July to September 2024 – no 24 2024/3
Mysticism and method:
two dimensions that should not be separated but also not confused, as the Christological dogma rightly teaches.
Both are indispensable and not reducible to one another…
… synodality is not only “the specific modus vivendi et operandi of the Church, the People of God,
… but it is also a human-divine art that we are all invited to learn and experience more and more.
EDITORIAL
Mysticism and Method
Hubertus Blaumeiser
SR NATHALIE BECQUART XMCJ
Conversing in the Spirit
During her talk in Rome, on the first morning of the International Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod in late April 2024, the undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod illustrated how the method of Conversation in the Spirit has come increasingly to the fore during the recent synodal journey. We thank the author for kindly allowing Ekklesia to publish the text from that day, with slight modifications.
PAOLO MONACO SJ
To do Your Will!
A reflection on the Trinitarian foundation of personal or collective spiritual discernment in light of the experience of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the early fathers of the Society of Jesus.
The author is the director of the CIS – Ignatian Center of Spirituality of the Euro-Mediterranean province of the Society of Jesus.
CLINT RESSLER
A path in listening to the Spirit
St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal is the only Catholic parish in a town of 50,000 in the Galveston-Houston diocese in Texas (USA). The pastor, Clint Ressler, is assisted by two permanent deacons and a staff of seven others. He speaks of challenges, fears, failures and successes, in initiating and concretizing synodality in the community.
DAVID RANSON
The parish as Synodal – A case study
The Parish of our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood, in the Diocese of Broken Bay, Australia, is an urban, multicultural community. The article outlines its commitment and engagement of a synodal pathway both to nurture its pastoral activity and consider its future growth. Fr. David Ranson, is Vicar Genial of the Diocese of Broken Bay and Pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Dolours.
MATTHIAS HEMBROCK
Openness to those who left
The author is the pastor in the Catholic parish of St. Georg in Bocholt, Germany, and here he describes how he deals with the phenomenon of numerous Church members who have chosen to step away from the Church in recent years. He asks how should we view this and what should our attitude be?
ADRIANA MASOTTI
Learning unity in diversity
Experiments in synodality from various local churches around the world.
MERVAT KELLI
A tested and rediscovered friendship
Since the times of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, there has been a warm relationship between the Roman Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches. In recent times, however, that friendship has been put to the test.
