ERITREA: Post-Synodal Assembly Sharing with Religious and Faithful Catholic Communities in Eritrea
Communications Desk – Eritrean Catholic Secretariat
The General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was held in Rome from September 30th to October 29th 2023 and His grace Archbishop Menghisteab Tesfamariam participated in this meeting, representing the Catholic Church in Eritrea. Upon his return to Eritrea, Archbishop Menghesteab has shared the experience about the Syndos meeting its scope, relevant issues raised during the Synods meeting and the final recommendations of the Synod of Bishops with Religious superiors of different congregations, Religious men and women, eparchial and Parish Laity Councils and the faithful Catholic people so far in the Archeparchy of Asmara, eparchy of Segheneity and eparchy of Keren.
Archbishop Menghesteab who is a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) first shared of the post-synod message in the eparchy of Segheneiti on November 25, 2023, accompanied by Rev Fr. Masias Araia, Coordinator of ErCS Pastoral Department. On his arrival to Segheneiti, he was warmly welcomed by his excellency bishop Fikremariam Hagos, Bishop of Segheneiti eparchy at the Meeting Hall of St. Michael Church. After a short welcome speech of introduction to the participants, his excellency Bishop Fikremariam had invited his grace to address the post 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome.
Archbishop Menghisteab started his briefing focusing on the general atmosphere of the meeting, and the whole month was a time of prayer and meditation, dialogue and there was a real spirit of unity and fraternity. The 400 participants were cardinals, bishops, priests, nuns, laity and representatives of Orthodox & Protestants Church leaders. He explained that on day one all the Synod participants prayed together for Ecumenism spirit at St. Peter Square and the following three days were spent in retreat.
On October the 6th opening mass for the Synod of Bishops was celebrated in the presence of Pope Francis. The approximately 400 participants were divided in 35 groups and each group comprising of 13 or 14 individuals afterwards they started their Synodal meeting at the meeting hall of Pope Paul VI. Each group presented the summary of their audience minutes daily. The concluding Papal Holy Mass conducted on October 29, 2023. Afterwards all the Synodal participants were given the responsibility to deliver and share their experiences of the Synods meeting in their respective places and countries.
During this Synod of Bishops, two documents were released, the first one is “To the People of God” and the second one is “A Synodal Church in Mission – Synthesis Report” and his grace had given more emphasis on the synthesis of Synods meeting to the participants. Archbishop started his speech with a question what synod mean and further narrated the whole journey of the Catholic Church starting from the time of the apostles, the deep theological meaning of the term itself – SYNOD, a Greek word means going together or a joint journey. Pope Francis called this Synod on Synodality to show the joint journey of the people of God united by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, to examine our self how we participate and understand our mission at the parishes, eparchies, National and Continental levels.
Explaining the reason why Pope Francis declared this Synod, Archbishop Menghisteab stated that it was based on the general observation particularly two main weaknesses including high differences inside the church, rivalry and individualistic attitude in the Catholic Church. The second weakness is the loss of faith, not going to the church for attending Holy Mass and participating in the sacraments. Therefore, the scope of the Synods was simply to renew the journey together for holiness, united in the Holy Spirit to fulfill our Lord’s commandments and strive for salvation. Another focus of the synods was also made on the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church particularly the priests should serve their faithful ones humbly, not expecting to be served.
His grace archbishop Menghesteab also gave more emphasis on the wisdom of listening, meditation and prayer as the Pope said “No Synod without Prayer” and his grace said that “I witness for the listening and prayer during my stay in the Synod as most of our time was dedicated to listening carefully and praying” he said recalling the intersession prayers they recited for the sake of migrants all over the world, the refugees of Lampedosa in front of the status erected for their memorial in St. Peter Square, for the poor who are longing for love. In addition to the importance of listening and prayer, he further stated that the first spirituality is to listen carefully your brother and sister, and this act or art of listening should be developed and practiced in each and everyone’s daily activities and prayers.
His grace Archbishop Menghesteab also mentioned the comments and issues that were raised like ordination of women to priesthood, divorced people and same sex marriage during the Synod and these issues were raised by individual participants. The general understanding of the bishops however, was the same and unanimously unchangeable. The archbishop Menghesteab had summarized and introduced the 20 chapters of the Synodal Church in Mission Synthesis Report compiling in three points. The three points are the generally agreed points, open for further discussion points and proposals.
Archbishop Menghesteab had also shared the briefings of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops from 9th to 11th December 2023 with Archeparchy of Asmara and eparchy of Keren, respectively. Also, on December 16th, 2023 he shared with all Major religious superiors of different Congregations was conducted in Dekemhare in the eparchy of Segheneity. He will also go to the eparchy of Barentu in near future. After almost three hours of presentation, archbishop Menghesteab asked to the participants if they have any question. Some relevant questions and clarifications were addressed by the participants in all eparchies.
At the end of each meeting, all participants eparchies expressed gratitude to Archbishop Menghesteab for the well, professional presentation and explanation with joyful and zealous spirit.
