Msgr. Ramón Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera, Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, and member of the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests, was one of the participants in the Synod of Bishops 2023-2024. Summoned by Pope Francis, together with numerous bishops, priests, religious and lay people, Msgr. Alfredo lived “first-hand” the experience of synodality. Today, he recounts how the current Synod relates to Fr. Joseph Kentenich’s vision of the Church:
In the synodal reflection, where every word and every gesture seemed to resonate with the echo of the Second Vatican Council, I felt enveloped by a profound reflection on Father Joseph Kentenich. As a Schoenstatter, my mind and heart found a natural bridge between the inspiration of the founder of the Schoenstatt Movement and the vision of the Church that Pope Francis seeks to build. Observing the participants in dialogue and prayer, I could perceive the shared longing for a renewed Church that is more directed by the Holy Spirit than by human structures, more open to listening than to the imposition of rules. And in that longing, the spirit of Father Kentenich seemed to pulsate in tune with the pastoral desire of the Holy Father.
The Bridge between Father Kentenich and Pope Francis
For both Father Kentenich and Pope Francis, the renewal of the Church is a dream born in the depths of a heart open to the Spirit. Father Kentenich, with his boldness as a reformer, was a pioneer in recognizing the need for a Church that was truly rooted in love and filial freedom. In his teachings, we can see the anticipation of what we understand today as synodality: a Church that listens, welcomes, and unites while journeying. As a good shepherd of this era, Francis does not seek to impose a reform program from the top but to encourage a conversion of heart, community, and mission, just as our founder dreamed.
The closeness between Father Kentenich and Pope Francis is revealed in that same conviction: the future of the Church lies on its new shores, in an evangelization that is not satisfied with traditional methods but risks going out and touching the peripheries of humanity. At different times, both have pointed out that the Church cannot be a rigid structure; it must instead be like a boat that, driven by the Spirit, opens itself to new horizons.
The Spirit of the Second Vatican Council in the Synod on Synodality
As a Schoenstatter, I cannot help but see in this Synod a faithful echo of the Second Vatican Council and also the realization of a dream that Father Kentenich expressed persistently: the emergence of the Church of the “new shores,” one that is renewed from within, that adapts itself without losing its essence and that becomes in touch with the needs of the times. In this Synod, each of us is called to be a protagonist of that renewal, to seek not to impose our preferences but to discern together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Vatican II marked a milestone in the history of the Church, calling for openness toward the world and greater collaboration between clergy and laity. The Synod on Synodality is the implementation of that Council, and here I feel the closeness of our founder, who also envisioned a Church capable of being a mother and educator, a Church that allows itself to be guided by the Holy Spirit and dares to break down the barriers that separate it from humanity.
The Church of the New Shores: Kentenich’s Dream Come True
Father Kentenich repeatedly spoke of a “Church of the New Shores,” a vision of a transformed Church that looks beyond its boundaries and allows itself to be shaped by the Holy Spirit to reach every heart. In this Synod, I see that this dream is becoming a reality. In every intervention, proposal, and moment of listening, I sense that the Church is becoming that beacon of hope, a light not afraid to enter the darkness of modern anxieties. We are moving towards a Church that is not content with maintaining what is established but ventures towards those shores of which Father Kentenich dreamt so much.
The renewal that the Synod proposes to us is, in essence, an invitation for each one of us to be a witness to that Church on the move. We Schoenstatters, from our Marian spirituality and our faith in Divine Providence, are called to contribute with that spirit of family, of covenant, and of commitment to the new generations. This is our opportunity to show that, with Mary’s strength, we can be a Church that welcomes and guides towards the love of Christ.
Walking Together Towards the Church of Tomorrow
The Synod on Synodality, inspired by the Second Vatican Council and guided by the Holy Spirit, invites us to be a Church on the move, a Church renewed and faithful to its mission. Father Kentenich and Pope Francis have placed their trust in a vibrant Church, not an institution frozen in time. Both dream of a Church that moves to the rhythm of the Spirit, in dialogue with the world and offering hope to those who need it most.
At the end of each synodal day, I feel that we are giving life to that Church of the New Shores, the one so desired by our Founder. A Church that, like Mary, becomes a refuge and a guide and who, faithful to her essence, is open to the constant call of the Spirit to walk with all God’s children. Thus, step by step, and with the example of Father Kentenich and the leadership of Pope Francis, we advance towards a renewed Church, faithful to Christ and at the service of the world.
Translation: Maribel Acaron
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