Fruits of the Synod

First phase ends with report outlining needs

SAN JUAN — The first phase of the Synod in the Diocese of Brownsville came to an end as summer began: After consultations with more than 8,000 local Catholics at all levels, delegates met June 25 at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine to hear summations from each deanery, followed by a Mass of celebration with Bishop Daniel E. Flores.

The months of work resulted in a snapshot of the Diocese and the concerns of the faithful compiled into a report, the “Synthesis of Diocesan Phase Consultations.”

The report has already moved forward in two directions – first, to become part of a three-state regional report that includes 18 dioceses in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. That will be incorporated into a broader report on the whole United States and the rest of North America before making its way to Pope Francis in Rome next year.

“Bishop Flores has already reviewed it; he’s given it his blessing for submission to the USCCB,” said Angel Barrera, the diocese’s Synod coordinator. “So now as we speak it’s being worked into (the) regional report.”

“Our consultation is working its way to contribute with other voices to the national report, and then after that it’s off to the continental (report), which is likely in February (2023). From there … to what they’re going to review at the October 2023 Synod of Bishops in Rome.”

But the report also will be used as a guide locally for new efforts to address the needs of the faithful here.

“Bishop is inviting a continued discernment of the faithful, the people of God of the diocese, to help articulate what are the priorities,” Barrera said. “You can see in the pages of the report there are a lot of things we could be tackling – a lot of opportunities, a lot of challenges. What do we do?

“And so it’s part of that discernment that Bishop is excited for that we would continue discussing, being in dialogues and consultations, essentially just walking together the synodal path to be able to help the diocese move forward.”

The report will soon be available, possibly as early as August or September, to everyone in the diocese.

“So with what we have, we’re ready to keep working through the report. That’s something that (Bishop Flores) and I have been brainstorming – what are the next steps, how do we unpack this diocesan report,” Barrera said. “He plans to make it publicly available likely early next month. Once we have the Spanish translation, we’ll prepare a cover letter, and then the faithful will be invited to read through it and help us discern what are the next steps.”

At the June 25 meeting and Mass, the delegates got a glimpse of the array of concerns across the diocese, although not every deanery was represented: COVID- 19 kept some representatives at home recuperating.

“… New evangelization has become more of a concern of the people, and another thing is how to reach out, approach the people who are in the periphery,” said Father Eka Yuantoro, MSF told those gathered. “For examples, to teach the youth about Catholic Faith, adult formation, catechists, leader faith formation and ministries in the church.”

“Many people of God want to participate more in the Church function and activities. They desire to help the people in the community and to evangelize the people,” Father Yuantoro, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Donna, said. “For example, they want to have group prayer in the community, to serve the needy, to help to elderly and to pray together.”

Antonio and Corina Vela, the delegates from Immaculate Conception Church in Rio Grande City, had a broad list.

“We learned that there are misconceptions to doctrine and to traditions. We learned that we have to work more in getting the youth involved,” the Velas said. “The Domestic Church needs to get stronger and clarified. We need to be more creative to evangelize the youth and people that have left our church.

“We should maximize each gathering the church has. Examples: Baptisms, funerals, etc. Each parishioner in every church needs to be more welcoming and accepting. We need to show love, need to be more Christ-like.”

With the report starting its journey towards Rome, Barrera spoke this week about what’s next in the diocese.

“Once we make the report available publicly next month, we’re looking forward to gathering the diocesan directors and coordinators to have this conversation, the ‘so what’ of this report, what does it mean for our pastoral ministries, our offices,” Barrera said. “And then in October we’d like to schedule and organize a meeting with the delegates.

“That would likely mean that 300 people will come together at a central location. We would have small groups helping to have focused conversations on what are the priorities, what does this mean for us as a parish, as a deanery, as a diocese. Then we would gather again as directors and coordinators in November to understand what does this mean for our pastoral plan for our activities for the work that we do to support our parishes.

“Hopefully before the year’s end we’re going to have a much clearer understanding of what the Synod consultations and this diocesan report will mean for us in the next few years.”

“I know Bishop Flores has been very consistent in saying that while the fruits of the Synod will work their way up to the Pope, he’s very excited for what it will offer here locally to our diocese, and most especially our parishes, our deaneries, our very local level.”