MANILA (RVA News): Jose Cardinal Advincula reminded parish priests to foster active participation in their parish communities by encouraging parishioners to boldly witness their faith.
Speaking during his homily at the Opening Mass of the National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod in Manila, the Philippines, on July 29, the archbishop of Manila emphasised that priests must support the faithful in expressing their truths, rather than making them overly reliant on the clergy.
“Let us include [their] voices and contributions in the life of our parish communities,” he said.
The July 29 to August 1 gathering followed the international meeting of parish priests in Italy held from April 29 to May 1.
Cardinal Advincula highlighted the need for parish priests to listen to their flock to foster genuine communion within their communities.
“We need to expand our tent and take off our sandals so we can be a welcoming Church. There can be no communion if we cling too much to our outdated conventions and unhealthy conveniences,” he stressed.
The cardinal said that parish priests should extend hospitality to those who often feel distant from the Church, particularly the sinners, the poor, and the marginalised.
We need to expand our tent and take off our sandals so we can be a welcoming Church. There can be no communion if we cling too much to our outdated conventions and unhealthy conveniences
Cardinal Advincula
Furthermore, he urged parish priests to actively respond to Pope Francis’ call to build “a Church that goes out.”
He exhorted them to “not give in to those factions who say that our Church is dying, if not dead. The synodal consultations have revealed to us that the Church is alive!”
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Cardinal Advincula added, “[The Church] is alive, not because we are able to keep it alive, but because God is merciful and faithful to us.”
The National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod gathered around 250 participants from various dioceses across the Philippines. The event was organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines [CBCP] and the Philippine Conference on New Evangelisation.
Sister Nathalie Becquart, the undersecretary for the Synod on Synodality and the highest-ranking woman in the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, also attended the meeting.
Speaking on July 30, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, the president of the CBCP, remarked that that many priests may be “in a state of burnout”, partly because they operate within a “clericalism paradigm” where all the burdens fall on them, CBCP News reported.
Bishop David said that this was unnecessary and “That’s why synodality brings in the wisdom of not monopolising the mission.”
He noted that while ordained ministers have a specific role in the mission, empowering the laity reflects a significant shift towards a more collaborative and sustainable approach in Church ministry.
“The burden becomes much lighter when, precisely, we are able to empower our laity to participate meaningfully and effectively in the life and mission of the Church,” Bishop David added.
Speaking on August 1, Sister Becquart stressed that without parish priests embracing a synodal path, fostering a truly synodal Church will be difficult, LiCAS News reported.
“Synodality calls us to foster a culture of mutual care and mutual empowerment,” she said.
