Westminster Record October 2014 | 20p
Bishop Nicholas on London’s Diversity
Lourdes Pilgrims ‘Tea Party’
Schools Celebrate Anniversaries
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Come, Holy Spirit
From 4 to 19 October the Extraordinary Synod on the Family will take place in Rome. In this article we take a look at what a synod is and some of the themes that may feature prominently at this one. In Pope Francis’ words, the Extraordinary Synod is ‘being convened to discuss the theme of “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evanglisation”. Indeed, in our day the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel by confronting the new and urgent pastoral needs facing the family.’ In a recent press conference Cardinal Vincent emphasised this purpose when he said that this is about rediscovering the gift of God’s mercy, 'a return to that lived sense of the compassion and mercy of God' which balances it with the necessary response of forgiveness and conversion on the part of those who receive mercy. He also spoke about the need for refreshing and deepening the understanding of the sacrament of marriage: 'A marriage, in Catholic understanding, when embraced in the right frame, is an act of God where the husband and wife become ministers of God's mercy to each other.' The Cardinal explained, however, that this understanding must begin with the realities of the situation, when two people with their individual histories, gifts and wounds are called upon to come together to form a new reality.
‘Sometimes relationships break down,’ he went on to say, ‘we must then help the couple confront the pain and distress caused by that breakdown of the relationship.’ He went on to speak about the need for discernment in situations where new relationships are formed after a breakdown. This will be vital in formulating a pastoral response to those situations. Cardinal Vincent then spoke about marriage as the basis for the family; the support the Church offers to families should 'rightly take its shape around the children' and the Church should work in partnership with their parents. To that end, this Synod is about the family, its place in society and the challenges faced by the family in daily life. He said that there is a ‘strong invitation to focus on the children’. Breakdowns in relationships can cause families to live in isolation, so it is important to consider the role of grandparents in the support offered to these families. Continued on back page