How I Became More Appreciative of Synodality and Discernment
by Stan Leveau-Vallier
Synodality and discernment are key concepts, but they can feel abstract or laborious at first. At least they did to me… until I understood them concretely.
When I was invited to a four-day “Ignatian Formation Program” in Montreal for lay partners from the various works of the Jesuits of Canada, I imagined a heavy dose of theory, and was honestly a bit apprehensive. I was also tired and secretly hoping for some downtime.
But at the end of our gathering, even though I hadn’t gained much rest, I found myself echoing the words from another participant: “I was planning to learn facts about the Jesuits, their history and their spirituality, but I came back with connections.”
I think that is exactly what discernment and synodality are often about: initial apprehension, the courage to connect and a sense of surprise that brings joy.
Our program started with an invitation from Fr. Jeffrey Burwell, SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits of Canada, to speak up, to offer honest feedback, to be transparent and to bring all our experiences and gifts to the global mission of the Society of Jesus… including the work of social awareness and justice. I was not expecting such a tone of empowerment for lay people, and I was pleasantly surprised as it was carried forward by all speakers and facilitators.
The 22 lay participants represented a diversity of roles, ages, and backgrounds, active in various Jesuit related works across Canada, such as schools, retreat, and spirituality centres, social and justice works, etc. It was a great wealth of perspectives, especially since not everyone was a Catholic or a believer. I was struck by the depth of the connections we were able to form despite our differences. Everyone’s beautiful authenticity and openness reminded me of the “people of good will” - not necessarily catholic - that Papal letters are addressed to.
We are generally more comfortable with people that resemble us. Since the pandemic, I had lost the habit of connecting easily with new people, becoming somewhat socially rusty, more on my guard. But during this time of reflection and formation, I pushed myself a bit and was amazed when discovering unexpected echoes in others’ personal stories. I experienced the importance of listening to all voices, especially the ones that might sound the most different at first.
When Pope Francis warned against the “spiritual sickness of a self-referential church”, I now hear it as an invitation to pay attention to the Spirit’s voice, who might be speaking to us in new and unexpected ways, especially through the people that we expect the least to be helpful. It reminds me of times when I couldn’t help having an inner negative comment about someone whose way of speaking or thinking was different, until I noticed that what they were saying was a lesson I needed to hear. It is through such voices that I have evolved the most.
I have long appreciated Jesuit values, and I have found tremendous fruit in following St Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises in daily life. Still, there is always more to discover. I learned a lot during the Ignatian Formation Program, and I enjoyed the introductions to spiritual conversations. I am familiar with listening circles through my work at the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice: they are the basis of our action, for example to promote political discernment or engage in Truth and Reconciliation with our “Listening to Indigenous Voices” project. I find the outcome is always different and rich.
Deep listening practices can be intimidating at first, but they hold the power to transform conversations and connections beautifully. During the Ignatian Formation Program, they shaped not only the formal moments of spiritual conversation but also the overall quality of our interactions. It was through this experience that I began to more clearly understand how synodality and discernment are deeply intertwined.
Synodality is about “walking together”, while discernment is always relational, as it is about “listening to the Spirit” to move beyond ourselves (it can’t just be a self-sufficient and disincarnate introspection). They are somehow two sides of the same coin: of forming one body in motion in all its diversity, that concretely tries to find its way forward towards greater unity, or more just relationships rooted in love.
I now see both as practices that invite us to overcome our fears to connect authentically and engage practically, and to experience the Spirit’s surprising aid along the way.
These treasures have been nurtured by the people of God throughout history: Mary, Joseph, and the Apostles showed beautiful examples of discernment of how God was present to them in their lives, while synodality was experienced in early Church debates and Councils in discerning how God was calling them as an emerging faith community.
I find it especially moving when discernment and synodality generate a significant change of heart, for example when St Joseph followed God’s voice in his dreams even though it shattered his plans; when Peter and the Apostles changed their minds about circumcision and food for Christians; when St Francis of Assisi finally understood what “repairing the church” might mean; when the church dramatically deepened its understanding of the Gospel and the signs of the times with Vatican II, or when Archbishop Oscar Romero unexpectedly became a social justice advocate after great reluctance to get socially involved in the realities that the poor of El Salvador were facing, eventually becoming a martyr for them.
I am grateful to those who promote discernment and synodality as I believe these practices will be vital not only for the Church’s future credibility and witness, but also serve as greater agency towards more right and just circumstances for marginalized communities and families. Our individual callings are often embedded in communal ones. They are certainly woven into the fabric of our relationships.
Listening together to the Spirit to right our relationships and to find a healing path for everyone: That is a beautiful way forward towards which we are communally called. It is precisely the work we are engaged in at the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice, alongside the larger Ignatian family that is more diverse than I initially thought and that I now truly feel a part of.
Stan is originally from France. He and his wife moved to Toronto in 2012, drawn by the city’s open-minded inhabitants, vibrant food, and rich cultural diversity. They are blessed with three children. Stan serves as Assistant Director and Programming Manager at the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice.
The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice brings people together for spiritual conversation and action on social justice issues, including projects on Listening to Indigenous Voices, Political Discernment, and Integral Ecology.