donalddeanchambers

Synodal Insights

After reading chapter sixteen, “Community: On Spiritual Companionship,” in Joan Chittister’s book entitled, “The Monastic Heart,” I extracted some excerpts that I believe are Synodal Insights on Communal Journey. LECTIO DIVINA ON THE QUOTATIONS AS A GROUP, A FAMILY OR A COMMUNITY? “The truth is that only in community can you come to truly knowContinue reading “Synodal Insights”

Synodal Waves

Synodality To what can I liken this way of living as Church? Like a sea crab I buried my butt on a sandy beach, Facing rolling waves, crashing a few distance from my feet. Closing my eyes, focusing on the sounds, Then opening them to marry the sound to the sight of the waves. MyContinue reading “Synodal Waves”

What difference can I make?

Yesterday, I was born.TODAY, I AM LIVING.Tomorrow, I will, I will be no more,Like water vapour, come and gone.In that brief moment of TODAY,What difference can I make?

Synodality and the Swimming Pool

This morning I arrived at my swimming class and encountered a new coach. Initially, I thought I had erred in the time for my regular class, but eventually I was assured that I had not erred but that there was a substitute coach for today. During the class, I felt more relaxed, confident, and lessContinue reading “Synodality and the Swimming Pool”

Jamaica needs to come out of bunker culture

THE EDITOR, Madam: Throughout Jamaica’s political independence, citizens have been shooting each other, no pun intended, with the bullets of discrimination, social inequity, economic mismanagement, religious denominational turf war, and political polarisation. The consequence is a psychologically and socially wounded nation with groups of citizens naturally isolating themselves in bunkers both for protection and attack.Continue reading “Jamaica needs to come out of bunker culture”

Synodality – Dance of Kairos and Chronos

Synodality is communication Think of listening, discerning, deciding, implementing, planning and evaluating as beads on a string – the string of communication. Communication is like a dance, A dance between two partners Kairos moves to an internal rhythm Kairos lives in the present moment Kairos is sensitive Kairos befriends silence Kairos reads the “signs ofContinue reading “Synodality – Dance of Kairos and Chronos”

Conversion and Synodality

Nature teaches fundamental wisdom lessons. “Growth occurs by shedding or dismantling the old, allowing the new to emerge.” Snakes shed old skin. Trees shed dried leaves. Furry animals shed old fur. Humans shed old nails, skin, and hair. Newness erupts when the old surrenders. “To insist on the spiritual practice that served you in theContinue reading “Conversion and Synodality”

Synod – What’s Next?

At what stage of the synodal journey is the Church currently? The synodal journey was launched by Pope Francis on October 10, 2021. The journey consists of the diocesan and continental phases, climaxing with the meeting of Bishops in October 2023. We have completed the diocesan phase that culminated with a regional synthesis. Cardinal Grech,Continue reading “Synod – What’s Next?”

Glorybe Stole

Gift of a black, gold, green priestly stole. Black, Gold, and Green Colours of the Jamaican flag. Black – Strength and creativity of the people. Gold – Natural beauty of the sunlight and wealth of the country. Green – Hope and agricultural resources. The priest’s stole “Lord, restore the stole of immortality, which I lostContinue reading “Glorybe Stole”

Synodality and the EGO

Decision-making occurs in the factory of the mind And is informed by the spirituality of the heart. According to Edmund Freud There are three interactive pieces: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. The ego is like a bridge We see evidence of the ego in our actions and interactions The bridge is anchored NeverContinue reading “Synodality and the EGO”