Catholic
Synagogue
The worship at the times of Jesus was in the Temple and the Synagogue.
Jesus blessed both with his presence…and today, in the Church of Christ, both
institutions must be present. But somehow, many Protestants have been left without Temple,
but with Synagogue, though they don't use that name. And many Catholics have been left
with Temple but without Synagogue. Jewish Temple and Synagogue
2Chronicles
The Temple: Was the "house of God", where God was
present through the Ark of the Covenant. The Jews went to the Temple to adore God and make
sacrifices to him. The center of every ritual is an altar, a sacrifice, and a priest to
offer it.
The Synagogue: Means "hall of meeting". God is not present
there in the Ark, and the Jews went to the Synagogue to meet together to pray, to learn
the Holy Scriptures, and to help each other in all social aspects. It is what actually do
the Jews today in their Synagogues, and many Protestants in their Services. The center
here is the "people"… there is no altar, no priests, no sacrifices, only
rabbis (teachers), or preachers in the Protestant counterparts. The
Abomination of Desolation
The Catholic Synagogue:
Today, in the Catholic Church the Synagogue is
somehow been represented by the different Parish Societies, like Holy Name, Legion of
Mary, Prayer Groups, Cursillistas, Knights of Columbus, etc. etc.
But in each Parish should be one Temple and one Synagogue… and, of
course, all the Societies are members of that Synagogue, like all members of the Parish
who do not belong to any Society … and more societies should emerge, very specially
those dedicated to teaching the Holy Scriptures, which was and it is central in any
Synagogue… today, if I want to send a person to learn Holy Scriptures, I have a hard
time to find one in the Catholic Church, though there are going on many serious
attempts...
The Biblical studies could be one of the best results of the Catholic
Synagogue. Other important result is for the laymen to know and help each other in all
social aspects in life, as the Jews do... today, many people in the Parish do not know
what kind of work the "friend" does, nor how many children he has, not even his
or her name... just "hey", Sunday after Sunday...
The term "Synagogue" is as biblical and Jewish as Temple, priest, Pentecost, sacrifice, Eucharist... and it may help the Catholics and Jews to get closer to one another.
How the Catholic Synagogue should work:
1- It should be controlled and moderated by the Parish Council, with the Pastor as the Head.
2- A two hour meeting every week, open to anyone in the Parish:
a- One hour dedicated to the study and discussion of
the Holy Scriptures and Catholic Documents.
b- A section to deal with problems of housing, jobs, family, children,
schooled, drugs, alcohol, neighborhoods, immigration, politics, abortion… and any
other social activities.
c- A section dedicated to information of the different groups of the
Parish, and individual joys and sorrows of any parishioner.
c- All the meeting should encourage the parishioners to know each
other, with a special section with snacks and drinks to encourage these social
acquaintances.
If you are ready to start the Catholic Synagogue in your Parish, please, let me know, I may be available to help you out.