Vatican hosts meeting on “the challenge of synodality for mission”

Next Thursday, June 13, a meeting promoted by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life will be held in the Vatican under the title “The challenge of synodality for the mission.”

As indicated by the Vatican Dicastery on June 11, the meeting will take place in the New Hall of the Synod and the moderators of the international associations of faithful, ecclesial movements and new communities will participate.

In this time of consultation, reflection and dialogue ahead of the second session of the Synodality Synod, the conference aims to “highlight some examples of synodal structures and practices already experienced in associations and movements.”

These reflections, according to the members of the Dicastery, “can be an example and a stimulus for the entire Church, such as sharing the life of faith within small groups or small communities, community discernment, the co-responsibility of lay people and ordained ministers.” when assuming government functions, the involvement of couples and young people in evangelization, charitable and social action, etc.

In addition, participants will be invited to reflect “on all those synodal dimensions that pose new challenges to the growth of associations and movements.”

Likewise, they specify that the theme of the day “is situated in the ultimate ecclesial purpose, which continues to be that of the mission, the only one capable of giving full meaning, concreteness and effectiveness to the synodal path.”

The meeting will open with a Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, and then participants will be received in audience by Pope Francis.

After the cardinal’s welcome, the program will include two main presentations. On the one hand, Rafael Luciani, professor at the Andrés Bello Catholic University (Venezuela), will speak, who will introduce the topic “Mission as an objective of synodality.”

Next, Elisa Lisiero, official of the Dicastery, will speak, who will invite participants to reflect on “Synodality in the experience of movements.”

As in previous years, the 117 international associations of the faithful, both private and public, and the other entities with legal personality, over which the Dicastery has direct jurisdiction “and whose life and development it must accompany,” are invited to this meeting.