Archbishop of Saigon: A Guide to Synergy in the Church for the Representative Board of the Lay Apostolic Societies

(CGOL) “Cooperation” is the way God expects of the Church of the Third Millennium…

The Archdiocese of Saigon (TGPSG) organized a seminar on synodality in the Church, under the theme of the World Synod of Bishops (synod): Towards a Cooperative Church: Communion – Participation – Mission. And guide the organization of similar meetings in each union – at 5:00 p.m. on December 14, 2021, at Cho Doi Parish Hall, 1 Ton That Tung Ward, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Facilitator: Priest Peter Nguyen Van Hien, animator of the Archdiocese. Saigon. Organizing Committee: Father Ernest Nguyen Van Huong – Representative of the Bishop, in charge of the laity; Mr.: Peter Ta Dinh Vui, Px. Nguyen Thai, Michael Nguyen Huu Xuan Diem.

The participants were 300 people, including: spiritual director, Executive Board and key people of 30 lay Apostolic organizations (10 people/group)

Opening the program, Father Ernest greeted the participants and opened the program. The program began with a minute of sanctification with the Litany for the Synod of Bishops.

First, the participants learned a little about the Synod of Bishops and the theme of this 16th Synod. Then, in order to better understand the “Joining”, the participants listened to (via video) the lecture of Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang during the opening Mass of the diocesan Synod, at 8 am. First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon. The Archbishop explained the meaning of the Synod and emphasized three things:

1. Jesus walked with the disciples, listening and interpreting the Word of God, helping their hearts to burn, to be transformed, to be strong, to proclaim the Gospel with courage.

2. Synergy is a matter related to all members of the Church. Each person has their own gift, let’s develop the ability to have the theme Synchronicity: Communion – Participation – Mission.

3. The Church has a mission to bring the Light and Life of God to the “sheep” inside and outside the Church.

Archbishop Joseph hopes that the Church, working together under the grace of the Holy Spirit, will renew and enthusiastically embark on a journey; join together, listen, discern. May the Holy Spirit come in the Archdiocese, on each person, organization and parish, to bring new life to the Archdiocese.

Following the words of Archbishop Joseph, Father Peter explained and analyzed extensively so that the participants could understand the parts of the study material:

– “Cooperation” is the way God expects of the Church of the Third Millennium: First of all, because the situation of the world and of the Church… requires all members of God’s people to contribute to the watch. new Church. Above all, by the action of the Holy Spirit, who is always at work in history and manifests His generative power. In this context, the Church is called to be “a sign and instrument” of communion with God and unity with humanity, by “walking together” on the path of mission and listening The Holy Spirit invites conversion.

– “Collaboration” is a new word, meaning: Jesus is the way and the disciples are those who “walk together” on it. It refers to a way of living with each other and with everyone as God lived with himself and with everyone. Accordingly, people will be accepted and heard. Living in a spirit of synergy, the communicative nature of the Church is manifested and realized in a concrete way.

– The Church has lived the spirit of unity through the ages: the first community of believers (Acts 2:4246), general councils, synods, congresses of the people of God, diocesan synods, participating Popes consult the bishops…

– Challenges that the Church has to face when living a spirit of synergy in today’s world such as: The fading sense of the Church, the movement of “religious rule”, “clericalism”, the tendency to close secretly considers himself to have all the answers to all of humanity’s problems.

– According to the 2023 Synod of Bishops, in order to promote the spirit of synergy to serve the mission effectively in the current context, the Church must look back: the present synergy in the communities; Are the various gifts, charisms and ministries in the community respected and united? Are all members of the community heard and expressed as well as participating in the discernment process? Is your community “open” or “closed” to the problems of other communities as well as of society?

– During the diocesan Pre-Synodal period, this review is carried out as follows: First of all, it is carried out in synodal meetings conducted as follows:

a. The opening prayer was with the Prayer for the Synod.

b. Listen and share synergistic experiences based on prompting questions.

c. Silence to feel the inner changes in the light of God’s Word.

d. Reflect on what resonates from the sharing, what touches most deeply, both new insights and unresolved issues.

e. Prayer ends with spontaneous prayers.

This review was then carried out during the diocesan conference.

Suggested questions:

1. What experience have I had in living synergistically with my community?

2. Does this synergistic experience bring me joy, obstacles or difficulties?

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