A synodal Church needs its parish priests

"A synodal Church needs its parish priests," declares Pope Francis, emphasizing the critical role of parish priests in the Church's synodal process. He also elaborates on their importance by noting that priests "know from within the life of God’s people their joys and hardships, their resources and their needs."

The International Meeting 'Parish Priests for the Synod' was held in Rome from April 28 to May 2, 2024, bringing together approximately 200 priests from 100 countries. This event was particularly significant as it symbolized the Church's dedication to actively listen to the voices of parish priests, who are positioned at the forefront of the Church, deeply immersed in the daily lives of the parish communities, and intimately connected with the challenges, needs, and blessings of the people.

This worldwide meeting of listening, prayer, and discernment, promoted by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Dicastery for the Clergy, along with the Dicastery for Evangelization and the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, was authentically representative of varied realities within the Church.

​Among the participating priests were individuals like Father Paul Crotty from Australia, who serves as the pastor of a rural community of indigenous people with 30 attendees on Sundays at their underground church — an underground church that was literally dug into the ground. Working alongside him was Father Pham from Hanoi, Vietnam, where 4000 people attend Sunday masses regularly. This diversity was also evident through the presence of priests from South Korea, Croatia, Kenya, Nigeria, Malta, the Philippines, India, as well as Australia and Vietnam, in our roundtable discussions.

Delegates from Canada with Sister Nathalie Becquart, Under-Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod.

During the audience with the Pope.

The daily schedule of the event was structured from 8 am to 9 pm. Sessions commenced with introductions to the day's theme, followed by dedicated time for meditation and personal prayer. Throughout the day, there were fostered synodal conversations within 18 language-divided working groups, each comprising about 12 priests. These groups engaged in deep discussions and discernment, sharing their insights and perspectives. The activities culminated in plenary presentations where groups shared their collaborative insights and discussions. Moreover, there were also the celebrations of the Eucharist, along with dialogues focusing on the Synod and Synodality. This structure provided us with a meaningful opportunity to engage and share enriching moments together, particularly through the 'conversation in the Spirit' methodology.
 
This method of conversation transformed the dialogues on the rounded table from mere debates into a genuine experience of communal discernment, facilitating deep discussions on the three themes proposed for the parish priests. The first theme, The Face of the Synodal Church, delved into the experiences and understanding of synodality in the life of parishes and dioceses. Shifting to the second theme, All Disciples All Missionaries. we explored the participation of different charisms, vocations, and ministries in the life of local churches. Finally, on the third theme, Teaching Ties, Building Communities, we focused on discernment dynamics for mission and the participation of various groups within parishes and dioceses.

With Fr. Pierre from Vancouver and Fr. Raymond Lafontaine, from the Archdiocese of Montreal, one of the facilitators for the discussions in the working groups.

With priests of my working group

The synodal meeting for priests concluded with a private audience and a moment of dialogue with the Holy Father in the Paul VI Hall, during which he gave three recommendations to the parish priests. Firstly, Pope Francis urged us to embrace our specific ministerial charism in ever greater service to the varied gifts that the Spirit bestows upon the People of God. Secondly, he encouraged the practice of communal discernment, using the method of 'conversation in the Spirit' for this purpose. Lastly, the Pope emphasized the importance of fraternity and collaboration among priests and with bishops. In his closing remarks, before personally greeting each priest, Pope Francis commissioned us to be missionaries of synodality in our parishes and dioceses.
 
The International Meeting for Parish Priests was truly unique experience. While the Church typically invites bishops, theologians, and experts to such events, this time the focus was on listening to parish priests, representing a remarkable shift. As Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, highlighted, “I normally underline that there is no synod without the bishop, but allow me to say today that there is no synod without the parish priest”.

Building on this sentiment, Cardinal Lazarus You, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, also emphasized that “this meeting does not involve many speeches but rather a lot of listening: mutual listening and shared listening to the Holy Spirit. This is the methodology of the Synod.” This change authentically reflects the spirit of synodality, providing a consistent path for engagement and meaningful exchanges, particularly through the Spirit-guided conversational approach.

Father Paul from Australia celebrating Mass with his community.

This encounter allowed the parish priests, the frontline leaders who directly engage with all members of the People of God, to witness how each local experience contributes as a gift to the universal Church. Many participants expressed enthusiasm for the proposed synodal process, viewing it as an opportunity for growth and renewal in the Church.

​Clergy members from around the world emphasized the importance of actively participating in and promoting synodality within their communities. While challenges such as fear, skepticism, and reluctance to change hindering the acceptance of the synodal process were highlighted, there was also a clear sense of joy and appreciation for this global gathering, as well as for the recognition of the essential role played by parish priests in a synodal church, inviting pastors to embrace their calling as missionaries of synodality.

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Written by Fr. Fabio DeSouza for Faithfully. Fr. Fabio DeSouza is the pastor for Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calgary, and a member of the Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team