“Friendship flourishes when we dare to share our doubts and seek the truth together” —Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, Friendship, Synod Assembly 2023. Sharing doubts and seeking the truth together is possible only by swimming through the turbulent waters of vulnerability. Brené Brown states vulnerability is an uncomfortable feeling of “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure”. VulnerabilityContinue reading “Communion as friendship”
Category Archives: Synod
Smal up yourself’ on the synodal bus ride
I have travelled on public transportation in different countries, and my experiences have ranged from dangerous to hilarious. In Jamaica, for example, passengers have their seats when a bus departs the terminus. The bus stops periodically along the route, not for passengers to disembark but for more passengers to embark, accompanied by the conductor’s words,Continue reading “Smal up yourself’ on the synodal bus ride”
Synodal Bus
I remember travelling on minibuses in Jamaica. When the bus departs the terminus, it is full, with each passenger having his/her seat. En route to the destination, the bus stops periodically, not necessarily for passengers to disembark, but for more passengers to embark, accompanied by the conductor shouting to the onboard passengers, “Small up yuhself.”Continue reading “Synodal Bus”
Synodality – Spirituality and Conversion
Having worked in parish ministry, I conclude that the deficiency in human formation, especially regarding relationship building, contributes significantly to the anaemic growth and development of parish life, as well as the virus of unresolved conflicts. In tandem with this deficit is the disproportionate investment in spiritual formation as against human formation. This lopsided investmentContinue reading “Synodality – Spirituality and Conversion”
Synodal Flight
On October 10, 2021, the air traffic controller of the voice of God gave instructions to pilot Pope Francis for the synodal flight of the Church to take off on the mission. In turn, Pope Francis directed the flight crew of the synodal secretariat to prepare the passengers – the People of God. After givingContinue reading “Synodal Flight”
Synodality – Call for Caution
As I measure the pulse of the synodal journey throughout the Antilles Episcopal Conference’s geographic region, I sense grave anxiety and urgency to shift into implementation gear. Based on the parish and diocesan syntheses, pastoral leaders have listed common themes, and have invited parishioners and parishes to identify two or three priority areas for implementation.Continue reading “Synodality – Call for Caution”
Synodality – Listening to Voice of Creation
The theme of the 5th Annual St. Francis Canticle Award Ceremony for children and schools, organized by the Franciscan Institute, was “Listen to the Voice of Creation.” What is meant by “Listen to the Voice of Creation?” Listening is used as a metaphor for awareness. The voice is a metaphor for communicating messages about situationsContinue reading “Synodality – Listening to Voice of Creation”
Synodal Preparation
Life is like a marathon race or a mountainous hike. It tests our spiritual, physical, emotional, and social competencies. There are overflowing and overwhelming surprises, creating disruption, dislocation, and disequilibrium, leaving us with bruises and scars – some visible, others invisible – and sometimes exiling us. We see and encounter the wounded soldiers of lifeContinue reading “Synodal Preparation”
Synodality – Graced Journey
I have vivid memories of my first road trip to the Cumana Retreat House of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, Cumana, Trinidad and Tobago. I was generously gifted with clear instructions to locate it. “Pay keen attention to the concrete milestones along the roadway. The most important one is milestone number 33.5”. DrivingContinue reading “Synodality – Graced Journey”
Synodality – Historical Listening and Kairos
In a group conversation during the synod retreat for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago two concepts and insights related to the synodal journey emerged. The first is historical listening. This type of listening is an awareness of the historical wisdom of the Church that it passes on throughContinue reading “Synodality – Historical Listening and Kairos”
Beloved Reflections 