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...that we are called to be a “Church that walks together”?
 

The Greek word “synod” (pronounced ‘sin-ned’) means “walking together” and the whole Church is being called to a “walking together” – listening, discussing, envisioning – in preparation for the Synod scheduled for October 2023 in Rome!

As part of this “walking together”, each Diocese in the Universal Church is invited to gather the Faithful in Parish gatherings. One of the benefits of these “Synod Listening Sessions” is the sharing of insights and visions for living out our Faith in our own local setting!

The “Synod Listening Session” held here last Sunday was such a wonderful experience, as Deacon Mike Cesnik and Silvia Olberding led us in a spirited and Spirit-filled discussion of five “focus questions”! The discussion was lively and the insights shared were very valuable!

Last Sunday’s “Synod Listening Session” was not the only opportunity that you have to share your concerns and your hopes for the future of the Church!

We will have an abbreviated “Listening Session” on Tuesday, 18 January, at 5:30 PM in Madonna Hall, in conjunction with our Parish/Finance Council Meeting! Part of this Session will be ‘processing’ what we heard from you last Sunday!

AND, there is a link on the Diocesan website, which you can use to participate: the official website for the synodal process for the Diocese of Tucson is synodtucson.org    Parishioners can also engage the process by accessing the Diocesan Facebook and Instagram accounts: @synodtucson.

Social media hashtags include #SynodTucson, #ListeningChurch, and  #IglesiaQueEscucha.
Questions about the process can be emailed to synodtucson@diocsestucson.org....

However you choose to participate, in this extraordinary opportunity to make your voice heard and prayerfully considered, please plan on doing so!

St. Teresa of Calcutta was once asked by a Catholic journalist: “Mother, what do you think needs to change in the Church?” The Saint replied, with a smile, “You. . .and me!”  

Real change is possible when we are open, respectful, and receptive to one another, and seek the good of the whole Church as our goal, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

“We can turn to Mary in grave humility and say to her, “Look, you are one of us! Teach us the height to which we can rise. We can’t bear Christ, but we can be pregnant with love for every human being, men and women alike, in giving life to other people. Mother, teach us how to do it. Teach us how to love; teach us how to hope; teach us how to say ‘Yes!’ to the impossible!”
                                                                                         

                                                                     - Catherine De Hueck Doherty (1896-1985)

This Week’s Question: ““What is the ‘Last Gospel’?”

The Answer to last week’s Question: “Where in Egypt did the Holy Family go when they fled from Bethlehem?” 

The flight into Egypt is described in the Gospel of Matthew (2:13-23), in which Joseph fled to Egypt with Mary and the infant JESUS, after a visit by the Magi, because he was warned in a dream that King Herod intended to kill the new-born Messiah.  Egypt was a logical place to find refuge, as it was outside the dominions of King Herod, but both Egypt and Israel were part of the Roman Empire linked by a coastal road known as "the way of the sea", making travel between them easy and relatively safe. There was a large number of Jews living in Egypt, since the time of the Babylonian Exile. The city of Alexandria, which in ancient times had a very large Jewish “Quarter”, claims to have sheltered the Holy Family, as does the city of Cairo, which has an ancient church claiming to be built on the place where the Holy Family stayed and Joseph plied his trade as a carpenter, until they returned to Nazareth. These stories of the time in Egypt have been especially important to the Coptic Church, which is based in Egypt, and throughout Egypt are a number of churches and shrines marking places where the Holy Family stayed.

(If you would like to be as well-informed as the “Quiz Master” – pick up a copy of the Catholic Source Book, available in the Parish Office, for only $25!)