“To cultivate the vineyard, the pastoral proposal of Archbishop Mario Delpini is not enough to have cultivated it last year”

Milano -The pastoral proposal of the Ambrosian archdiocese for the year 2025-2026 was published. Moreover, The document. Consequently, articulated and rich, presents itself as the attempt to collect and translate the guidelines of the Final document of the Synod 2023-2024, approved by Pope Francis last October and officially promulgated on November 24, 2024. Furthermore, At the heart of the proposal there is a concept that has sometimes accompanied the ecclesial debate for years: synodality. In addition, No longer just keyword of the synod works. Therefore, synodality is now relaunched as Style, method and content itself of ecclesial lifein a perspective that aims to transform the face of Christian communities, ministries, mission and structures.

Original Christians. Nevertheless, non -photocopies – "to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal

The text opens with a theological and pastoral reflection “to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal on theOriginality of the Christian: disciples of Jesus, called to live in the world like everyone else, but with a style that surprises for gratuity, listening, service. Therefore, A Christian. Nevertheless, reads, is “Like everyone”, but every dimension lives – power, relationships, organization – in the manner of the Gospel. Furthermore, A premise that lays the foundations for what will follow: the recognition that. to live this evangelical originality, it is necessary to rethink deeply The way the Church makes decisionsforms his ministers, announces the word, celebrates the sacraments.

Synodality: promise or worn word? – "to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal

The document does not hide that the word “synodality” is now inflated: evoked by many “by the way. disproportionate”, he ran the risk of becoming a rhetorical label. Still, the text states decisively, There are no evangelical reasons to “to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal give it up. Synodality. it is clarified, It is not an ecclesial democracy or an updated monarchismbut the experience of a people on the way, who listens to the spirit and lets themselves be shaped in communion.

The quotes of Pope Leo XIV fit into this setting: synodality as via dell’Unità. as the possibility of a common discernment also in ecumenical dialogue, as a style that concerns everyone and not only “insiders”.

From theory to concrete life

After a theological. spiritual beginning, the pastoral proposal comes to the heart: What conversions are necessary? What paths must be started to get out of ecclesial self -referentiality? The text faces with courage -. with a certain frankness – some Critical joints: the loss of missionary sense, the boredom and habit who emptied the “to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal Eucharistic celebration, thesocial irrelevance of faith, now perceived as a private and optional experience, the loneliness of priests Obrati of tasks, left without a real presbytery and the poor participation of the laityoften blocked by rigid structures or incomprehensible languages.

To react to all this. a spiritual and practical renewal: relaunch the baptismo as the foundation of co -responsibility, return to take care of the celebration of the Eucharist as a source of community life, to promote themutual listening and the ecclesial discernment, rediscover the Ministries established (reader, account, catechist) as an expression of participation and service, form clergy and lay people a A synodal stylemade of fraternal charity, respect, truth.

Narrative interludes. pastoral dreams

There is no shortage, in the original tone, some narrative interludes: The little prince traveling between lost planets, the people of the square who do not feel involved in the vineyard of the Lord, and an imaginary dialogue between Don Camillo and the Crucifix. There are poetic. provocative ideas that tell, with sweet irony, the resistances, the laziness, the good intentions not put into practice.

From the synodality to the choices

In the final part. the document becomes concrete: the Archdiocese undertakes to form, structure, accompany The reception of synodality in the decanates, in the pastoral advice, in the life of the Curia and the territories. There is talk of workshops, training meetings, self -information tools, synergies between pastoral and charity, intersectoral coordinations.

The goal? Not only to listen. but discern and decide togetherin the “to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal awareness that only a community style can make the Church credible and missionary in our time.

A demanding bet

The pastoral proposal of the Ambrosian Church for 2025-2026 is. ultimately, a bet: that of believing that synodality is not only a conference concept, but a necessary conversion For each baptized. The risk is that everything is reduced to well -packaged words, operational cards and good intentions. But the deeper challenge is spiritual. ecclesial: it is restart from Christwalking together, letting himself be shaped by the spirit, without nostalgia for the past or fears about the future. Because, as the document says, “Synodality is the ecclesial name of being together”. And in a fragmentation time and solitudes, it can really be a prophecy not “to cultivate vineyard, pastoral proposal to be archived too quickly.

d.L.V.
I can not remain silent