Lay and Consecrated: Co-responsible in the mission
Among the various references to co-responsibility found in the Final Document, we have selected the following quotation for its particular eloquence and because it refers to the conclusions of the Document itself, on which the work of this implementation period is based.
“In the “full, conscious and active” (SC 14) participation of all the faithful, in the presence of different ministries and in the presidency of the Bishop or Priest, the Christian community is made visible, whereby a differentiated co-responsibility of all for mission is fulfilled. For this reason, the Church, the Body of Christ, learns from the Eucharist how to combine unity and plurality: the unity of the Church and the multiplicity of Eucharistic assemblies; unity of the sacramental mystery and variety of liturgical traditions; unity of celebration and plurality of vocations, charisms and ministries. The Eucharist, above all else, demonstrates that the harmony created by the Spirit is not uniformity and that every ecclesial gift is destined for the common good of all.”(FD 26)
As Pope Francis said in October 2024 through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network: “Sure, you could ask me, what can I do? (…) What all of us need to do is to witness with our lives. Be co-responsible for the Church’s mission. The laity, the baptized are in the Church, in their own home, and need to take care of it. So do we priests and consecrated persons. Everyone contributes what they know how to do best. We are co-responsible in mission, we participate and we live in the communion of the Church.”
Today Pope Leo XIV also reminds us: “We need a Church where everyone feels responsible for the mission.”
This webinar, prepared by WUCWO’s School for Synodality, is an opportunity to explore concrete areas of cooperation, to share and to discover ways of strengthening our joint action—where we need one another and where we complement each other. We hope to create a space where the experience and witness of the speakers inspire each participant to contribute to our common mission. Come and take part, because when we work together, the Church grows stronger and her mission is enriched. Your contribution matters!
📅 Date: 18 March
🕒 Time: 2.00 – 3.30pm (Rome time)
🌐 Online
🎧EN
SPEAKERS
Dr. Estela Padilla, Ph.D.: Member of the 16th Synod of Bishops on Synodality and of the Synod Implementation Commission, Philippines and Asia
Sr. Roxanne Schares SSND: Executive Secretary of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG)
Dr. Trudy Dantis: Director, National Centre for Pastoral Research – Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
