Sharing the synod excitement

A few weeks ago the cafeteria at St. Rita School uptown was packed with people – not its usual crowd of hungry grade-schoolers, but with a crew of faithful Catholic adults hungry for something more than a hot lunch.

As part of the Ninth General Synod, the consultative session for the Uptown Deanery (and individuals from many other parishes throughout the archdiocese) was an inspiring experience. With more than 300 people in attendance, it was, at the very least, a testimony to the fact that the church is alive and well here in New Orleans and very much ripe for the movements of the Holy Spirit.

Looking and listening around the room, I came to see clearly that the many parishioners in attendance varied in their preferences, politics and perspectives. Among this great diversity, recurrent themes quickly began to emerge.

Even within my own small group, which seemed to span three generations, the priorities each participant shared actually matched many of my own. Within the larger group there was thunderous applause for ideas such as evangelizing young people and parents, strengthening marriage and supporting the strong ministries within each parish.

There also was great praise for the availability of the sacraments and for the great work that the archdiocese is doing, particularly through Catholic Charities.

Another theme that received great response was a depth of gratitude among attendants for this opportunity to be heard. While the Catholic Church is not a democracy and we are not being invited to vote on moral issues, the consultative sessions of this synod are a sign that the Catholic Church is a divine institution with a loving God at the helm, whose Spirit can and does speak to each of the members of his body.

The Holy Spirit whispers to each of our hearts and offers all Catholics his gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts are a calling to Catholics to be vehicles of God’s voice.

In St. Rita’s cafeteria, that voice spoke out and said that the church here is alive and the Spirit is moving.

Lynne Pesce, a parishioner of St. Clement of Rome parish in Metairie, is a member of the Synod Leadership Team.