The Latin Church in India concluded on July 28 a three-day national synod convened to finalize its synthesis for the 2021-2023 Synod.
The gathering that started on July 26 in Bangalore aimed to discern new ecclesial pathways and adopt creative pastoral approaches for a “synodal Church.”
“It’s the dream of the Holy Father Pope Francis to promote a Synodal Church in every aspect in order to make her more relevant to our times,” said Father Stephen Alathara, deputy secretary general of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India (CCBI), in a statement.
In his homily, Cardinal-designate Filipe Neri Ferrão, archbishop of Goa and Daman and Patriarch of East Indies, reflected on the day’s Gospel that speaks “of the dream of Jesus for his disciples.”
“This dream of Jesus for his disciples has got two facets: Communion and Mission,” said the prelate.
“In order to journey with the Church in her mission, we need to foster communion within and without,” he said.
A team comprising of 15 bishops, 12 priests, 10 religious, and 27 lay leaders will validate and finalize the synthesis prepared by the National Synod Desk in collaboration with the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine.
The synthesis, which will effectively serve as a road map for the Church in India in the next decade, will be sent to the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome.
