For two years, the Center for Ignatian Spirituality (CIS) of the Vietnam Province has been asked by some bishops and superiors of male and female congregations to develop a program on pastoral leadership. I asked my friend and colleague, Jesuit Fr. Julio Giulietti, what he thought of such a request. After some thought he responded that pastoral leadership in the contemporary Church cannot be views without taking seriously the importance of synodality. Over time, he designed the program: Pastoral Leadership In A Synodal Church which launched, for two weeks and for the first time, January 6 thru 17, 2025.
Sixteen participants, diocesan priests, male and female religious and three law persons from across Vietnam were selected for the two-week program. A coach – or facilitator – would be at each of four tables to stimulate and monitor discussions over five “Table Talk” topics during the first week. These topics reflected some of the 10 major areas of discussion during the two Synods of Bishops on Synodality held in Rome in October 2023 and 2024. We followed the same format of respectful listening to each other’s thought, feelings and experiences about each topic.
For some the initial feels were “We all spoke so what do we do now?” Or, “How do we lead others about these ideas?” By the third day, even those who were skeptical of the synodal process of “deep listening” can to understand that listening closely to the thoughts and feelings of another – and being offered the same deep listening themselves – changed their understanding of what it means to be the People of God listening in the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that leadership can only be honest after those involved in the conversation have spoken and are listened to with respect.
04 coaches of the first course
The “Table Talk” Topics”:
• “Who Am I?”
• “The Sacrament of Marriage, Divorce and Separated Catholics, LGBTQ+ Persons and Single Parents.”
• “Clericalism in the Church”
• “Women in the Church”
• “The Final Report on Our Synodal Process” by each table group
The second week was divided into two sections, synodality applied to Transformational Leadership (three days); and the process of discernment (two days.) Fr. Julio directed the first week and the leadership section of the second week. Fr. Nguyen Trung Kien, SJ, directed the pastoral discernment section.
Given the positive feedback from participants we expect to offer Pastoral Leadership in a Synodal Church once more during 2025.
Fr. Dominic Nguyen Duc Hanh, SJ
CIS Director
Video summary the course: Lãnh Đạo Mục Vụ Trong Một Giáo Hội Đồng Nghị Khóa 1/2025 – Pastoral Leadership In A Synodal Church