Cardinal shares pre-synod message with faithful (Video)

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will be sharing weekly messages via video from Rome during the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

During the month of October, Cardinal Tobin is participating in the Synod of Bishops, an important gathering, which will include lay people, members of Religious Orders, priests and deacons, as well as bishops. It represents a “fundamental stage” in the synodal journey initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021.  

In a recent video message to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Newark, Cardinal Tobin explains that Synodality means “journeying together.” The Church has gathered in synods since its very beginning for the purpose of effectively carrying out its mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and peoples. As Pope Francis reminds us frequently, our journeying together is what manifests the nature of the Church as the pilgrim and missionary People of God, he said.

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“Every baptized Christian is called to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ,” Cardinal Tobin said. “This means that all of us are co-responsible for the Church’s mission. And it is vitally important for us to listen to each other respectfully in order to discern what the Word of God is saying to us here and now as we confront the challenges and opportunities of life in the 21st century.”

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.

The conversations taking place in Rome next month will be based on three fundamental questions: First, how can we be united, not divided, as missionary disciples? Second, how can we effectively carry out the Church’s mission in today’s world? And third, what do we need to do to engage ALL Christians fully and actively in the mission and ministry of Jesus? 

Ideas generated during the Synod next 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.