationships on all levels and with all kinds of people. This is not about the relationship between the hierarchy and the laity but between men and women,” she stressed.
The whole process is an innovative platform for people to come together to listen to one another and to make discernment at all levels. This is in a community, in a parish or in the diocese. We come together for the evangelising mission of the Church,
Vanessa Cheng
On the status of women
When discussing the rights and status of women, Cheng observed that these are greatly influenced by cultural factors.
A woman theologian from Europe had some strong arguments for the equal status of women in the Church. However, women participants from Asia felt their needs were different from those from Europe. Women in Asia face a lot of difficulties in social and political situations.
Young people, and women have a lot to offer to the Church in the areas of caring for the poor, formation, evangelisation and there must be new platforms to listen to them.
“A major obstacle that stands in the way of the Church becoming synodal is clericalism,” Cheng said. “It takes courage to change.”
The synod gave importance to this aspect of being a relational Church, and that was the reason why there were so many lay people together with the cardinals and bishops, although, for some, it was difficult to accept and appreciate. There were young people, the youngest member being just 19 [Wyatt Olivas, a student at the University of Wyoming].
A major obstacle that stands in the way of the Church becoming synodal is clericalism. It takes courage to change
Vanessa Cheng
Relationship with LGBTQ
LGBTQ [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning] concerns were also raised and discussed during the sessions. In his homily at the Thanksgiving Mass for his elevation to the cardinalate on November 4, Cardinal Stephen stressed his concern for sexual minorities, urging the faithful to be more welcoming to such groups. Although the name LGBTQ does not appear in the synthesis report, the synod certainly pays attention to their concerns.
The cardinal said it is essential for the Church to consider ways to welcome the marginalised, such as the divorced and sexual minorities. He pointed out that welcoming them does not mean forgetting the doctrines of the Church, which are subject to changes in the history of the Church. “They are people instead of doctrines or questions and answers in catechism booklets. They are our brothers and sisters,” he said.
He shared his experience of taking part in their activities and listened to their sharings, including their parents. According to him, many Catholic brothers and sisters, as well as the parents of sexual minorities are facing great difficulties, particularly those whose parents and relatives are Catholics. “We must make them feel that they are not rejected or excluded, and welcome them with empathy. Who among us has not sinned or has no personal challenges to face?” he asked, saying he believes the tradition of the Church put too much weight on certain sins and go light on others.
The synodal assembly had three rounds of sessions. “After the first round of everyone speaking and listening to one another, the second round was to reflect on what was listened to and identify how that experience affected me and to understand what the Holy Spirit was showing me – to understand the convergences and divergences in the group,” the cardinal explained.
They are people instead of doctrines or questions and answers in catechism booklets. They are our brothers and sisters
Cardinal Stephen
“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity and not a spirit of disunity. We must believe the Holy Spirit will guide us if we are open to the Spirit. Listening and willingness to let go of our own rigid absolutisms is an act of loving God and loving others. The divergence or dissonance are the invitation for us to go deeper, to listen deeper with greater openness so to go further with one another.,” he said.“Our inability to move forward stems from our insistence on holding on to our positions and considering others to always be wrong. It is imperative that we recognise that the Holy Spirit is the protagonist and not anyone else.”
Cheng suggested that we should treasure the documents that have been released—the first report after the diocesan consultation—read it again and the synthesis report of the first session of the assembly. “I will encourage everybody to read and try to understand because it tells a lot about the life of the people of God, what they are concern what they’re suffering, what they are looking for, and that will help to enlarge our hearts and understand better,” she said.“It is unrealistic to expect that the synod will be able to solve all problems, but it may be able to offer suggestions on how to address certain controversial issues, after all the first session has laid the foundation for further discussion,” Cardinal Stephen said.
He was grateful for the presence of the laity in the conference as they gave realistic reflections about their daily lives. “There were men, women and young people taking part. They were all important, especially the young people who let us know how they responded to what we talked about, what their difficulties were,” he said.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity and not a spirit of disunity. We must believe the Holy Spirit will guide us if we are open to the Spirit. Listening and willingness to let go of our own rigid absolutisms is an act of loving God and loving others
Cardinal Stephen
The cardinal said he is happy about the active participation of the laity, especially that of women, in evangelisation work in Hong Kong. He thanked the predecessors who encouraged such active participation in different ways, such as by setting up the parish council.
He believes that the open discussion of consecrated people and lay people together in the synod introduces a new way of being Church. “We can see that the Church life is full of vitality and variety. It is not a one-way communication with the points of view from only one side… Are we willing to walk together?” he said, adding that such kind of large-scale formation for the “conversation in the spirit” adopted by the synod will be widely applied in the Church, as mentioned in his pastoral letter for Advent [Sunday Examiner, December 3], so as to encourage more listening, reflections in a positive way, prayers and sincere responses.
