JOS STUDIES

A Synodal Church Toward a Dynamic Collaborative Christian Community

Rev. Fr Barga Timothy PHD — 2023-08-17

Synodality is not explicitly found as a term or as a concept in the teaching of Vatican II, however, it is fair to say that synodal journey has been at the heart of the work of renewal of the Council. Fundamentally, synodality is about journeying together. This happens through listening to one another in order to hear what God is saying to all of us. It is realizing that the Holy Spirit can speak through anyone to help us walk forward together on our journey as the People of God. Indeed, synodality is not so much an event or a slogan as a style and a way of being by which the Church lives out her mission in the world. The mission of the Church requires the entire People of God to be on a journey together, with each member playing his or her crucial role, united with each other. A synodal Church walks forward in communion to pursue a common mission through the participation of each and every one of her members. The objective of this paper is to explore how synodality is an indispensable pastoral conversion for effective collaboration in Christian community in the parish.

The Spiritual Dynamics of Synodality in the Small Christian Community

Rev. Fr. William Livinus, PHD — 2023-08-17

The article “The Spiritual Dynamics of Synodality in the Small Christian Community” has sought to underscore the enormous contributions that synodality through the synodal process could unravel to enhance the spiritual paths in the Small Christian Community. Given the fact that these problems besieged the Small Christian Community: undue control by the Parish Priest, inordinate desire of the leadership, class distinction or differentiation syndrome, cultural pluralism, patriarchy and inadequate animation of pastoral agents and the community members coupled with the overwhelming realities of individualism, secularism, skepticism, cynicism, apathy and acedia in the modern world. The emergency of synodality, advancing listening, hospitality, participation, communion, equality, equity, and openness in the synodal process, has offered great prospects for the Small Christian Community. Predicating the Small Christian on the paradigm of the Trinity as well as being mindful of its immense inputs in developing the Church through the creation of many Pastoral Areas and Parishes, revamping lukewarm Christians, bringing back the lost Christians and making the active Christians more proactive, certain reforms would be feasible by the dint of synodality that seeks the devolution of power, inclusivity, listening and hospitality, changing the mindset in a different Church, harnessing diversity for diverse pastoral strategy inter alia.

Synod on Synodality: A New Pentecost in the Church?

Rev. Sr Cecilia Agule OLF, PHD — 2023-08-17

The article affirms that Synod is a familiar concept in Codex Iuris Canonici of 1983 as can be seen principally in Chapter II of Book II specifically in canons 342-348 on the Synod of Bishops who are convoked to assist the Pope in matters of faith and morals and in the preservation and strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline. So too is Diocesan Synod (cann. 460-468) at the level of the particular church. It has however thrown its weight on Synod on Synodality the kind of synod proposed by Pope Francis for the entire church considering it as extra-canonical since it does not fit into any of these categories mentioned above. This theme is explored in the context of a new Pentecost in the Church. The theme invites the entire church to journey together in fraternal collaboration and discernment placing the Holy Spirit who is capable of strengthening, renewing, empowering each christian to become coresponsible for the church’s mission at the centre of this journey thus equating the Synod on Synodality with the Pentecost experiennce in the early Church (Acts 2:14-41; 3:11-26; 4:1-21).

Igwebuike as an Indigenous Ontological Logic for Synodality

Prof. Anthony Ikechukwu Kanu, OSA — 2023-08-17

A major question that consistently looms at the horizon of African theology is: How can the Christian message be made to feel at home in Africa, and Africans feel at home with Christianity? This question springs from the genuine need for authentic dialogue between the Gospel message and the religio-cultural and philosophical values of the African people. This has led to various perspectives about the expression of the Christian faith within indigenous categories that the African people can understand for the Christianization of the African culture and the Africanization of the Christian faith. While many works have been written on the inculturation of the Christian faith in Africa, less attention has been given to the relationship between the theology of Synodality and African indigenous perspectives. The present work, therefore, focused on the theology of synodality in relation to the Igwebuike indigenous framework, which is an African philosophical, theological and religio-cultural perspective and the operative condition of the thermodynamics of African ontology. The purpose of this paper is to establish Igwebuike as an indigenous category that can serve as an ontological logic for the enhancement of the interpretation, understanding and application of the theology of Synodality among the African people. To achieve this, the paper was woven around the Igwebuike theoretical framework, while the hermeneutic, comparative and analytical methods of inquiry were employed for the development and achievement of the purpose of the paper. The paper discovered that the Igwebuike framework already resident among the African people was a synodal seed in preparation for the Synod on Synodality.

Synodality: Revisiting the Spirit of Vatican II

Rev. Fr Bitrus Raphael Medugu PHD — 2023-08-17

The spirit of Synodality as a process finds no better foundation in modern times than in its affirmative roots entrenched in the magisterium of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. Any effective Synod on Synodality, cannot but recourse to this great historical deposit of ecclesiastical riches and pastoral guide to the journey of faith. In the present preparation for the synod on synodality, the content and the spirit of the Council is an indispensable reservoir. The Council described the Church as the ‘People of God’, a definition pregnant with responsibilities, which hitherto has been relegated to the background. As all the baptized forming the body of Christ on a journey to make disciples of all nations, every member irrespective of his/her state in life is called to Journey together in conjunction with the evangelical mandate of Matthew 28:19; with each contributing their quota according to their state in life for the success of the mission. History seemed to have been flying on one and a half wings and for a smoother flight two wings are necessary. The Roman Pontiff wishes to bring healing to the broken and weakened wing by way of restoring the indispensable role of the laity in this whole process. This can only be done in the light and spirit of the second Vatican Council which has already given each member of the Church their roles. The objective if this paper is to demonstrate how any meaningful synodality today must hinge on the spirit of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, the content of which is indispensable. To achieve this objective, this paper used qualitative research method for its theoretical framework and phenomenological approach by way of archival research relying on primary data as church documents and commentaries both print and soft. It also used internet sources. It employs the MLA referencing sty

Synodality and the Active Roles of the Laity in the Church

Rev. Fr. Joseph Gotus Jilong (PhD) — 2023-08-17

Some of the characteristics of human beings are socialization and communication. This means that by our nature we have the capacity to socialize and communicate with one another. No one is an Island as the saying goes. We need one another as we journey through this life. For a peaceful coexistence in any community there is the need for socialization and communication among the inhabitants of that community, especially when there is a problem to be solved. Synodality is a situation where the hierarchy of the Church with some selected lay faithful come together to socialize, communicate and discuss matters concerning the progress of the Church. Synod has been part and parcel of the Church right from the beginning of the history of the Church. The Church comprises the clergy and the laity that are united under the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ. Both the clergy and the laity have an active and special role to play in the Church and the world at large. This paper is concerned with the active roles the laity should play in the Church. This article has been able to discover that the Church cannot grow without the active roles of the laity because of the special place they occupy in the world. The lay faithful interact with the secular world on daily basis in the areas of health, education, politics, family life and etcetera. The Church is therefore asking the laity to participate actively in evangelizing the world through the above-mentioned areas. This is the crux of this article.

Rereading Acts 6:1-7 with the Prism of Synod on Synodality in the Nigerian Context

Rev. Fr. Paul Danbaki Jatau, PhD — 2023-08-17

The concept of Synod as a means of resolving issues has existed in the Church since its inception. Although there is no equivalent terminology in the Bible, the practice of synodality as a means of resolving issues dates back to the Old Testament, as evidenced by the account of Israel's monarchy in 1 Samuel 8 and Acts 6:1-7 in the New Testament. The importance of listening in attempting to resolve the problem of ethnic dichotomy in the nascent Christian community in Jerusalem informed the current study. This distinguishes synodality from democratic processes in general. Synodality (sun hodos), which literally means “walking together” or “together on the way,” may involve some form of democracy, but it goes beyond democracy. Acts 6:1-7 describes Greek-speaking Jews (Hellenists) and Aramaic-speaking Jews (Hebrews) contending over the Hellenists’ widows’ treatment in the daily distribution of food. Scholars debate the extent to which the passage is indicative of a larger ideological rift between the Hebrews and Hellenists and the extent to which the incident is demonstrative of fully formed factions vying for positions within the nascent community. This article aims to exegetically examine Acts 6:1-7 using the synchronic and contextual methods of biblical exegesis, but the results of diachronic analysis will be employed as the need arises. This would help in demonstrating that the pericope as a typology of synod on synodality can be used to address the problem of ethnicity which has bedeviled the Nigerian society and the Church in particular. The paper concludes that peace search based on secular values will probably not be sustainable but rather through intra-church dialogue via listening and participation to enhance walking together in the light of synodality

The Relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit: Towards a Pneumatological Ecclesiology

Rev Fr. Linus Pius Thliza — 2023-08-17

The relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit is very important in the study of theology. This is because of the established union from the event of Pentecost that reveals the nature, mission, vision and the destiny of the Church. Through the history of the Church there has been heretical teachings that denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Also there has been the upsurge of theologies or theologoumenon that presented a poor or non-existent of any relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit, thereby ascribing either to the Virgin Mary or to Popes the place of the Holy Spirit in the Church. This has resulted in an ecclesiology without the place of the Holy Spirit or a poor Pneumatological Ecclesiology. This article tried to establish the fact of true and indispensable relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit as expressed in the Bible, Tradition and Magisterium. This brings the reality of the Church seen as the temple of the Holy Spirit and the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church likened to that of the soul to the human body. The Holy Spirit assures an effective evangelization in the Church, He makes the sacraments efficacious, every liturgical celebration becomes fruitful, charisms, ministries and apostolates are visibly effective and the marks of the Church-One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic become realistic through the Holy Spirit. Hence, it can be said that without the Holy Spirit there is no true Church, the Church of Christ. With the help of secondary sourcesbooks, articles, the author employed historical investigation, analytic, comparative and synthetic research methods for this work. Also, Modern Language Association (MLA) referencing style was used. The author has recommended an intense study of Pneumatology and Pneumatological Ecclesiology during formation to the priesthood. The celebrations of the sacraments and liturgy should be opened to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The liturgical celebration of Pentecost should be prepared through novena and be the celebration of the entire Church. Charisms should be appreciated and used for the growth of the entire Church.

Synod on Synodality: A Sociological Analysis of its Participatory Methodology

Rev. Fr. Paulinus Chukwudi Nweke PHD — 2023-08-17

The volume, speed, and intensity of change taking place across all segments of society and the problems associated with them prompted Pope Francis, as the leader of the Catholic Church in the world, to search for ways of positioning the Church in order that it would be able to respond adequately to both existing and emerging challenges to the Church’s mission of evangelization. To this end, the Holy Father convoked the Synod comonly called the Synod on Synodality in order that the members of the Church – laity, religious, and clergy – may dialogue, discern and find common pastoral solutions to these problems. However, the methodology of the Synod was atypical. Rather than resorting mainly to the members of the clergy and to subject experts for solutions, the methodology of the Synod lays emphasis on gathering information from the lived experiences of the faithful, especially the laity. This approach is similar to the Participatory Action Research in the Social Sciences. This paper highlights the similarities between the methodology of the Synod on Synodality and the Participatory Action Research approach and argues for the need to deploy more social science research approaches in the processes of decision making in pastoral ministry. It also argues that pastors of souls must take into consideration the impact of social structures on the faith experience of the faithful. Without undermining the transcendental and individual dimensions of the gospel message, the paper calls for a greater appreciation of its human and social implications. As a way of improving an understanding of the impact of social structures on the faith experience of the faithful, the paper calls for the inclusion of a curriculum on pastoral sociology in the formation of pastoral agents.

Signs as Symbols: Towards Understanding the Sacraments

Rev. Fr Mujah C. Brendan — 2023-08-17

Lumen Gentium calls the Church “the universal sacrament of salvation.” But the “sacrament” is a sign! Effectively then, the Church is a “sign” of the World’s salvation. In this same Church, signs are never in short supply, from the magnificent ancient art of the Roman world to the Medieval painting and sculpting brilliance of Michelangelo. Catholic Churches are adorned with signs that are pleasant to the eyes and beautiful to behold, which evoke reverence and adoration from the pious and the devout. Even tourists are left enchanted at the marvel of such signs. What do these signs mean for the Church? Statues, and paintings, and artifacts abound, of our Blessed Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. But there are signs of a special kind, which are celebrated in the Church and which since the time of Peter Lombard have been streamlined to seven. These signs form the fulcrum of the life of worship of the Christian Church. This paper is an introduction to these signs in respect of their uniqueness and their special status as symbols.

Ecclesia Supplet: A Panacea for Anomaly in the Celebration and Administration of Sacraments?

Rr. Cecilia Agule OLF, PHD — 2023-08-17

Ecclesia supplet a Latin canonical term which, means ‘the Church supplies’ is invoked often albeit wrongly as remedy to anomaly (invalid) in the celebration and administration of sacraments. This piece addresses this concern by stating categorically that it cannot be invoked indiscriminately as a remedy to anomalies in the administration of sacraments. Therefore, it has considered contexts and circumstances when this can be invoked as well as indicating situations (specifying those sacraments) in which Ecclesial supplet cannot and should not be invoked. This being the situation, ministers must endeavor to celebrate sacraments in the manner approved using the right matter and form for their effectiveness as provided for by the Codex Iuris Canonici of 1983 which has served as a point of reference in this discussion.

Imitating the Prophetic Role of Mary Through Prophetic Communication in Nigeria

Gerald M. Musa — 2023-08-17

This paper is a reflection on the role of Mary as Prophet. The article draws insights from some significant literature on the topic. The article identifies the prophetic roles of Mary, which are contained in the Annunciation, Magnificat, her advocacy for justice, her specific mission, and her apparitions. Further, the article attempts to explain the meaning of Marian Spirituality and recommends the need to develop a prophetic consciousness like Mary. Added to these are some salient tips for communicating prophetic messages.