SW News:

The first General Congregation of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops laid the groundwork for the path towards a more Synodal Church. The first "module" of the meeting, which will last till Saturday morning, aims to give a thorough understanding of the synodal Church as a holistic experience, establishing the foundation for successful discussions in the following modules. 

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Relator General, compared it to a warm-up activity that is important for orienting attendees to the Synodal technique that will direct their conversations throughout the event. He described the fine line that must be drawn between keeping an overall perspective and choosing actionable initiatives. He cited the Instrumentum Laboris, the event's charter, which highlights the significance of this equilibrium. 

The cardinal said that everyone here had started down the synodal path during the previous two years in different capacities. He asked the participants to draw on this collective memory and consider their experiences, regardless of their particular role. 

Cardinal Hollerich urged participants to share their ideas openly and sincerely. To investigate their Synodal journeys and express their ideas and concerns throughout the conversations, participants are given this question as a starting point. 

The cardinal explained the process of "conversation in the Spirit". With the use of personal contemplation, group prayer, and meditation, this approach enables people to participate in group discernment. He said that each guest would only have four minutes to share their most important thoughts, thus careful planning was essential. 

Last but not least, Cardinal Hollerich exhorted listeners to approach the task with optimism and excitement, even if periods of disillusionment and despair emerge, by drawing inspiration from the Gospel of Luke, notably the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. 

Meanwhile, St. Peter's Basilica has extended its regular hours of daily Eucharistic adoration due to the Synod on Synodality assembly. The basilica will have an additional hour of adoration in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament on weekdays from 7 pm to 8 pm to provide synod delegates and the faithful a chance to pray. 

In October, a month typically devoted to the recitation of the rosary, St. Peter's Basilica will again stage weekly candlelight rosary processions at nine o'clock each Saturday, as it did in May.