Pastoralny wymiar II Polskiego Synodu Plenarnego

Abstract

The pastoral stage of the Polish Plenary Synod II lasted from its inauguration on 8 June 1991 to its conclusion in 1999. A pastoral character of Polish Plenary Synod II is pointed to by its preparatory stage, the method of presenting particular issues and the contents of the synod documents. A pastoral character of the Polish Plenary Synod II is expressed by participation of Church members in Synod teams and in public sessions as well as in Synod pastorate that is connected with pastoral work in dioceses and parishes in Poland. Proceedings of the Synod made it possible for priests to take up the problems of the Plenary Synod in their everyday work. Also the method of presenting texts in particular documents of the Synod show its pastoral character. The method is based on a three-stage system: the doctrinal-theological plane, the sociological plane, and the pastoral plane. The method corresponds to the three stages of procedure worked out by Jeûneuse Ouvrière Chrétienne (JOC) and confirmed by Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Mater et Magistra (part IV, no 236). Also the contents of the Synod documents have a pastoral character, as they stress the description and analysis of the contemporary situation and they give directions as well as make pastoral suggestions addressed to Church communities, ecclesial subjects, particular faithful ones, and sometimes also to the whole nation and the lay authorities in Poland.