October is a busy month for the Church, both internationally and locally. Not only will the closing session of the Synod on Synodality take place in Rome starting on Oct. 11 with an ecumenical prayer service, Christ the Redeemer Parish in Atco will be offering two opportunities for prayer, on Oct. 11 and 27.
In these closing sessions of the synod in Rome, the bishops will be working toward presenting to Pope Francis a final report that will attempt to address questions that have been raised about the future trajectory of the Church, unveiled through the three-year synodal process of listening. Through the process, the Church has been journeying toward greater communion, participation and mission. At this fall’s session, study groups will present progress reports that deal with various theological issues raised during the synod. Added to the mix are four new forums that will provide a platform for public reflection and debate on various theological issues.
The number of fraternal delegates, which comprise representatives of non-Catholic Christian denominations, is increasing from 12 to 16 at the request of the Holy Father. The additional denominations joining as delegates are from the Patriarch of Alexandria and all of Africa; the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch; the Lutheran World Federation; and the World Mennonite Conference. The ecumenical prayer service Oct. 11 will take place at Protomartyrs Square in the Vatican, the very spot where Saint Peter was hung on the cross. This date also marks the 62nd anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
In solidarity with the synod, Christ the Redeemer Parish will be offering an ecumenical prayer service that will mirror the service in Rome. At 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the church – 318 Carl Hasselhan Dr., Atco – we will gather for a time of meditative prayer using songs and prayers from Taizé. The secretariat of the synod, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, has asked the Taizé Community to prepare an Ecumenical Evening Prayer for the synod participants in Rome, and we will be using the same Taizé prayer service here in the Diocese. I invite everyone to please join us as a sign of our communion with those gathered in Rome and to pray for the success of the synodal process. Last year, our Taizé prayer service in Atco was one of some 200 prayer vigils held throughout the world that gathered for prayer before those synodal sessions.
I also would like to invite you to another gathering at the parish – this one taking place Oct. 27 and being sponsored by the Jewish, Christian, Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey. Our popular interfaith gathering known as “Breaking Bread” will discuss the theme of “Living Our Faith Through Serving Our Neighbors,” where we will hear about the centrality of service in our three Abrahamic faiths. The gathering will take place from 2 to 5 p.m.; doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so registration is recommended by emailing your name, phone number and number of attendees to breakingbreadjcm@gmail.com. Admission is free, and all are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served.
Our speakers for “Breaking Bread” will be: Rabbi David Englander, senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth El, Voorhees; Pastor Dave Delaney, Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, West Deptford; and Dr. Waleed Naseem, board member, Al Nasr Mosque, Willingboro.
During Pope Francis’ recent pastoral visit to Singapore, he explained that one of his goals was fostering more dialogue between people of different faiths. Speaking to a group of students in Singapore, the Pope said that “all religions are a path to God!” He likened the different religions to different languages in the world leading to the same divine destination.
Come and join us to hear the similarity of our three great faith traditions. Come and learn how service unites the people of God throughout the world!
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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