(Photo FIAMC. Card. Farrel presiding over the mass. Altare della Catedra)
The Challenge of Synodality for the Mission
On 13 June in the Vatican, the Annual Meeting with Moderators of Associations of the Faithful, Ecclesial Movements, and New Communities organised by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
Around 200 participants will attend the Annual Meeting with the Moderators of Associations of the Faithful, Ecclesial Movements, and New Communities, organised by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life (DLFL) which will take place in the New Synod Hall in Vatican City on Thursday 13 June 2024.
The theme of the Meeting will be ‘The Challenge of Synodality for Mission’. The Church, through the Synod on Synodality, is experiencing a prolonged time of consultation, reflection and dialogue to fully implement the synodal dimension, which is part of its nature as a mystery of communion, in the image of Trinitarian communion.
This year’s Meeting with the Moderators of international associations aims to highlight some examples of synodal structures and practices already implemented in associations and movements that can be an example and stimulus for the whole Church, such as sharing experiences of faith within small groups or small communities, community discernment, co-responsibility of lay and ordained ministers in assuming roles of governance, involvement of married couples and young people in evangelisation, charitable and social action, etc.
Participants in the Annual Meeting with Moderators will also be invited to reflect on synodal dimensions that pose new challenges to the growth of associations and movements.
The theme of the day is placed within the ultimate ecclesial purpose of mission, the only purpose capable of giving full meaning, concreteness and effectiveness to the synodal journey.
The day will open with the celebration of Holy Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica presided over by His Eminence Card. Kevin Farrell – Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Participants will then attend an Audience with the Holy Father Pope Francis.
After a welcoming address by Card. Kevin Farrell, the programme will include two main presentations. Prof. Rafael Luciani, Lecturer at Andrés Bello Catholic University (Venezuela) will introduce the theme ‘Mission as the Goal of Synodality’, and Dr Elisa Lisiero – a Dicastery official – will invite participants to reflect on synodality and the experience of the movements.
As always, ample time for sharing and free question/answer session will characterise the Meeting.
As in previous years, invitation to the Annual Meeting with the Moderators is open only to the one hundred and seventeen international associations of the faithful – private and public – and other entities with legal personality, over which the Dicastery has direct jurisdiction and whose life and development it is bound to accompany (cf. PE, n. 134).
The Dicastery’s website (www.laityfamilylife.va) has an updated Directory with the list and contacts of associations, ecclesial movements, and new communities.
