Letter to the parish priests

From the Holy Land Preparatory Committee for the Synod 2021-2023

 

Dear parish priests,

 

Greetings in the Risen Lord!

 

We are all setting off on a journey together – the synodal process – to listen to one another and grow as Church in order to fulfill our mission here in the Holy Land. In his letter of October 15, 2021, our Patriarch, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, wrote: “Parish priests have a critical role in this process, as mediators between the bishops and the people. Therefore, I invite all our parish priests to become protagonists and promote what the Holy Father requests, ensuring that our communities are genuinely involved.”

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In this vibrant process proposed by the Holy Father, we want to be sure to include all in the process. For this reason, it would be beneficial to include others in the animation of the process. The aim is to reach not only those who are already active in the life of the parish and the Church but to reach out to the marginalized (the poor, the handicapped, the elderly, the sick) as well as those who might not regularly be involved in the life of the Church. We want to acknowledge those who are with us but also those who are far away. Please remember to reach out also to all the monasteries and convents, houses of religious and ecclesial movements that are active in your parish territory.

 

It is essential to keep records of this process in your parish. This record will be sent to the Preparatory Committee towards the end of March 2022 so that a final report from the Catholic Church in the Holy Land can be drawn up. This too is the responsibility of each parish priest.

 

The Holy Land Preparatory Committee for the Synod 2021-2023 is at your service. Please share with us your reflections, questions, suggestions and desires.

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For the Committee,

 

Rev. David Neuhaus SJ

e-mail: neuhaussj@gmail.com