"The end of this Synod is evangelization. This is how Luis Manuel Romero began his speech, recalling that the synodal style has been especially present in the Church since the Second Vatican Council, since when 29 synods have been held in the Church.
However, as the director of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity, Family and Life, wanted to emphasize, this Synod "presents two novelties. The first is in the subject matter, since it does not have a specific theme, but deals with synodality itself.
The other novelty is the methodology, since the Pope decided that this synod will be organized in three stages: diocesan, continental and universal.
He also recalled that this Synod The first of these documents will gather the contributions received in the diocesan phase and the other will be the one that emerges from the continental phase.
At this time, the EEC synod team is performing the synthesis with all the contributions received in the Episcopal Conference during these months. This synthesis will be sent to the General Secretariat of the Synod with all the contributions of the groups "so that all the words, all the voices are heard".
Synodality, a way of being Church
One of the characteristics of these months of work has been the involvement of the laity Luis Manuel himself pointed out that those who "have been most enthusiastic about this synodal process are the laity; the priests have found it a little more difficult to get involved in this dynamic".
In this regard, Romero himself emphasized, the Church in Spain had an advantage since "in February 2020 the Congress of the Laity and this has influenced our synodal process because that congress was conceived in a similar way.
The known dynamics of work in the keys of synodality and discernment has been noted in the work of the dioceses and movements of the Church in our country. In fact, said Luis Manuel Romero, "the synodal process has been conceived as a continuation of this congress of the laity".
Luis Manuel Romero emphasized that the synodal process, whose first phase closes on June 11 with the Assembly of all Spain, "does not end, it is a process that has to be done. It demands a personal and pastoral conversion. In this synod the process is already a result. Synodality gives a way of being Church". This style, characterized by listening to one another, is what, both from the Holy See and from the particular churches, wants to be the tonic that permeates the pastoral life of the Church.
Discernment: key word
Discern: to know and carry out what the Holy Spirit is asking of the entire Church at this time: faithful, religious, priests, etc., is one of the key words and attitudes of this Synod.
This was repeated by Luis Manuel Romero, who emphasized that this work has been done to "discover that the protagonist is the Holy Spirit. It is a question of asking ourselves, always together, where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us in these present moments of history and not what we think".
Listening, illusion and hope
For Luis Manuel Romero, the assessment of this synodal process in our country is very positive. In fact, he wanted to emphasize that "illusion and hope" are the words that could define these contributions.
In particular, he highlighted the great involvement and enthusiasm of the laity, saying that "in Spain there is a resurgence of the laity". Something key given the clericalism that still has a lot of weight both among the faithful and some priests.
Participation: Women, secular and around 55 years of age.
Regarding the work carried out in Spain, Luis Manuel Romero pointed out that more than 13,000 groups of parishes, as well as groups of religious communities, more than 200 monasteries and several Secular Institutes have participated in this synodal process.)
In addition, 28 lay movements and associations participated through the Spanish Laity Forum.
A striking fact has been the participation of 19 prisons in this process, with nearly a thousand people, including inmates, volunteers and workers. In addition, proposals were received from Caritas groups and people from the world of art, culture and politics.
In total, said the director of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity, Family and Life, "more than 200,000 people participated in this synod. Of this number, the participation "of the laity and especially women, with an average age of 55 years" stands out.
As Romero himself pointed out, "it has been difficult for us to reach those who are far away, those who are absent, young people and children, and also people of other confessions. All these groups are of special interest in the conception of this synodal process.
The Synodal Assembly of June 11
Luis Manuel Romero and José Gabriel Vera, director of the EEC Information Office, have also informed about how the Synodal Assembly which will take place on June 11 at the Pablo VI Foundation in Madrid.
Some 600 people from all the Spanish dioceses will attend. Most of the attendees will be lay people, but 52 bishops and the Apostolic Nuncio in Spain, Bishop Bernardito Auza, are also expected to participate.
They will be joined by some 70 priests, religious men and women from different congregations and members of other denominations.
The Assembly, which is intended to be "a day of encounter and full of hope" will begin with the presentation of the synthesis prepared by the Synodal Team of the EoC. This will be followed by personal and group discernment with the aim of reflecting on key points or adding aspects that are not reflected in this synthesis.
In the afternoon, these highlights will be collected to work on them in such a way that the synthesis to be sent to the Holy See reflects, in the best way possible, the reality and aspirations of the entire Church in Spain.
The day will end with a Holy Mass presided over by the President of the EEC, Monsignor Juan José Omella and with a final act of sending forth presided over by Monsignor Luis Argüello, Secretary General of the EEC. In addition, they wanted to emphasize that "during the whole day the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in a chapel of the Foundation" to express "that we wish this Assembly to be a time inhabited by the Lord".
