Are you wondering about the Synod that is taking place in Rome this month? If so, you are not alone. Check out what the Sisters have learned…
As it approaches its midway mark, the Synod on Synodality in Rome has the world’s attention. But if you are wondering what it’s all about, you’re not alone. The Sisters have been doing their homework to come to a better understanding of the Synod and its importance in the life of the Church.
Just before the Synod opened at the Vatican on October 4, Sister Margaret Palliser gave a wonderful presentation for our Sisters and Associates to the question: “What is this Synod on Synodality?” Sister’s presentation is available for viewing on our YouTube channel:
In accordance with Pope Francis’ vision, prayer is truly at the heart of this Synod. The monthlong gathering began with an ecumenical Prayer Vigil in St. Peter’s Square on September 30, followed by a 3-day spiritual retreat for the Synod Assembly members before the formal opening of the Synod on October 4—a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Throughout the weeks to follow, prayer and silence will continue to punctuate each day, providing the Assembly members with opportunities to listen attentively to the voice of the Holy Spirit, the true “leader” of the Synod.
In prayer-filled solidarity with those assembled in Rome, the Dominican Sisters gathered in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on Sunday, October 1, for a Prayer Vigil that was different from any that had taken place there in the past. The Sisters picked up the theme of the preparatory stage of the Synod—“Enlarge the space of your tent” [Isaiah 54:2]. They invited Associates, friends, and young people from Albertus Magnus High School, St. Thomas Aquinas College, and Dominican University, as well as members of the staff of Dominican Convent. Following the example of the Prayer Vigil in St. Peter’s Square, the Sisters included many young people in the Service. Together, all participants in the Prayer Vigil in Sparkill, both those present in the Chapel and those who joined them via livestream, prayed with one heart that the Synod Assembly members would be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit among them during the weeks ahead. You can view the Vigil at https://livestream.com/
