Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church
“Synodality starts with hearing from the whole People of God. A Church that teaches must be firstly a Church that listens.
Consulting all members of the Church is vital because, as the Second Vatican Council reminded us, the faithful as a whole are anointed by the Holy Spirit…”
Pope Francis
On Sunday 10 October 2021, Pope Francis officially opened the Synod of Bishops with the theme, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission. The following weekend, a period of local consultation was launched in dioceses around the world, inviting all Catholics to take part in an intentional process of mutual listening that will span two years and engage the people of God in a journey of communion, participation and mission. This listening process will culminate in the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2023.
An introduction to the Synod of Bishops
Credit: Sydney Centre for Evangelisation
The fundamental questions:
A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together”;
How is this ‘journeying together’ happening today in your Parish?
What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our ‘journeying together’?
Prayer for the Synod
As we embrace this Synodal Process, this prayer invites the Holy Spirit to be at work in us so that we may be a community and a people of grace.
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Our Diocesan Journey
Australian Catholic Bishops – National Resources
A dedicated page has been set up on the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website to host content for the Synod, with links to the preparatory document and vademecum (handbook). Resources have been prepared to assist groups and individuals in their reflection and discernment prior to making a submission on the national portal. The national online portal is open until 27 February 2022 for submissions.
Visit the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website here.