clergy, theologians, and, yes, in you and me. Discord or not, the church will be on its knees, asking for guidance on ways to be church in our times. There are many of us “old folks” still around who have seen what inclusiveness can mean. We recall the ensuing years as well: a period of denial and pushback, as clericalism began to shave away at the promise of Vatican II. This pushback has brought confusion and sadness, challenging the brightness of our visions, yet—and this is important—we have not lost hope. In our hearts we recognize with deep joy that, once again, the Spirit is bringing new life to our church. We remind ourselves that the church, the body of Christ, is God’s project, not ours. I find myself wondering how the insights and inspirations of our parish members can emerge as a new way to gather and be a community. I am concerned that the people with whom I worship might lose interest and opt out of this spring’s synodal gathering. I thank God for my faith journey and that I am a member of the team who brought us to this day. Locally, my hope is that our archdiocese models church by being a boldly inclusive and responsive community, witnessing God’s love in the world.
Janet McDermott is a cradle Catholic who was radically revitalized in her faith by the outcomes of Vatican II. Inspired by that Council, at age 50, she reenrolled in college and earned a masters in transforming spirituality. She is currently a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Seattle, where she advocates for respectful inclusion within the church and for responsible care of the environment.
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The Spirituality BY SARAH-MARIE CHAN
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Photo credit tc
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hen I arrived in Rome in October 2023, towering marble statues—of St. Peter, Moses, and St. Teresa of Ávila—jarred me into a state of cognitive dissonance. I had spent the last two years responding to the synodal invitation to listen to journeys of faith, bearing in me and in my communities the seeds of trust, healing, and common mission. But the commanding and unyielding nature of the statues bore instead the warning of the Holy Roman Empire: follow our rules and be weary of hell. There can be good intentions in this unyielding message; instilling the fear of God might suppress oppressive powers. But this came with unfortunate side effects: the generations that raised me lived a spirituality formed by the fear of accidentally opposing God. Now, however, Pope Francis offers a more nuanced spirituality. I hope that in forming ourselves in synodality, Catholics might release ourselves of the shiver brought on by these imposing forms and consider instead: How did the saints depicted in these statues actually lead? For 22 working days, delegates at the Synod on Synodality assembly shared their experiences in roundtables. Called “Conversations in the Spirit,” these sessions were designed to foster individual sharing, silent prayer, and communal reflection of the Holy Spirit’s movements. A bishop from Europe reflected,