The big question raised by the Convocation for us is what kind of an Archdiocesan Synod is in the works. We are hoping that local American Catholics--Hispanic, Asian, African-American, African, as well as all nationalities of European American--can unite under the teaching of Vatican II to solve our institutional problems. One of the problems is that we have no structures for communication among us or with our clerical decision-makers. From our perspective, Vatican II opened the Church to lay perspectives, including many cultures in a big tent Catholicism. No one gets bypassed, sidelined, left out. The Holy Spirit speaks through all of us in communion with our clergy and our bishop. We hope the upcoming Synod will be a place for everyone to get heard.
We have invited two of the Convocation delegates, with more invitations pending, to speak with us about the Convocation at the Council of the Baptized Open Forum on
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
. The two invited so far are Carolyn Puccio, CSJ, and Peter DeMarais of St. Paul's Outreach, a Catholic program for college students. The Forum is held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 S. Snelling, 7:00 p.m. Please join us there.
At the August Open Forum,
Tuesday, August 8
, we will discuss questions about expanding women's roles in the Church and what stands in the way of ordaining Catholic women. Sr. Sandra Schneiders spoke at St. Frances Cabrini recently, and her talk generated a spirited response from her audience. We will continue processing the ideas she left us with and what action can be taken.
(One pertinent idea from the U.S. bishops' Convocation: Dr. Helen Alvaré mentioned that since complementarity is so important in Catholic marriage doctrine, it may also have an application in Church governance.)
Come to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church at 700 S. Snelling in St. Paul at 7:00 p.m. to join the discussion.