Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - Today at the Holy See Press Office the Instrumentum laboris for the 11th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in the Vatican 2-23 October next, on the theme ‘The Euchariast source and summit of the life and mission of the Church’ was presented to the public. Archbishop Nikola Eterović, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops illustrated preparations for a general assembly of the Bishops of the world underlining the collegial method of the synod’s work.
The Lineamenta for this upcoming assembly published in seven languages at the end of 2004 “were warmly received- the Secretary General said - as can be seen by the responses received in our office… consistent correspondence demonstrated the great interest for the theme chosen and considerable expectation with regard to the results of this 11th general assembly. Ample discussion of the theme in various local Churches produced responses which offered a panorama of opinions on liturgical celebrations and the influence of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, immense mystery and God’s gift to his Church on personal, family and social life.”
The Archbishop then illustrated some changes in the synod’s work methods encouraged by the late Pope John Paul II and endorsed by his Successor Benedict XVI. The synod will last for three weeks instead of four, so as not to keep the Bishops away from their dioceses for too long . The number of participants remains the same about 250. The Holy Father- in respect for continuity and synodal positive experience - made a few changes in the arrangement of the assembly “to make the work more concentrated and foster deeper collegiality”, Synod fathers may speak for no longer than 6 minutes instead of the previous 8 minutes, to shorten the assembly and allow time for free interventions during the last from 6pm to 7pm at the end of the daily general congregation. “This will improve the synod’s method and allow members to request and receive more information from synod fathers who have already spoken to the assembly with regard to situations in local Churches. This procedure should also foster more exchange of opinons and experience on matters of importance connected with the mystery of the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church.”
To facilitate discussion Synod fathers will be asked to follow a theme order in their interventions following the structure of the Instrumentum laboris. The length of the sessions of the 12 minor groups which elaborate proposals has also been reduced. “In this regard - said Archbishop. Eterović - the Synod Fathers will be asked to formulate proposals which are brief and concise and which focus only on one theme”. At the upcoming general assembly of the Synod will be attended by a group of men and women Auditors; and a group of Experts and Fraternal Delegates representing other Church and ecclesial communities whose number will be doubled from 6 to 12. The Assembly will also benefit from technologically more advanced systems of illumination, voting etc.
The celebration of the XI general assembly of the Synod of Bishops coincides with the 40th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops. The important event will be celebrated with a special session with two interventions, one theological and the other juridical, on the nature of the Synod of Bishops, followed by 7 reports on the 8 Special Synods held in recent years.
Then it was the turn of the Under-Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Bishop Fortunato Frezza, who illustrated the Instrumentum laboris, with the theme as its title: “The Eucharist source and summit of the life and mission of the Church”. The material is presented in four parts, set between a preface and an introduction and a conclusion. “Inserted initially in the river-bed of traditional doctrine and also present day Magisterium it is recalled that that the theme of the Eucharistic mystery was exalted by the proclamation of the Year of the Eucharist which will culminate precisely with the celebration of the Synod - said Bishop Frezza -. In the four parts the Eucharist is contemplated in four original ambits: the world, the Church, the life of the Church, the mission of the Church. To crown what is written it underlines the transforming power of the Eucharist and the intercession of the saints among whom the Mother of God is resplendent.”
On the theme of the Church’s mission in relation to the Eucharist, Bishop Frezza said: “The sending of missionaries to evangelise all peoples entrusted by Jesus to the disciples founded on baptism the sacrament which opens the way to new life marked by the indelible character of children of God, includes the formation of consciences to a Gospel style of life centered on the proclamation of the Good News and the new commandment of love of which the Eucharist is the summit and inexhaustible source. This is why the missionary mandate to evangelise brings with it profound social implications of the charity of proclamation and solidarity. The soul of this ecclesial charity is the Eucharistic Body of the Lord which makes the Church and unites the earthly people with the heavenly Church of the saints. In the liturgy, her action among peoples, the Church has always exercised a special mission, that of accessibility of liturgical forms for disciples of the innumerable human cultures. Lastly, a typical attitude of mission is the search for peace carried through the celebration of the Eucharist, sign of unity, bond of love, voice of forgiveness and also persistent call for unity among all the disciples of the Lord.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 7/7/2005, righe 66, parole 924)
