VATICAN CITY, 16 OCT 2008 (VIS) - This morning, for the second time in the current Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Synod Fathers met for in language groups to begin preparing their proposals on the theme of the General Assembly.
The third sitting of the language groups is due to take place today from 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
In the meantime, various "in scriptis" (written, not spoken) discourses by a number of the Synod Fathers have been made public, extracts of some of which are given below:
FR. ADOLFO NICOLAS S.J., SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS (JESUITS). "It is my conviction that the Word of God can claim in a high degree a 'therapeutic' role in the life of the Christian community. Every time we 'enter' the world of the Bible, we are exposed to a new world: God's world; God's action; God's teaching of His people. The encounter, if real, can be shocking, surprising, enlightening, soothing or consoling. It can also be misunderstood and lost. ... Pastors and ministers of the Word need training for good diagnosis, for wise application of forms of reading, for deeper prayer and interiorisation of the Word of God, and for a meaningful accompaniment that helps the faithful discern the action of the Spirit in and through the reading of the Bible. ... It seems highly needed that this training be included in the preparation for pastoral ministry and in programs of ongoing formation for all priests. Moreover all parishes and/or dioceses should have access to centres or trained persons that can offer this service to individuals or communities and who can train catechists and other lay ministers in this important service".
CARDINAL VARKEY VITHAYATHIL C.SS.R., MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY OF THE SYRO-MALABARS, AND PRESIDENT OF THE SYNOD OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH, INDIA. "Even though the right of every individual Church to preach the Gospel everywhere in the world under the guidance of the Roman Pontiff and the right of all the faithful of the Oriental Churches to have pastoral care by their own bishops and priests throughout the world are recognised by Vatican Council II and the two Codes of Canon Law, the Syro Malabar Church is neither given new mission territories in India, Africa, etc., nor the freedom to exercise her right to give pastoral care by her own bishops and priests to the hundreds of thousands of migrants in India, in the Gulf Countries, Europe and elsewhere, even 43 years after the conclusion of Vatican Council II. ... The Church has not only to preach the Word of justice to the faithful, but they should be pastorally helped to live by it. It is more so when it concerns practising justice within the Church. Peace is disturbed when justice is not done, because peace is the fruit of justice. Justice will also build up communion. In the case of the Syro Malabar Church, this justice has been denied for many centuries. It is high time that this Synod reflected over this unjust situation within the Church and proposed lasting remedies".
SE/LANGUAGE GROUPS/... VIS 20081016 (520)
The third sitting of the language groups is due to take place today from 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
In the meantime, various "in scriptis" (written, not spoken) discourses by a number of the Synod Fathers have been made public, extracts of some of which are given below:
FR. ADOLFO NICOLAS S.J., SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS (JESUITS). "It is my conviction that the Word of God can claim in a high degree a 'therapeutic' role in the life of the Christian community. Every time we 'enter' the world of the Bible, we are exposed to a new world: God's world; God's action; God's teaching of His people. The encounter, if real, can be shocking, surprising, enlightening, soothing or consoling. It can also be misunderstood and lost. ... Pastors and ministers of the Word need training for good diagnosis, for wise application of forms of reading, for deeper prayer and interiorisation of the Word of God, and for a meaningful accompaniment that helps the faithful discern the action of the Spirit in and through the reading of the Bible. ... It seems highly needed that this training be included in the preparation for pastoral ministry and in programs of ongoing formation for all priests. Moreover all parishes and/or dioceses should have access to centres or trained persons that can offer this service to individuals or communities and who can train catechists and other lay ministers in this important service".
CARDINAL VARKEY VITHAYATHIL C.SS.R., MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY OF THE SYRO-MALABARS, AND PRESIDENT OF THE SYNOD OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH, INDIA. "Even though the right of every individual Church to preach the Gospel everywhere in the world under the guidance of the Roman Pontiff and the right of all the faithful of the Oriental Churches to have pastoral care by their own bishops and priests throughout the world are recognised by Vatican Council II and the two Codes of Canon Law, the Syro Malabar Church is neither given new mission territories in India, Africa, etc., nor the freedom to exercise her right to give pastoral care by her own bishops and priests to the hundreds of thousands of migrants in India, in the Gulf Countries, Europe and elsewhere, even 43 years after the conclusion of Vatican Council II. ... The Church has not only to preach the Word of justice to the faithful, but they should be pastorally helped to live by it. It is more so when it concerns practising justice within the Church. Peace is disturbed when justice is not done, because peace is the fruit of justice. Justice will also build up communion. In the case of the Syro Malabar Church, this justice has been denied for many centuries. It is high time that this Synod reflected over this unjust situation within the Church and proposed lasting remedies".
SE/LANGUAGE GROUPS/... VIS 20081016 (520)
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