Three months after the Synod of Bishops on Synodality concluded in Rome, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., and Vanessa Cheng sat down with The Sunday Examiner and Kung Kao Po on January 23 to share their reflections on the synodal journey. This is the second part of their insights centered on fostering a culture of listening, discernment, and collaboration within the Church, emphasising the need for formation of both clergy and laity in a spirit of synodality.
Cardinal Stephen described synodality as more than just a set of actions; rather, it is a way of being Church—one that walks together, listens attentively, and discerns collectively. “Synodality is not about implementing specific actions but about fostering a culture of listening, discernment, and walking together as the People of God,” he explained. This requires a fundamental shift in mindset, encouraging collaboration, empathy, and trust among all members of the Church.
Vanessa Cheng, a lay delegate at the synod, described the experience as transformative, highlighting the deep mutual respect and exchange of ideas among bishops, cardinals, and lay participants.
“In the synod, I felt respected and valued. There was a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that transcended roles and hierarchies,” she shared. However, she also acknowledged the responsibility that comes with this experience. “The synodal process cannot stop here. It must continue in our local Churches, requiring a conversion of relationships and attitudes.”
Building trust and deepening relationships
Both Cardinal Stephen and Cheng stressed the importance of relationships rooted in trust and empathy. Cheng noted that the synod encouraged the Church to examine its relationships at all levels. “Before we can truly be the People of God, we must first be a family,” she said. “We need to ask ourselves if we are truly living as brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Cardinal Stephen added that true collaboration involves more than expecting others to follow directives. “We use the term ‘collaboration’ in the sense that we expect others to collaborate with us,” he observed. “But true collaboration means learning to work together as equals, sharing responsibility and authority.” He emphasized the importance of creating spaces as fellow collaborators, where clergy, religious, and laypeople can listen to one another and discern together.
Structural changes for transparency and participation
To implement synodality, Cardinal Stephen stressed the need for structural changes that promote transparency, accountability, and participation. “We need to ask ourselves how many voices we are listening to before making decisions,” Cheng said. Cardinal Stephen also called for greater opportunities for laypeople to contribute their gifts to the Church. “Laypeople need space to try things, even if it means making mistakes,” he added. “We need to celebrate failure as part of the learning process and encourage people to take initiatives.”
However, the cardinal emphasised that synodality should not be confused with democracy, as it focuses on discernment and listening rather than voting. “I think it’s important to clarify. Synodality is not democracy. People think we’ll become a democratic Church. No… We’re still a c, a listening Church,” the cardinal said.
Formation of seminarians and laity
One of the key areas of focus in the synodal discussions was the formation of seminarians and laypeople. Cardinal Stephen emphasized that future priests must be prepared to collaborate with the laity and embrace a synodal way of being Church. The Diocese of Hong Kong has already taken steps in this direction by introducing a female formator at the seminary—a significant shift from the traditional practice of having only clergy in these roles. “Seminarians are called to serve the People of God, which includes women,” he said. “They need to learn to listen to and understand women’s perspectives and experiences.”
Cardinal Stephen expressed hope that this model could be expanded to include married couples and other laypeople in seminary formation. “Formation is not just about clergy teaching seminarians,” he said. “It’s about all of us—clergy, religious, and laypeople—learning to collaborate and walk together.”
Both the cardinal and Cheng stressed that formation should go beyond knowledge acquisition to foster a culture of listening, discernment, and shared responsibility.
The synodal process is deeply rooted in the vision of the Second Vatican Council, particularly its emphasis on the People of God and the shared responsibility of all baptized faithful. Cardinal Stephen sees the synod as an opportunity to rediscover and fully embrace the spirit of Vatican II.
“Vatican II teaches us to celebrate unity in plurality,” he said. “Tensions and differences are not obstacles but opportunities for growth and creativity. We need to learn to hold these tensions with patience and trust in the Holy Spirit.”
Instituting a working committee for synodal implementation
To ensure that synodality takes root in the Diocese of Hong Kong, a working committee has been established, comprising clergy, religious, and laypeople. Cardinal Stephen explained that the committee’s role is to create participatory structures that ensure consultation, discernment and collaboration at all levels of the Church.
Cheng, a member of the committee, emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and evaluation in its work. “We need to be serious about planning, executing, and reviewing our efforts,” she said. “This is a cultural and structural change that will help us become more effective in our mission.”
The committee will also focus on ongoing formation and education on synodality. Cardinal Stephen noted that the final document of the synod will be translated into Chinese and will be made accessible to the faithful soon. “We need to provide resources and opportunities for people to learn about synodality and how to live it out in their daily lives,” he said.
Additionally, the committee will explore ways to involve other Christian Churches and communities in the synodal process. “Synodality is not just about the Catholic Church,” Cheng said. “It’s about walking together with all Christians and embracing our shared mission.”
As the Diocese of Hong Kong embarks on implementing the synodal recommendations, Cardinal Stephen and Cheng envision that synodality is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey of conversion and renewal.
“The synodal process is about being a Church that reflects the love and unity of Christ,” Cardinal Stephen said. “It’s about being a community where everyone has a place and a voice. This is the journey we are called to continue, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will move forward together.”
