Prior to the opening of the Synod on Synodality, voting delegates gathered at Fraterna Domus in Sacrofano for a three day retreat in spiritual preparation for the Synod. A series of meditations were prepared for the retreat by Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., a Dominican Friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers.
Meditation topics included: Hoping against Hope, A Home in God and God at Home in Us, Conversation on the Road to Emmaus, Friendship, Authority and The Spirit of Truth. The Vatican Fellow Pedro Weizenmann called the meditations “an amazing service to the whole Church in our time and the authentic fruit of a lifetime devoted to her.”
In the meditation titled “Friendship”, Fr. Radcliffe shared:
Preaching the gospel is never just communicating information. It is an act of friendship…
There were no easy friendships between men and women in the Old Testament. The Kingdom broke in with Jesus surrounded by his friends, men and women… We should embody the spacious friendship of God.
So we preach the gospel by friendships that reach across boundaries. God reached across the division between Creator and creature. What impossible friendships can we make?
Rev. P. Timothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, o.p.
Complete transcripts of Fr. Radcliffe’s meditations, along with recordings of retreat sessions, liturgies, and other events are available here on the Vatican News website.
The opening of the first General Congregation of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Wednesday, October 4 sets the stage for the journey towards a more synodal Church. The first ‘module’, or section, of the gathering is aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the synodal Church as an integral and immersive experience, laying the groundwork for fruitful discussions in the subsequent modules.
In his introductory address, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Relator General, emphasized the importance of this initial module. He likened it to a warm-up exercise, vital for aligning participants with the synodal methodology that will guide their discussions throughout the event. Furthermore, this module serves as the foundation upon which future modules will build.