Of small communities and modern martyrs
The Synod resumed this morning with a series of very fine presentations from many different parts of the world. Two themes came across very strongly to me today. The first was the theme of small ecclesial communities or base ecclesial communities.…
An Anglican pilgrim in Rome
There were no Synod meetings today (as the programme says, Vacat Congregatio). We had a pretty solid day yesterday of five minute speeches all the morning and afternoon sessions. My cup was full, you might say. However that does leave…
Eat, pray, listen
The core of the Synod of Bishops is summed up in these three words. Eat
It's not, of course, about the food but about sharing meals together and the conversation and growing connection and friendship. I've been privileged over the last…
Remembering Vatican II and moving forward
Fifty years ago on this day in 1962, Pope John XXIII inaugurated the Second Vatican Council - a great assembly of the Roman Catholic Church from all across the world to attempt a great work of re-sourcing Christian theology and identity in the…
Archbishop Rowan: contemplation and evangelism
Archbishop Rowan is in Rome for three days. Yesterday evening he addressed the Synod of Bishops. He chose as his theme the importance of contemplation as the foundation of evangelism. The Archbishop's springboard was the hope engendered…
Ice cream and discipleship
Buon giorno e Roma! People say there is less of the Bishop of Sheffield than there used to be. It's about a stone less to be precise (and still going down as of last Saturday). This is partly due to Ann becoming very fierce on the matter…
New Evangelisation: humility, respect and silence
This morning the Synod began to listen to the contributions of the Synod Fathers. Each speaks for five minutes only on any aspect of the topic or agenda and each is allowed only one contribution during the main plenary sessions. The contribution…
Around the world in 80 minutes
The Synod heard contributions from five different continents today. Each speaker had 10 minutes to paint a picture of the need for the new evangelisation and what was already happening. My listening was inevitably subjective. Some of…
The Synod begins: confessio et caritas
The Synod of Bishops held its first session this morning and began, as expected, with prayer and an address from Pope Benedict. About 400 Synod Fathers, experts and fraternal delegates are gathered in the audience hall, a tiered auditorium.…
I will come into your house
Samuel Wesley’s beautiful setting of Psalm 5.8 is my starting place for episode 5 of Reflections for a Church in Lockdown.