Introductions!

Hello, friend! I wanted to begin this blog with a brief introduction post, both to share a bit about myself and a bit about the Synod on Synodality.

My name is Elise Stankus, and I am a college student, journalist, and creative writer in the Philadelphia area. I am passionate about the arts in the most general sense, and am fascinated by the idea of art as a spiritual tool. It gives us a way to foster community, further social justice, and nourish personal spirituality.

A very formative piece of my own spiritual life has been the Synod on Synodality, a global initiative begun by Pope Francis in 2021, and the central focus of this blog.

I am traveling to Rome to be a pilgrim, a voice, and a witness to the Synodal process, which embraces a philosophy of listening and radical encounter in order to bring the Gospel to life in the modern world.

Pope John XXIII said "I want to open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in." In the same way, the historic Synod on Synodality seeks to refresh the Catholic Church, fostering a community which welcomes, listens to, and embraces the entirety of the people of God.

This Synod is historic for a number of reasons, one of which is that laypeople are participating as voting members for the first time in the history of the Church. Men and women, young and old, laypeople and ordained -- the Vatican is listening to us! To our hopes, our dreams, our hurt, our anger, our joy. Our voices are being heard, and it is time to speak!

I believe strongly that God calls each person to holiness in a way that is unique to their life, their circumstances, and their heart. This is a guiding principle in my own journey of advocacy for women leadership, LGBTQ+ ministry and inclusion, interfaith dialogue, and environmental justice.

This blog will function as a common destination for my articles, informal reflections, creative writing, and photography. I'm glad you're here!