By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Father Christopher Marino, rector of St. Mary Cathedral, distribute the Eucharist to those in attendance at the Mass marking the first anniversary of the closing of the Second General Synod of the Archdiocese of Miami.
MIAMI | To be "Disciples in Faith, Missionaries of Hope" is the name and guiding principle of the Strategic Pastoral Plan that resulted from the Second General Synod of the Archdiocese of Miami, which concluded at the end of October 2013.
On Oct. 26, Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated a Mass to mark the first anniversary of the synod’s conclusion, during which he highlighted how some of its recommendations are already being implemented.
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
Magalie Genna, parishioner at St. Mary Cathedral, smiles during the Mass marking the first anniversary of the closing of the Second General Synod of the Archdiocese of Miami.
"The hard work of so many during the synod is producing good fruits,” the archbishop said during his homily at the Mass, celebrated at St. Mary Cathedral. “And much has been done in the last 12 months."
Among the accomplishments: reopening the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry; expanding Catholic Charities into the Florida Keys; coming up with new ways to ensure the sustainability of Catholic schools; enhancing the deacon formation program; and supporting the continuing education of priests through the “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds” program.
"One of the programs we are most excited about is the Why Catholic?” said Stephen Colella, newly appointed director of the newly created Office of Evangelization and Parish Life — another outgrowth of the synod.
The Why Catholic? program “helps parishes to start at a very base level of faith formation and all go through the same experience,” Colella said. “That's a great opportunity to have our parishes be reminded of our faith and to share our faith in smaller groups."
The program has been adopted by 76 of the 105 parishes and missions of the archdiocese. Colella’s office also has been offering workshops on pastoral planning and will soon begin training parish evangelization teams.
All these programs will have a positive impact on the communities they serve, but they are only one tool in reaching the ultimate synod goal.
"The purpose of the synod was not just to develop new projects or new programs — but to initiate a pastoral revitalization of our archdiocese and its parishes, schools and other entities,” Archbishop Wenski said.
He noted that the actual “program” has been around for a long time: the Gospel. “The synod was to help us to proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ more effectively and coherently, in other words, more fruitfully," the archbishop said.
The message of revitalization has been well received by parishioners across the archdiocese.
"It's a good thing we had this synod to really learn more about our Church's calling and inspire us as Catholics towards Jesus Christ," said Magalie Genna, a parishioner at St. Mary Cathedral who attended the synod anniversary Mass.
Most of the goals and priorities listed in the Strategic Pastoral Plan will continue to be implemented over the next two years and beyond — so there is still a lot of work to be done.
"We have some great people and some great ministries at the Archdiocese of Miami. To help to centralize them, to help them fit in their mission, to implement these synod goals, we do it all together," said Colella. "All of them help us face the same direction and move forward in mission, outreach, discipleship, and to grow individuals, the parishes and the Church. It's very exciting."
For more information on the Second General Synod of the Archdiocese of Miami visit www.miamiarch.org/synod.
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC
St. Mary Cathedral in Miami welcomed parishioners and guests Oct. 26 to a special Mass marking the first anniversary of the closing of the Second General Synod of the Archdiocese of Miami.
