Archdiocese of Yangon held the second follow-up of the 2004 Synod from January 27 to February 1 in the Parish Hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Yangon.

His eminence Charles Cardinal Bo of Yangon Archdiocese said, “Synod will not end here. It will continue. The synodal method, ‘Conversation in Spirit,’ will be used in every meeting of every religious and congregation and the Diocese.”

The event is done through the Synodal Method of conversation in Spirit, which means, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit together, for discernment. Listening, Reflection, Prayer, Discussion, and Decision making are parts of the Conversation in Spirit.

“The spirit of the Synodal Journey is the spirit of communion, openness, and sharing the solidarity in seeking and following Christ in the concrete circumstances of life. For this reason, the synodal journey is a gift that should be shared with everyone,” Msgr. Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d’ Affaires, highlighted.

According to Fr. Hyginus Myint Soe, the main facilitator of the event, this synodal method has three steps.

Before the three steps of the Synodal Method, there was personal preparation. That is entrusting oneself to the Father, conversing in prayer with the Lord Jesus, and listening to the Holy Spirit. Each one prepares his or her contribution to the question about which he or she is called to discern.

The first step was reading the word and listening. Each person takes turns speaking from his or her own experience and prayer and listens carefully to the contribution of others. Then, silent prayer followed.

The second step was, making space for others. That was, from what the others said, each one shared what has resonated most with him or her or what has aroused the most resistance in him or her, allowing him or her to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Then, silent prayer followed.

The third step was, building together. That was, together, the participants’ dialogue based on what emerged earlier in order to discern and gather the fruit of the conversation in the Spirit: to recognize intuitions and convergences; to identify discordances, obstacles, and new questions; to allow prophetic voices to emerge. Everyone should feel represented by the outcome of the work.

“Each import for each topic is for 20 minutes, followed by a Prayerful Reflection before the Blessed Sacrament for 30 minutes. Again, group discussion according to the synodal method followed,” explained Fr Hyginus Myint Soe.  

The topics discussed in this follow-up are:

1. Missionary Synodal Local Church

2. Church Administration

3. Digital Environment and Mission

4. Faith Formation

5. Education

6. Priestly and Religious Life

7. Safeguarding Policy

8. Social-Pastoral Development

9. Ecclesial Movement

10. Family

The follow-up meeting of the 2004 Archdiocesan Synod is done with the intention to renew the entire Archdiocese, through changing what is to be changed and developing what is to be developed through listening to the Holy Spirit who invites us to synodal conversion for six days.

Cardinal Bo together with Auxiliary Bishops Noel Saw Naw Aye, Bishop Francis Than Tun, Bishop Justin Saw Min Theid of Hpa An Diocese, Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Keng Tung Diocese, Bishop-elect Raymond Wai Lin Htun of Yangon Archdiocese, Bishop-elect Peter Tin Wai of Pyay Diocese, 61 Priests, 50 Religious, 55 Lay People took part in this event.

The first follow-up meeting of 2004 was held on August 2–9 in 2014.

News by Fr. Saw Hubert