Cardinal Tobin reflects on third week of the Synod of Bishops (Video)

As Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, ends his third week at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, he says it is challenging work to listen intently, respectfully, and thoughtfully, “but love for Jesus and His Church makes it worthwhile.”

“The days fly by – suddenly it seems we are nearing the end of the third of four weeks. Yet each day seems long and often exhausting,” Cardinal Tobin said in his video message to the faithful back in Newark.

He said the assembly has been meeting in small groups to discuss, first, “communion” and how we can be more fully a sign and instrument of union with God and of the unity of all humanity; next, “co-responsibility in mission” and how can we better share gifts and tasks in the service of the Gospel; and finally, “participation” and what processes, structures and institutions are needed in a missionary synodal Church.

*Pope Francis and participants begin a working session of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)*

“Those three priorities, communion, mission, and participation may sound like Greek gobbledygook, but I think most of the elements of our archdiocesan report could be identified in one or more of these priorities. It was encouraging to hear a delegate from halfway across the world voice the same concerns as folks in Hudson County,” Cardinal Tobin said.

The assembly will begin the final week of this Synod’s first session with efforts to pull their reflections together and produce a summary report and a letter to the global Church, he said.

SUBSCRIBE TO JERSEY CATHOLIC NEWSLETTER

“I think it will be a challenging week, but I don’t believe God has brought us this far only to abandon us with the finish line in sight,” Cardinal Tobin said.

On Thursday evening, the Synod moved outdoors to St. Peter’s Square, where the assembly joined Pope Francis in a special prayer for migrants and refugees.

Pope Francis leads members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in praying for migrants and refugees in front of the statue, “Angels Unawares,” in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 19, 2023. The sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

As we have all watched with growing sadness the ongoing violence in the Holy Land and Ukraine, the Cardinal also reminded the faithful of Newark that Pope Francis has invited everyone to a day of prayer, fasting, and penance for peace next Friday, Oct. 27.

The Synod of Synodality began in 2021. The Archdiocese of Newark held a series of 700 prayerful listening sessions capturing the voices of more than 15,000 northern New Jerseyans in 2021 and 2022.

Ideas generated during the Synod this month will be the subject of further discussions in local diocesan communities throughout the world next year in preparation for the Synod’s final session in October 2024, Cardinal Tobin said.