“Synod is journeying together and it is a journey,” Father Hyginus Myint Soe

“Synod Logo means Journeying together with many people of different classes, different cultures, different ethnicities,” Father Hyginus Myint Soe, Parish priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon, Myanmar, told the religious during the celebration of the Day of Consecrated Life.

102 participants from 23 different religious congregations in Myanmar gathered at Yangon Archbishop’s House on February 2 to celebrate the day of consecrated life.

"Synod is journeying together and it is a journey," told Fr Hyginus.

In the early Church, there were issues related to doctrines, morals/ liturgy, and the Shepherds come together to discuss and decide. At that time, the word ‘Council’ was used, Father Hyginus explained.

Father said that Synod has a cognitive purpose which means to understand what is the Church, what is Synod and what is Synodality.

He insisted, “Synod also has a pastoral missionary purpose, which means after knowing all these, we are to make use of it in our mission fields.”

The priest asserted that it has also spiritual aspect to change our mindset to compassion, individually and communally.

Father Hyginus explained the 3 types of Synods; Ordinary Synod, Extraordinary Synod, and Special Synod.

 “The living Church is Synodality. It is visible in the living way of the Church. The action flows from the existence of the Church composed of all baptized.  Every baptized person is sent.” Father Hyginus Myint Soe said.

The priest encouraged the participants to adapt the spirituality of Synodality.

He gave the example that Asian people respect the elders very much. They dare not tell the elders their mistakes.

Father Hyginus pointed out, “We are invited to conversion. Change our heart, our community, our institutional structure, and our system.”

He said that all the people in the different positions in the Church are the Instruments.

Some Prophets have the grace to heal, some to preach, and some are endowed with the skill of administration.

The priest reflected that they were to be attentive to the Holy Spirit in these differences. What was the Spirit telling him/her individually? What were the Pope and tradition telling him/her?

The priest emphasized, “for the success of the mission, the Holy Spirit is like oxygen. We need Holy Spirit for the missionary fire, he said. As the Holy Spirit is talking to the Universal Church so also it talks to each and individual consecrated person and all those baptized.”

By observing that faith is weaker nowadays and there were less Church goers, the priest encouraged all, “That is why we are to bind the wounds, to have a deeper relationship, to revitalize networking, to heal the divisions, to give light to the hearts, to restore strength in the common mission in regard to social justice, human dignity, etc.”

Father Hyginus continued that the main purpose of Synod is to renew our congregation, community, and structure. Every renewal is a gift and a task.  The Church will be able to learn through her experiences.

He emphasized, “In the past, coming to the Church and praying meant, one's duty is done. But at present it includes service. We are to listen to the people who suffer. In mutual listening, we will come to realize that the Spirit is in each person.”

“The purpose of the present Synod is,” he said, “to dream, to make the souls of the people flourish, to renew the hope of the people and the world, and to trust one another.”

The priest concluded with these questions to reflect. Synod is Journey together. How does this journey allow the Church to fulfill the Gospel Mission? How does the Spirit invite us in order to grow as a Synodal Church? - By Hubert Saw