A true story of homelessness, small mercies, and the kind of faith that doesn’t wait for Sunday. It’s about people who see others with compassion, and act.

Early Christian communities shared ministry between women and men without the idea of a “sacred” priesthood. The current model evolved from Roman tradition, creating a privileged clerical caste and deepening divisions within the Church over who may serve.

The word “silent” may be an anagram of “listen,” but many Catholics feel the Church has confused the two. In today’s Church, silence too often looks like avoidance—especially when those most in need of being heard are ignored.

American Catholicism’s alignment with cultural conservatism and nationalism shapes its theology, prioritising doctrinal clarity and moral absolutism. These positions often intertwine with right‑wing ideologies, sparking criticism from those who see faith becoming a tool of exclusion rather than inclusion.

The next chapter of church history depends on more than leadership titles. It calls for shared conviction among laypeople, clergy and religious alike, embracing Francis’ synodal vision and ensuring that Pope Leo XIV is supported by a generation ready to act.

Celebrations now integrate natural materials like water, flowers and stones, with some communities worshipping outdoors under trees. These gestures revive the sense of creation as the Church’s first cathedral, linking worship directly to the earth.

Catholics now form digital faith communities that offer security, belonging, and global connection. These networks often feel more pastoral than traditional parishes and can encourage spiritual migration based on preference rather than presence.

A serious examination of Church practices and power structures is overdue. Only with an honest review can it genuinely promote the rights of women and those long marginalised.

Bringing culture into the liturgy isn’t about imitation but integration. As workshops unfold across Fiji, local leaders ask how to celebrate the Roman Rite without losing the vanua—their sense of place, people and belonging.

The time for waiting is over. If we say we are listening, we must act. Synodality won’t flourish through delay or indecision. Local parishes need to embrace what can be changed and stop waiting for permission to live out this new ecclesial vision.