Catholic Vancouver August 29, 2023
Archbishop urging collaboration between priests and faithful as he prepares for Synod in Rome
By The B.C. Catholic
As he prepares to travel to Rome for the Synod of Bishops in October, Archbishop J. Michael Miller has been speaking about the “co-responsibility” pastors and laity have for the Church.
At a Mass in July celebrating the 30th anniversary of St. James Parish in Abbotsford, the Archbishop said the synodal process emphasizes the importance of pastors working closely with their parishioners, “valuing them as co-responsible” for the mission of the parish.
“A renewed vitality throughout the whole Church is required, one that favours the rediscovery of the baptized as a disciple of Jesus Christ and a missionary of the Gospel,” said the Archbishop.
After thanking parishioners and pastors past and present, the Archbishop said the parish, as their spiritual home, “has been the source of countless graces and blessings since its foundation.” It is also “a centre where charity is exercised, as an intrinsic part of its pastoral outreach.”
The evangelizing mission of the parish is key, said the Archbishop.
“Listen to the words of St. John Paul II,” he said, who “once stated that the true effectiveness of a parish – whether it is fulfilling its divine calling – ‘must be measured in light of this missionary imperative.’ This calls you ‘to come out of yourselves and to share with others the goods you possess, starting with the most precious gift of all – your faith.’”
Invoking St. John Paul II and Pope Francis, Archbishop Michael said, “I invite you to consider how, building on your impressive legacy, you have taken up the mission of evangelization entrusted to you as parishioners of St. James Parish.”
Pope Francis, he said, “is asking us to make a determined missionary decision so that all our pastoral initiatives and programs, whatever they may be, can be suitably channelled for the evangelization of today’s world. This world no longer supports, even implicitly, the fundamental tenets of Christian morality and of a Gospel way of life.”
“We have entered a new missionary era, and our witness to Jesus needs to take stock of the new apostolic situation, and our way of thinking about, organizing and equipping parishes does too.”
“This means, that our Archdiocese and our parishes should encourage and train the faithful to be evangelizers,” said the Archbishop.
Post-It Note prayers written by young people at the Synod of Bishops’ booth at World Youth Day. (CNS photos/Courtesy of the Synod Secretariat)
Archbishop Miller is one of four bishops appointed to represent Canada at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in October. The first session of the Synod will be held at the Vatican Oct. 4 to 29, and the second session is scheduled to be held in October 2024.
Also representing Canada are Calgary Bishop William McGrattan, Vice President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Quebec Bishop Marc Pelchat; and St. Jerome-Mont Laurier Bishop Raymond Poisson, President of the CCCB.
At recent Masses, the Archbishop has reiterated the need for pastors to work closely with their parishioners in imitation of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, guiding and building up “a family of missionary disciples where each parishioner is engaged in living and proclaiming the Gospel.”
“The synodal process now underway in the Universal Church is making this ever clearer: pastors must work closely with the lay faithful entrusted to their care, valuing them as co-responsible for the mission of the parish.”
A young woman puts her head through a cutout frame to take a photo “hugging” Pope Francis at World Youth Day. (CNS photo/Courtesy of the Synod Secretariat)
Citing Pope Benedict XVI, the Archbishop said, “It is necessary to improve pastoral structures in such a way that the co‑responsibility of all the members of the People of God in their entirety is gradually promoted.”
Such change will demand “a change in mindset, particularly concerning lay people,” he said. “They must no longer be viewed as ‘collaborators’ of the clergy but truly recognized as ‘co‑responsible’ for the Church’s being and action, thereby fostering the consolidation of a mature and committed laity.”
Priests and lay faithful should work together to ensure initiatives and programs are “suitably channelled for the evangelization of today’s world,” he said.
“Evangelization – making disciples … remains the Church’s primary vocation.”