Maronite Synod of France and Europe to open in Paris
Paris (AsiaNews) - At least 85,000 Maronites live in France with another 130,000 scattered in the other nations of Europe. It is on them that the Maronite Diocesan Synod will focus when it opens tomorrow in Paris, the first of its kind outside of Lebanon. The meeting will be chaired by Mgr Maroun Nasser Gemayel (pictured), who became bishop of the new Maronite diocese of France, also known as the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Notre-Dame du Liban de Paris, and apostolic visitor for the Maronites in Europe as of 20 September 2012.
The synod will bring together representatives of the 32 parishes and Maronite communities found in 15 European countries, along with some bishops of the Lebanese diaspora. The working sessions will be held in the parish of Notre- Dame des Champs, on boulevard Montparnasse (Paris).
The new bishop explained the meaning of this opportunity to reflect within the Church during a press conference held at the Franco-Lebanese Department on rue d'Ulm, "symbol of the Maronite cultural and religious presence in France, as well as the historical link between the Maronites and France".
"Why convene a diocesan synod? What tasks do we have to undertake and in what direction should go?" asked Mgr Gemayel. "We shall progressively provide answers, during the three days of the first session scheduled between 12 and 14 December 2013 and then continue without stopping until the final act with the closing of the Synod, in December 2014."
This time of reflection, the Maronite bishop of France explained, will unfold over the course of a year and the session in question is but the first step on a long journey. For Mgr Gemayel, the synod's ultimate goal is to call upon all the faithful in the Maronite Church, in France and Europe, to rediscover their Eastern ecclesial identity, which could disintegrate in contact with the Latin Church, and realise that they can experience this identity in every clime. In doing so, they can also rediscover their sense of mission, which is the same for all churches, namely to proclaim Jesus Christ. But in order to do this, it is necessary to come out of hibernation, organise, create parishes, and keep connected.
"There is no time to lose," the new bishop insisted. "For us Maronites of France and Europe [. . .] it is time to rediscover the bases to renew our ecclesial affiliation, the consciousness of our life in the Church and its development, creating new Maronite parishes and missions, federating them [. . .]. This is the diocesan synod's first message."
Being Maronite in Europe
"The other message coming from this synod," Mgr Gemayel said, "consists in dealing with a fundamental question that concerns us: What does it mean to be Maronite today in France and in Europe? How can we adjust and live our 'being Maronite' in a context other than that of the Middle East? Are we condemned to live forever abroad? What statute should we grant Maronite children from mixed marriages, whose offspring now represent the third, fourth, or fifth generation? How about freedom of choice, which, however legitimate, leads people to marry other nationalities? Central to the work of this synod will be our realisation that our work will not be easy."
As he tried to answer these questions, the new Maronite bishop said that "roots can enable the Cedar [the Lebanon cedar is country's national emblem] to grow and preserve its proud demeanour, whether France, in Europe or Lebanon."
"I do not think that a Maronite should be defined by his land of affiliation, but rather by the faith he professes. It is a faith that is not bounded by a territory, but is a transnational and transcends the Middle East."
The Maronite 'mission'
Lastly, Mgr Gemayel set a third objective for the diocesan synod, namely reawaken in Europe's Maronites their sense of mission.
"This mission," the prelate said, "is both simple and hard. It is simple because it is aimed at preserving and strengthening the faith among the Maronites in France and in Europe," but it is at the same time difficult because it is found nowhere but in the Church.
"If we do not establish a Church, we shall just be a confessional community in the throes of conflicts," the bishop insisted, "because communitarianism is basically a feeling of withdrawal and fear," one that "goes diametrically against the spirit that infuses our Church and brings us here as a synod. We are conscious that we are a part of God's people and not a community that is anthropologically opposed to others in Europe, the Americas or Africa. . ."
Clearly, Mgr Gemayel has his work cut out, that of evangelising among Maronites in a post-Christian Europe that is indifferent to God, whilst de-politicising those coming from a home country at war, or at least ensuring that their spiritual identity will shape their relationship to others, and not their Lebanon-centric political choices, affiliations or affinities. The cultural paradox is equally self-evident. A factor of mobility in their country, Maronites are called upon to be a model of embedding (their faith) in their country of adoption.
The synod will open tomorrow with a solemn Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. A similar service will be held on Friday at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The Apostolic Nuncio in France Mgr Marwan Tabet will be among the meeting's prominent participants. So will the new Maronite bishop of Canada, who will talk about his Canadian experience.
The committees set up during the first session will meet again in May and December of the same year. The final documents will be released in 2015.
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27/04/2015
