Synodal Experiences
Antelias:
the first year of the Synod Application Process
May-June 2007
The committee discussed the
first text “
-
Choose sections from the synod text to show it on the big screen, if
available in the church, before the beginning of the liturgy in five or ten
minutes.
-
Hold meetings in the diocese regions to discuss some of the topics
presented in the synod texts.
-
Organize pastoral seminars about some of the topics dealt with in the
texts.
-
Organize synod meetings to release them on Christian station and TV.
-
The active parishes present support to the needy and distant parishes.
-
Ask the superiors of catholic and public schools in the diocese to
publish the synod texts and discuss them with the students during religious
education hours.
-
Specialize a synod page in “our church” magazine to show the synod texts
consecutively and publish this show on the diocesan electronic site. It is
mentioned that the committee organized a summary on “
-
Add a forum to the electronic site of the diocese specified for the
records, remarks, the first-hand letters, the conversations and questions on the
themes of the synod.
-
Take advantage of bulletin boards in the parish and parish newsletter,
in case it is present, to show sentences from the synod texts.
-
Organize a document about the text “
Maronite
Diocese of Antelias
(Letter
issued on 1/22/2007)
1-
After approving on
all the texts of the maronite Patriarchal synod and before its publication in
its final and public formula, the maronite diocese of Antelias launched the
workshop of the diocesan synod. Its purpose:
Apply the resolutions of the Patriarchal synod and its recommendations on
the diocesan level. These recommendations and resolutions were printed in a book
of ten thousand copies distributed to the faithful and institutions of the
parishes.
The shepherd of the diocese
issued a letter that explains the objectives of the diocesan synod and the
mechanism of its work, and appointed for it a general secretary with an expanded
committee. The work in the diocesan synod will be expanded for three years
accompanying the program that the follow-up committee for the Patriarchal synod
has released. The first session will be held this coming June 17th.
2-
The diocese
adopted the program of the follow-up committee. It took the topics suggested for
the monthly priest’ meetings, according to the following way:
The texts- booklets are
distributed to the priests after the topics are specified to be dealt with every
month. The priests should read the text before the meeting. During the meeting,
the priests will be divided in eight groups. A question will be distributed to
each group to deal with it during the first hour. Then in a second session all
the groups meet and every group presents a conclusion of its discussions and
suggestions. This way a general view will be established on the aspects of the
text well-planned.
Ten thousand copies of the
booklets will be distributed to the parishes; the work varies in the parishes
according to the dynamism of the priest and the response of the faithful. Some
of them established committees to study the text; some have set up an hour per
week for an open session anyone can participate in it. Some of them use the
texts of the synod in their homilies.
3-
The priests were
asked to recite the prayer of the synod with the faithful at the Sunday’s
liturgy after communion to replace the thanksgiving prayer, so the intellectual
effort will be associated with the prayer.
4-
At the Christmas
novena, the first text on hope is recited successively every evening, in the
area of central Metn which include twenty parishes.
5-
During the season
of lent, especially on Friday, after the benediction of the Holy Cross, some of
the priests proceed to a gathering on the texts of the patriarchal synod.
6-
The general
secretary of the synod delivered tens of speeches in different parishes treating
the topics of the synod and the importance of the synod work and the
participation in it.
Some activities in some parishes of the
Maronite diocese of Antelias
(Letter
issued on 3/15/2007)
-
Recite the synod prayer during liturgy after communion.
-
Use the synod topics in the homilies of Sundays and holidays.
-
Distribute the booklets of the synod texts at the entrance of the
church, to the trustees of the (wakf), the members of pastoral councils and its
committees, to the concerned members of the parish, to the associations,
organizations, groups, institutions and Apostolic and pastoral movements, to
discuss them at the regular meetings.
-
Offer or sell the synod book to whoever desires it from the members of
the parish.
-
Monthly sessions at the church or one of the homes of the parish where
the texts of the synod will be shown, the principal passages will be read, and
the questions and recommendations will be discussed.
-
Call on Father Nasser Gemayel to speak on the Patriarchal synod and the
synods through history.
-
Read the synod texts during evening prayer at Christmas Novena, novena
of the parish patron, and during the Fridays of the Great season of Lent.
-
Establish a committee in the parish to think of the synod texts and
discuss them.
Maronite
Diocese of Batroun
(Letter
issued on 6/5/2007)
The maronite
diocese of Batroun adopted the five-year plan for the application of the
Maronite Patriarchal Synod placed by the follow-up committee, and has been put
into application in all the districts of the diocese. The most important
activities are:
1-
The monthly
priests’ meetings: focused on the topics of the texts presented to be studied
and have a deep understanding of them. There were conversations and discussions
on them as follows:
Saturday 11/4/2006: “The
Maronite Patriarchal Synod- Presentation of the synod action: texts and
recommendations and the five-year plan for the application process”, Msgr.
Mounir Khayrallah.
Saturday 12/2/2006: “The
Maronite Patriarchal Synod- the second text: Identity of the
Saturday 2/3/2007: “The
Maronite Patriarchal Synod- Third text: The presence of the
2-
The priests were
holding a monthly meeting in groups exchange views on the texts that were
discussed in the general meeting.
3-
The booklets of
the synod texts: we distributed one thousand copies to the parishes movements,
Apostolic organizations and schools through the priests (five hundred copies of
them in the parish of Batroun) so it will be available in all the sectors to
study them and exchange views in their matter. And we distributed with them the
“Participation prayer in the synod path to be recited at all occasions.
4-
In the parish of
Batroun: the parish of Batroun decided, as usual for years, to follow the
Maronite patriarchal Synod Process. The parish council, in its annual meeting
held on the first Saturday of October 2006, determined his subject for the New
Year as follows: “In the Maronite Patriarchal Synod Application Process, an
appeal for Hope-Remaining in
During the meeting, five
hundred copies of each text was distributed to the presidents of organizations,
the presidents of parish committees and school directors so the topics of the
synod will be its program for this year, then meetings, Bible studies and prayer
sessions will be organized regarding them.
But the openings of “Sunday
Letter”, which is distributed in the parish between 2000 and 3000 copies every
Sunday, and is sent through internet to all the Batroun people spread all over,
came in fourteen numbers until now and highlights the topics of the synod in the
seven first texts.
Maronite Diocese of
(Letter issued on 2/27/2007)
1-
Priests’ monthly
meetings: they are specified to deal with the documents issued by the general
secretariat. The subject is presented, and questions are dealt with through
scholastic circles with a summary at the end of them. The summaries are reserved
at the secretariat of the synod. They are well arranged and they are supplied to
the priests.
2-
The work is
focused this year on the priestly sectors without ignoring the other
ecclesiastical sections, so the priests will be able to grasp the depth of the
synod prepositions, just then these prepositions will enter in a simple way to
the different segments of the parish.
3-
Some parishes have
started to deal with the documents of the synod in accordance with the mechanism
that is suitable with the actuality of the parish and some of them are:
4-
Lectures –
thinking sessions – work with expert categories – ect…
5-
The diocese
promoted the title of Lent in all the parishes from the inspiration of the synod
title: “Do not fear, I am with you till the end of time”. The thinking cores
were distributed as follows:
6-
The activities of the diocese committees
are focused on prepositions from the inspiration of the synod documents
particularly the apostolic performance that reach a number of parishes during
the summer time.
7-
In the future
period, we will start working with the professional segments in the diocese:
associations, professions, teachers, students, etc. The main idea that directs
the work in the first year is to create the synod climate and to emphasize on
the priest who is the first mediator for every ecclesiastical initiation.
Maronite
Diocese of Baalbeck – Deir Amar
(Letter
issued on 2/9/2007)
From the first instance to
the closing of the Patriarchal Synod and the occurrence of its action, the
diocese of Baalbeck undertook a wide apostolic drive, to highlight its
importance and the necessity of plunging in its texts and be enriched by them,
so it proceeded to provide the texts for the priests, the consecrated and
faithful, and encouraged all to acquire them and discover them.
1-
The first activity
was with the priests through the monthly meeting, so the work was a post to get
the priests in the general environment of the synod and the new Pentecost that
was manifested in it through the maronite church assembly in its Patriarchal
bound and its spreading for the first time this way, around her patriarch who
incarnates its unity and its peak.
2-
We found out in a
second phase that it is necessary to specify a monthly meeting, involves in it,
in addition to the Bishop and the diocesan priests, all monks and sisters
working in its framework, to discuss, hold talks and come out with some
summaries and resolutions inspired from the texts of the synod to apply them in
the bound of the diocese.
3-
In a second way,
the bishop of the diocese organized a retreat for the confraternities of the
diocese, informed them on the texts of the synod, and was decided to hold
monthly meetings for every confraternity regarding the texts.
4-
Likewise was the
work with the explorers, youth and apostolic movements and others, some parishes
intended to copy some of the topics that interest all and show them on the
bulletin board at the front of the churches to draw the attention of the
faithful and create in them the desire to acquire the texts of the synod?
5-
And the diocese
brought together the teachers of public and private schools to a day of
recollection, during which they got familiar with the texts of the synod, and a
continuous resumption will remain with them for the importance of their fruitful
and enduring presence in the diocese during summer and winter times.
6-
The diocese
intended to highlight the texts of the synod and its contents through the
apostolic and religious formation center at the Archdiocese encouraging its
students to acquire the texts of the synod and read them. In a general way, we
work in the spirit of our Lord Jesus to apply what we can apply from the
directives of the synod, employing all efforts for the sake of getting up to a
local maronite church witnessing to the face of Christ in a geographic center so
desperate for the light of our lamp to light up its distressful darkness.
The
Maronite Diocese of Saïda
(Letter
issued on 2/5/2007)
The steps that the maronite
diocese of Saïda took upon to deliver the actions of the maronite Patriarchal
Synod to the faithful:
1-
Make the
Archdiocese a permanent center to sell and distribute the books of the synod.
2-
Deal with the
documents of the synod at the monthly priests’ meetings for three years.
A-
Present the
subject for fifteen minutes through one of the priests and pose questions for
discussion.
B-
Distribute the
priests into dialogue sessions to discuss the questions.
C-
Show the results
of the dialogue sessions.
3-
Every month, the
bishop distributed 3000 copies of the booklets that are issued to the parish.
4-
Recommendations to
the priests in activating the actions of the synod in the parishes:
A-
Propose the
monthly document in the homilies of Sundays (special homily or within different
homilies).
B-
Establishment of
monthly sessions to discuss the monthly documents with the members of the
parish.
C-
Activate the
subject with the apostolic movements, confraternities and the “waqf” committees.
Patriarchate Diocese – District of Jounieh
(No written report)
1-
We started to
study the texts with the priests at the private and monthly meetings, but we
need extra time to get acquainted with the texts and apprehend them in the
maronite concept that belongs to.
2-
Every month, the
diocese distributes to the priests and the parishes 2000 copies of the booklets
of the Maronite Patriarchal Synod.
Maronite
Diocese of
(No written
report)
1-
The priests’ monthly meetings are dedicated to study the texts of the
synod and discuss them according to the five-year plan calendar.
2-
The priests come back again to discuss the texts during their meetings
according to their sectors.
3-
A general secretariat was established in the diocese under the
leadership of Father Antoine Assaf to follow the synod application process.
4-
Every month, the diocese distributes 3500 copies of the booklets of the
Maronite Synod.
5-
Set up a monthly research in the
“Raïyah magazine” on the texts of the synod by Dr. Antoine Saad.
6-
The pastoral publication of the “Lord’s Day”, issued in all the parishes
of the city of
7-
There are many activities and lectures that are not gathered in
different parishes.
Maronite
Diocese of Jbeil
(No written
report)
1-
His Excellency Bishop Raï took upon himself to plug in the Christian
formation homilies insights on the synod texts, and it is published in “Bushra
Al-Raï”.
2-
The priests meet in the regions to study the texts every month and
according to the official calendar.
3-
His Excellency is working on the generalization of the pastoral diocesan
council, and this will promote the synod application process in the diocese.
4-
Publication of a directory on the priest, the parish and the pastoral
activity from the inspiration of the maronite synod and other ecclesiastical
texts.
5-
Every month, the diocese distributes to the priests and parishes 600
copies of the booklets of the Maronite Synod.
Patriarchate Diocese – District of Sarba
(No
written report)
1-
The logo declared by His excellency Bishop Guy Boulos Njaim is : “we
take breath ecclesiastically”.
2-
At our annual retreat for the priests, last summer, we studied the
topics of the synod.
3-
We had a tritium in august for the clergy: there was a study for the
texts of the synod.
4-
We established a
committee to follow up the application process and the partial committees.
5-
Every month, we
try to distribute 1000 copies of the booklets of the Maronite Synod.
Maronite
Diocese of Tyr
(No written
report)
1-
The priests’
monthly meetings are dedicated to study the texts of the synod; a text is read
during the meeting and discussed within conversational sessions. We apply the
method of the questions of the diocese of Antelias.
2-
In the parishes:
we activate the texts of the synod through prayer and pastoral meetings and in
the ecclesiastical committees and awqafs and pastoral councils, nothing unified,
but the matter is left to every parish.
3-
Every month, we
distribute 500 copies pf the booklets of the Maronite Synod.
Pariarchate Diocese – District of Jebbeh
(No written
report)
1-
The priests’ monthly meeting include topics” cultural and spiritual
about the synod according to the formal calendar.
2-
Every month, the diocese distributes 500 copies of the booklets of the
Maronite synod.
3-
The Holy Week homilies focused on the topics of the synod and its
importance.
4-
The diocese organizes during the month of July in its parishes a series
of seminars on the Maronite Synod.
5-
The topic of the apostolic camp during the summer is the youth coming
out of the maronite synod.
6-
Establishment of a general secretariat to activate and provide the books
and prayers of the synod.
Patriarchate Diocese – Zghorta area
(No written
report)
1- Every month, the diocese
distributes 600 copies of the booklets of the maronite synod to the priests and
parishes.
2- The parish of Zghorta
organized three seminars on the text of Hope, the text of Identity and the text
of the presence of the church in the Arabic world.
3- The private electronic
site of Zghorta issued the activities of the synod and it created a direct
“link” with the private electronic site of the general secretariat of the
Maronite Patriarchal Synod.
4- It organized more than 50
Bible Study sessions during Lent and focused on the topics of the maronite
synod.
5- The pastoral publication
of Zghorta publishes regularly paragraphs from the texts of the maronite synod.
Maronite
Diocese of Zahleh
(No written
report)
1-
Every month, the
diocese distributed 300 copies of the booklets of the maronite synod
consecutively to the priests and parishes according to the calendar of the synod
committee.
2-
The priests’
monthly meetings focused on the topics of the synod according to the formal
calendar.
3-
On the level of
the parishes:
-
Some of the texts were discussed in some of the parishes.
-
In the weekly publications of some parishes, few paragraphs were
published from the texts of the synod.
4-
Some spiritual
retreats were organized during Lent from the Maronite Patriarchal Synod.