As the traditional “Simbang Gabi” or evening Mass begins, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said that the Christmas season is a reminder of God’s synodality — His journeying with us.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said that synodality is an invitation to walk together and to journey united in Jesus as his disciples did.
“Christmas is really about God who has been journeying with us so that we learn to journey with one another,” said the prelate.
He said in his homily during the first day of Simbang Gabi that most parishes all over the country will be adopting synodality as the main theme for the nine days of dawn Masses ahead of Christmas Day.
Synodality “has to do with promoting communion within the Church as well as greater participation towards mission, and our dream is missioning Church,” he said.
“And we hope that through these nine novena Masses, our priests will be able to impart the message, the Good News of synodality, of communion, participation and mission,” added Bishop David.
Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig, CBCP vice president, acknowledged that the message of synodality remains “a challenge for all of us.”
But he stressed an important virtue so that listening, dialoguing, and walking together could be attained. “And that is humility,” said the bishop.
