From the Pastor

September 24, 2023

"As I Walk This Way"

Dear Parishioners,

Next month the Holy Father will gather in Rome with the bishops of the world for the Synod on Synodality. What is synodality?

As explained on the website set up for the Synod “Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church, expressing her nature as the People of God journeying together and gathering in assembly, summoned by the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. Synodality ought to be expressed in the Church’s ordinary way of living and working.  www.synod.va/en/what-is-the-synod-

 This will be a time for the bishops to listen to each other and to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as they guide the Church. This reminds me how I call on members of our parish community to offer advise me as I lead our faith community. This occurs during informal conversations as I listen and are in communication with you and in more formal ways such as with our shared pastoral and two finance councils.  

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has called this Synod as a way of inviting the entire Church to listen to God’s voice.  We are aware of how the Church and our world faces difficult realities.  The way we address those realities demonstrates our faith in God who has said he will never abandon us. May we join together in prayer for the upcoming Synod on Synodality. The Prayer is taken from the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Holy Spirit guide this process,

Fill our Bishops with the courage to safeguard the faith,

Turn the hearts of all Parishioners towards greater compassion,

Enlighten the minds of all to the Truth of Christ’s unchanging teachings.

Holy Spirit show us the way,

Protect the Church that Christ founded for the salvation of all,

Draw everyone to Christ and let no one lead the Church astray,

Open the hearts of all to the Truths of Christ’s unchanging teachings.

Amen

Our Lady of Wisdom, pray for us.

In Christ,

Fr. Bill Coffas Pastor of HC + OMOS