The Synod on Synodality inaugurated on October 2021 has reached its Continental Stage. The voices from Local Churches around the World that were expressed and listened to in the first Diocesan Phase, have been gathered in the Working Document for the Continental Stage. This will require a process of deepening, discernment and formation to stimulate the conscience and practice of a Synodal Church.
With this in mind, we write with great joy extending an open invitation to support the Second Intercontinental Massive Online Course (MOOC) under the theme History, Theology and Ministerial Practice of Synodality. This Course will be facilitated virtually and offered at no cost to participants worldwide during the month of February, 2023. We use a fully online asynchronous format. Lectures are pre-recorded and available to be watched in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, Italian and German.
This initiative has been organized by the Latin American Members of the Theological Commission of the General Secretariat of the Synod andthe Ibero-American Theology Group. It is also supported by Catholic Universities Worldwide using a digital platform hosted by the Department of “Formación Continua” of Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. The program has the sponsorship of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Latin American Confederation of Religious men and women (CLAR), the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae (CCEE), the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), the International Union of women Superiors General (UISG)and the Union of men Superiors General (USG),along with other peer’ ecclesial organizations.
In our former course on Synodality we reached out to circa 100,000 people from all Continents. This Massive Online Formation is intended for pastoral agents, religious women and men, laity, priests, Bishops and many other people who would like to know in a simple but deep way what Synodality is about. Lecturers from different cultures and Local Churches will share their knowledge and experience about the history, the theology and the ministerial practice in a Synodal Church. Each topic will be presented in an intercontinental and intercultural perspective, to help us discover the many ways of being Church. We invite you to get involved in the challenge of imagining and building the Church of the third millennium. Registration is available from December 19th, 2022: https://formaciononline.bc.edu
Organizers: Dr. Rafael Luciani (Venezuela), Dr. Carlos María Galli (Argentina), Dr. Agenor Brighenti (Brazil) (Latin American Members of the Theological Commission of the General Secretariat of the Synod) Dr. Félix Palazzi (Director of “Formación Continua“, School of Theology and Ministry of Boston College).
Lecturers: Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich, Antonio José de Almeida (Brasil), Christian Bauer (Germany), Carolina Bacher (Argentina), Catherine Clifford (Canada), Kristen Colberg (USA), Margit Eckholt (Germany), Alberto Embry (USA), María Elisa Estevez (Spain), Samuel Fernández (Chile), Massimo Faggioli (USA/Italy), Frédéric Fornos SJ (France), Carlos M. Galli (Argentina), Margaret E. Guider OSF (USA), Regina Heyder (Germany), Arnaud Join-Lambert (Belgium), Nora Kofognotera Nonterah (Ghana), Thomas Kollamparampil CMI (India), Shaji George Kochuthara (India), Rafael Luciani (Venezuela), Stan Chu Ilo (Nigeria), Sandra Mazzolini (Italy), Josée Ngalula (DR-Congo), Serena Noceti (Italy), Estela Padilla (Philippines), Carmen Peña (Spain), Mons. Roberto Repole (Italy), Alzirinha Rocha de Souza (Brasil), Ormond Rush (Australia), Dorothea Sattler (Germany), Gilles Routhier (Canada), Vimal Tirimanna (Sri Lanka).
PROGRAM OF THE COURSE
Theme: HISTORY, THEOLOGY AND MINISTERIAL PRACTICE OF SYNODALITY
Introductory lectures (during the registration period)
* The Synod on Synodality 2021-2024 Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich
* Synodality in the Life and the Mission of the Church Carlos María Galli
* Form and Reform in a Synodal Church Rafael Luciani & Serena Noceti
VIDEOS OF WEEK 1: History of Synodality
Orientation: History of Synodality Massimo Faggioli
Deepening: Synodality in the first Christian Communities María Elisa Estevez
Synodality in the first Centuries of the Church Samuel Fernández
St. Cyprian of Cartaghe and other episcopal practices in the first millennium
Thomas Kollamparampil CMI
Local Churches Synods before and after Vatican II through Episcopalis Communio Arnaud Join-Lambert
Experiences: Developments and challenges of Synodality inAsia Vimal Tirimanna
Developments and challenges of Synodality in Africa Stan Chu Ilo
Developments and challenges of Synodality in Latin America Alzirinha Rocha de Souza
Developments and challenges of Synodality in Europe Margit Eckholt
Developments and challenges of Synodality in North America Kristen Colberg
VIDEOS OF WEEK 2: Theology of Synodality
Orientation: The mission of the Church in light of Synodality today Sandra Mazzolini
Deepening: The Church, People of God in a Place Rafael Luciani
The Sensus fidei in the life and mission of a Synodal ChurchOrmond Rush
The Contribution of Women in a Synodal Church Dorothea Sattler
Open paths and challenges in Canon Law for a Co-responsible and participatory Church Carmen Peña
Experiences: Theological and pastoral contributions to Synodality in Asia Shaji George Kochuthara
Theological and pastoral contributions to Synodality in Africa Josée Ngalula
Theological and pastoral contributions to Synodality in Latin America Carolina Bacher
Theological and pastoral contributions to Synodality in Europe Christian Bauer
Theological and pastoral contributions to Synodality in North America Catherine Clifford
VIDEOS OF WEEK 3: Ministerial Practice of Synodality
Orientation: A Ministerial Leadership in a Synodal Church Serena Noceti
Deepening: Power and authority in the ministerial exercise Margaret E. Guider OSF
The method of spiritual conversation in the exercise of ministries: listening, dialogue, discernment in common, consensus building Frédéric Fornos SJ
Pastoral and formation structures in a Synodal Church Gilles Routhier
Instituted ministries in a Synodal Church Bishop. Roberto Repole
Experiences: Asia: Ecclesial based communities Estela Padilla
Africa: Titular catechists and Lay Ministries Nora Kofognotera Nonterah
Latin America: Ministerial teams Antonio José de Almeida
Europe: Laity and parishes. Pastoralreferentinnen and other cases Regina Heyder
North America: the experience of Lay ecclesial ministries Alberto Embry
