Diocesan Synod Meeting in Charlotte

I delayed my vacation with family to attend the Diocesan Synod Meeting for the Diocese of Charlotte. All went well. The tension between progressive and traditional was apparent, but tempered. Bishop Jugis stayed the entire time taking notes (which impressed me). I also saw the Vicar there. He attended representing his parish (Barnabas).

I was surprised that this meeting was really just another listening session with our parishes as the focus, and ending with Rovarti's address and Mass. I definitely felt the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the day.

Here are the fruits of the all-parish listening session, with the focus on the main points:

Signs of the Lord's Presence (according to the diocese):

1. Eucharist, 2. Sacraments, 3. Rosary/Prayer/Adoration. These were followed closely by Suffering (which I found most interesting and true!), Family and Diversity.

Challenges (according to the diocese):

1. How to unify traditional vs. progressive without caving to secular culture. 2. Hypocrisy and scandal. 3. Exclusion of women & LGBTQ community. These were followed closely by a few more interesting challenges other parishes mentioned: suppression of critical thinking, racism, going through the motions, politics, and slow to acknowledge science.

Steps:

1.Welcoming to all with unity despite differences. 2. More synods (becoming a truly synodal church) So interesting! These main two were followed closely by better communication, accepting of new science, and rhe great need for small groups and retreats.

As you can see, our parish was right on par with the Diocese with all of these ideas.

Then Rovarti gave his address. 80% of parishes participated. There were 400 listening sessions in all with 7000 participants. (Unfortunately, that is only 3% participation by laypeople.) As Dr. Rovarti said, "Invite everyone. Expect noone." And he gave some testimonies, none of them controversial.

Rovarti’s summation is that there is a lot of distraction from Christ, our many cultures create both beauty and tension, that there is much internal division and polarization (especially with abortion, LGBTQ issues, women, and Varican II), and that better communication is needed among parishes, between parishes, and from the top-down.

He ended with a question that we should be asking: "Who are you to me? You are my brother/sister in Christ." And a question we should NOT be asking: "What is your position on ________."

Rovati concluded that the Holy Spirit is the answer.

You are welcome to share any of this you would like with the parish! The Synod will be completed in 2023.

I feel so honored to participate in this entire process!