Last week, I defended my doctoral thesis at the university of Leuven. It was a great occasion to share my thoughts with a large audience of family, friends, Dominicans and fellow academics. It marked the end of four years of writing a dissertation amid my other responsibilities. Without the support of my fellow brothers, this would not have been possible.
Picture: thanks to Michael-Dominique Magielse OP (C)
And yet, as the saying goes, there is no rest for the wicked. Upon returning home, I was invited to join the Dutch delegation to the continental meeting of the Church’s Synodal Process in Prague. After consulting with the brothers, I have agreed to represent the communities of religious life in the Netherlands at the synod.
I admit; I was too busy last year to pay close attention to the synod. However, I did get regular updates from my Dominican sister Holkje van der Veer OP, who sadly passed away at Pentecost in 2022. She mobilised the voices of catholic women in the Netherlands and presented a special report for the Synod. And I spoke on more than one occasion with Martijn de Jong, a professor at Erasmus University who helped to create the digital consultation process for the Synod.
Among theologians, the synod has led to many publications. For example, an excellent introduction by Jos Moons SJ can be found here. And if you are curious about how the synodal process has worked so far, this interview with my friend, professor Anna Rowlands, will tell you more.
The synod reminds me of the General Chapters that Dominicans organise to govern the order. I plan to go there with an open mind and listen as best as possible to what is being said. I am interested to see whether one can discern spiritually with such an extensive and diverse group. Once, the former master of the Order was asked what made for a good general chapter in his eyes. His answer was twofold. Firstly, a good chapter is when the brothers can go through the process together fraternally; secondly, when the chapter dares to do something new.
If the synodal meeting in Prague manages to do the same two things, then I will be more than happy.
You can follow the meeting in Prague online here.