Editorial Raymond Studzinski O.S.B. Synodality has become a more familiar term as Pope Francis works to raise consciousness of the need for a Synodal Church in today’s world and of how the synodal way of operating, where all people participate in the work and mission of the Church, is the path forward. Related to Vatican II’s focus on full and active participation in the liturgy, Francis is calling for a full and active participation of the all members of the Church in proclaiming the Good News and in letting that saving message guide everyone to work together in transforming the Church and the world. In an age of specialization, when people are frequently deferring to experts and then absolving themselves of responsibility for various problems, the challenge for the Church is to find a way to bring all persons and resources together in a common effort that unifies rather than divides and allows each one to use their own unique gifts and talents. Pope Francis underscores communion, participation and mission as key words that sum up what synodality is about. In this issue of the IJEC, our authors, each in their own way, help us unpack the implications of synodality and of a synodal approach for evangelization and catechetical ministry in the Church as we move into the future Mercy, Bishop Tebartz-van Elst, the delegate for Catechesis on the Pontfical Council for the New Evangelization, reminds us in his essay, is the manifestation of that compassion so necessary for forging the unity synodality seeks. He sees mercy as that attitude of heart which enables us to transmit the faith and to turn a crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic into an opportunity to grow in understanding of all who suffer whatever crisis they may be experiencing. Using an art object, the Mouth of Truth, a huge marble mask in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, and the tradition connected with it, as a point of reference, Bishop Tebartz-van Elst comments on how the truth Christians speak when handing on the faith is that of God’s mercy. This is no abstract, disembodied communication but one that involves touching, hearing, speaking, praying, and guiding the other. As Pope Francis notes, the communication at the heart of a synodal approach involves encountering the other where he or she happens to be, listening with [End Page 167] one’s heart to them, and discerning together a way forward. Catechists and evangelizers who in their ministry are engaged precisely in such encountering, listening and discerning are called to speak the truth of an all merciful God to those whom they encounter. Bishop and priest have important roles in the tasks of evangelizing and catechizing in a synodal Church but they exercise their ministries in the midst of their people who are co-responsible for proclaiming and forming those individuals who have not yet received or fully embraced the Gospel. Eric J. Westby in his essay looks at the unique role of the priest in the catechetical task and how ordination configures him in a real way to Christ the Head of the Church, the Body of believers. He expands on three specific tasks flowing from that special relationship to Christ: instructing/catechizing the faithful as a true educator in the faith, ensuring that the faithful receive high quality catechesis that is doctrinally sound and well suited to their different stages of life, and forming and seeing to the formation of catechists for this important work in which all share responsibility. Pope Francis encourages the faithful to pursue synodality not just occasionally but structurally and suggests thinking about the Church as an open square where all who come can feel at home and are drawn to participate. In her essay, Angela Kaupp, a professor of religious education at the University of Koblenz-Landau, discusses the need in catechetical ministry, especially to adults, for creating different social spaces and social orientations. Spaces, in contrast to places, are not geographically bound. There can be spaces such as those created on the internet. Many of us during the height of the pandemic grew accustomed to the Zoom space as...