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October 29th: Final Propositions and Lay Leaders in the Ministry of the Word
Aside from the two propositions pertaining to our Woman and the Word campaign, the remaining 53 propositions address the main themes of the synod. These include concern about homiletic effectiveness, lectio divina and other means of effectively appropriating the Word by the faithful, exegesis and theology, seminary preparation, lay leadership in the ministry of the Word, ecumenical concerns and lectionary texts (also, see October 17 synod report). John Allen from the National Catholic Reporter has translated all 55 propositions and they are available by clicking here...
Before concluding my synod updates, I want to share some extremely important things the world’s bishops had to say about lay leadership in the ministry of the Word. Because of the priest shortage 70% of all Sunday celebrations in Brazil are lay-led services of the Word. Likewise, lay leaders in Africa, India, the Philippines and other parts of Central and South America, are building vital vibrant communities of the faithful around the ministry of the Word. Thus it comes as no surprise that several of the interventions and final propositions encouraged and praised education and catechetical formation of lay leaders, lay-led celebrations of the Word and the formation of small Christian communities. For a sampling of bishop interventions about lay leadership and the ministry of the Word, click here...
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