On 11 Oct 2022, it will be 60 years since the opening of the Second Vatican Council. It is time for the Church to resurrect the teachings in the documents to better bring about the kingdom of God here and now on a regional and global basis.

The underlying methodology in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes is called ‘See-Judge-Act.‘ Often called JOC (Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne), In the US, the methodology is essential for bringing about social justice, restorative justice, and the meaning for Christians to live the teachings of Jesus.

It is time to consider the groundbreaking legacy of Vatican II and form a mandate of Vatican II teachings for the renewal of the Church in the United States as an intercultural, intercontinental, and global movement.

Working knowledge of the documents, especially Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes, would assist Catholics in having a better understanding of our climate crisis, social justice, and the role we play as Christians in bringing about change for the greater good. 

The Documents of Vatican II, especially Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes are at the heart of reform; they are a mandate of vital importance for the Catholic Church and theology today.

Now is the time for “A New Vatican II” Era to begin; here we are, sixty years after, and the time is now that we should be convinced that the Council belongs to everyone; we need to encourage and develop a new generation of scholars who are ready to study the conciliar legacy anew. We need to preach and teach the methods used to create the documents to instill the spirit in the lives of the people we call “the Church.” 

“The Christian communities themselves should be the protagonists, giving shape to their Christianity” ~ CARLOS SCHICKENDANTZ.

And in the words of Louis J Putz CSC, “You Are Church!” 

1. We need to develop various forms of learning. This includes digital and free and open access to materials.

2. At a parish and local level, we must aim to give responsibility and voice to people. Given what we saw in the process of the Synod gatherings, this is going to be a challenge

3. We need to secure the conciliar legacy in a global, intercultural, and digitally connected world

4. The documents of Vatican II cannot be separated from social justice efforts; they cannot be separated from our identity as Christians; we need to innovate, educate, and collaborate as a community. If the people during the patristic period could do it? So can we.