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‘Synodal Spirituality’ of Lay Leaders Pope Francis’ Perspective on Fulfilling ‘One Church’ from The Council of Nicea in The Indonesian Catholic Church
Last modified: 2025-03-10
Abstract
One essential component of the dynamics of church life is the involvement of the laity in leadership roles. The laity's engagement in pastoral ministry is becoming more receptive to actively contributing to the creation of a more inclusive Church as the synodality that Pope Francis promotes grows. The sacrament of baptism, which is received by all believers, ordained and lay alike, is the foundation of the “One Church,” according to the Council of Nicaea. As an extension of the sacrament of baptism, the sacrament of confirmation fortifies the faithful in their relationship with Christ and the Church and empowers them to take part in the mission of the Church. Pope Francis stressed that the sacrament of confirmation affirms the laity in their pastoral role and is not just “a rite of passage, but a sacrament of growth and testimony.” A wealth of the Holy Spirit's gifts are given by the Sacrament of Confirmation, which validates the laity's calling in church life. Numerous Holy Spirit gifts that validate the laity's calling in church life are provided by the sacrament of confirmation. However, it is difficult to live out the spirituality of synodality because of the Church's leadership structure, which is still mostly hierarchical. How does the role of lay leaders live out the spirituality of communion in realizing ‘The one Church’? Using a qualitative methodology that includes literature reviews, in-depth interviews, and participatory observation of lay leaders at local churches, this study investigates the dynamics of lay leadership in the Catholic Church. Through communal worship, community service, liturgical services, and community discourse and cooperation, the research findings demonstrate how lay leaders' spirituality is expressed in unity and collaboration. For lay leaders to fulfill their function as facilitators and mediators between the congregation and the ordained, the Sacrament of Confirmation offers a solid spiritual basis. The Synodal Church is a model that facilitates pastoral transformation to strengthen the unity and camaraderie of the faithful in church life, not an independent entity from the One Church.
Keywords
Council of Nicaea, One Church, Lay Leaders, Sacraments of Initiation, Synodal Spirituality