Bishop Byrne Begins Local Journey of Worldwide Synod at October 17 Mass

From iObserve by Kathleen Harrington

SPRINGFIELD – For a Sunday in Ordinary Time, the sung Litany of Saints, colorful procession, and incensing of the altar were signs that the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral was special.

“We’re opening the synod,” said Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne as he began the Oct. 17 Mass. “Synod” is derived from a Greek word meaning “meeting or assembly” and “journey.” The upcoming synod in the worldwide Catholic Church will solicit input from all Catholics to help guide the future direction of the church.

Across the world, dioceses celebrated the beginning of the two-year synodal journey on Oct. 17. By October 2023, the Synod of Bishops will present a report created from input from Catholics in all corners of the world to the Holy Father, answering the question “What is God asking of us?”

In his homily, Bishop Byrne likened the synodal journey to two people en route to Mass and deciding to make the walk together. “You begin to talk. You tell your stories and you listen to the other person. And, before you know it, things are different,” said Bishop Byrne. His anecdote went on to explain how the two people became friends and this friendship enhanced the life of the parish.

“The Holy Father is asking us to meet together on the way,” Bishop Byrne said. He said the pope wants every parish, every group, every time that Catholics and non-Catholics meet together, for them to dialog and to ask, “What is God asking of us as a church?”

Last weekend, Pope Francis opened the two-year global synod during a Mass held at the Vatican, describing the journey with three verbs: encounter, listen and discern.

In the Springfield Diocese, Bishop Byrne has chosen Father Michael Pierz, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Agawam, to serve as the synod team leader. Among the people serving on his team are Deacons Angel Diaz and Michael Pray; Sister of St. Joseph Elizabeth Sullivan, and Celeste Labbe, director of the diocese’s Office of Faith Formation. They will create a schedule of listening events, large and small, where people can encounter, listen, and discern the answer to the question, “What is God asking of us as a church?”

Bishop Byrne said the timeline includes allowing the diocesan team to meet and work out the schedule details for listening events. Then, after Christmas, people across the four counties of western Massachusetts will have a chance to share their hopes and dreams to help shape the church for years to come.

Telling those gathered for the Mass that they are as much a part of the church as the pope, the bishops, and all clergy, Bishop Byrne explained that it is their duty to be “actively engaged in the life of the church” and to join him on the great adventure of the synod.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel.”