Synodality

What is Synodality?

Synodality is a way of journeying together as the People of God. It represents a path for personal and Church renewal through the actions of the Holy Spirit, listening to what God has to say to His people. It calls for a style of listening and speaking to one another, discerning together with the power of the Holy Spirit, to find a path forward in addressing the issues the Church is facing in our day as we seek to carry out the mission of Jesus in making know the Good News.

Synodality (from the word ‘synod’ which comes from the Greek and refers an assembly or meeting, or more literally to journey a common path), is a term often used to describe the process of fraternal collaboration and discernment that bodies such as the Synod of Bishop were created to express.

The Significance of Journeying Together

Pope Francis states that “the Gospels frequently show us that Jesus is on a journey; He walks alongside people and listens to their questions and concerns lurking in their hearts. He shows us that God is not found in neat and orderly places, distant from reality, but walks ever at our side. He meets us where we are, on the often rocky roads of life” Pope Francis.

He continued: Today as we begin this synodal process, let us begin by asking ourselves – all of us - Pope, bishops, priests, religious and lay – whether we, the Christian community, embody this ‘style’ of God, who travels the paths of history and shares in the life of humanity. Are we prepared for the adventure of this journey? Or are we fearful of the unknown, preferring to take refuge in the usual excuses: ‘It is useless’ or ‘we’ve always done it this way?”

The Three Pillars of Synodality

Communion: God gathers us together as a diverse people, our shared identity is baptism. The communion we share finds it deepest roots in Christ who reconciles us to the Father and unites us with one another in the Holy Spirit.

Participation: A call for the involvement of all who belong to the People of God. - laity, consecrated and ordained persons - to journeying together, in respectful listening and discernment, creating space for the movement of the Holy Spirit, guiding us in seeking God’s will. The whole community is called to pray, listen, dialogue and discern, amid our often deep-seated differences, seeking as closely as possible the way of God.

Mission: The Church exists to evangelize. We can never be centred on ourselves. Our mission is to witness to the love of God. This synodal way has a deep missionary dimension to it.

These three dimensions are profoundly interrelated. There is no hierarchy between them, rather, each one enriched the other two.

The Synod on Synodality is a good three years in the making

Pope Francis announced in March 2020 (at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic) that the next Synod would be held in October 2022 with the theme’ For a synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission’, which quickly became known as the “Synod on Synodality”. In May 2021, he postponed the two-part meeting to 2023, with a second gathering in 2024.

How can we grow as a synodal Church? – A worldwide Consultation

Preparations for the Synod on Synodality sought to be the most extensive ever, with an invitation to every Catholic to provide input.

An unprecedented worldwide consultation occurred at the diocesan/national and continental levels. The process invited Catholics to identify areas where the Church needed to give greater attention and discernment. The feedback was gathered and synthesised by dioceses and then episcopal conferences before being brought to the continental level, then shared with the Hoy See. This formed the working document for the general assembly’s first session. The document’s authors described it as “not a document of the Holy See, but of the whole Church.”

The working document (Instumentum Laboris) included other reflection question. It asked participants to further reflect on the following given the Synod focus on the themes of communion, participation and Mission:

“How can we be more fully a sign and instrument of union with God and of unity with all humanity?”

“How can we better share gifts and tasks in the service of God?”

“What processes, structures and institutions are needed in a missionary synodal church?”

Make-up of the 2023 Synod - XV1 Ordinary General Assembly

For the first time ever, non-bishops – including lay men and women – had a vote in the Synod. All told there were 450 participants – 363 were voting members. More than a quarter of all synod members were laypersons. A deliberate attempt was to include women and young adults.

Half Time Report

The synthesis of the 2023 Synod on Synodality is fundamentally an instrument for further discernment, it is designed to elicit further reflection and response from the whole Church. The second part in 2024 will have the task of making decisions about what concrete proposals to present to Pope Francis.

The Working document for the Second Session: 2-27 October 2024

The Holy See has released the working document for the second session, the text that will guide the work of the second session of the XV1 Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod. Issues named for further deliberation in the document include: An understanding of Synodality – paths to conversion and reform, the need for transparency and accountability at all levels of the Church’s life, and the value and role of women in the Church (theological reflection on female diaconate continues). Additional issues for discernment include: ecumenical relationships with other Churches and interreligious dialogue.

Pilgrims of Hope

The working document concludes with an invitation to continue the journey as “pilgrims of hope” in view of the Jubilee Year 2025.

Documentation

Synod 2021-2023 - For a Synodal Church – Preparatory Document: Published by Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, September 2021.
Vademecum/Handbook Guide to support the process of consultation. https://www.synod.va/en/documents/vademecum.html
Synod Website: https: www.synod.va/en.html
International Theological Commission: “Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church (2018): https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congrgations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc _2018030
A Synodal Church in Mission: Synthesis -Ordinary General XV1 Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: First session.: Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops. XVI GENERAL ORDINARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

Australians to play role in major global event in Rome

Australian Catholics will play a key role in a month-long global event aimed at shaping the future of the Church.

Fifteen Australians will attend the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome from October 2 to 27, which has the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”.

A two-day spiritual retreat from September 30 will end with an evening mass with Pope Francis.

The work of the second session is expected to get underway after the opening Mass on the morning of October 2, with the final Mass scheduled for the morning of October 27.

The process began in October 2021, inviting people all over the world to express their understanding of a “synodal” Church and provide input into priority issues. After several rounds of global consultations, a “synthesis report” was then produced following the first session held in Rome in October 2023.

The task of the second session is to complete the discernment begun at the first session and offer the result of this discernment to Pope Francis in a final document.

The second session will be guided by a document known as the Instrumentum laboris, which summarises the “fruit” of the consultation.

Australia and other countries provided a “national contribution” ahead of the second session. This document brought together the thoughts of hundreds of Catholics on how to improve the way the Church practices synodality and co-responsibility in mission.

Social media, liturgy and faith, reaching out to families and young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ministry, the equal dignity of women and men, working with other churches and encouraging the use of peoples’ unique gifts were themes from the consultations.

The work of the synodal assembly – through plenary sessions known as “general congregations” and working groups – will be divided into five “modules” which mirror the sections of the Instrumentum laboris: Foundations, Relations, Pathways, Places and Conclusion.

The concluding module will be devoted to the discussion and approval of the final document which will go to Pope Francis, who is responsible under the Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis communio for its implementation.

The Australian participants are:

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costello SDB
Member of the Council of the Synod of Bishops and Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP
Archbishop of Adelaide Patrick O’Regan
Bishop of Sandhurst Shane Mackinlay
President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania and Bishop of Broken Bay, Anthony Randazzo
Mr John Lochowiak
Ms Kelly Paget
Fr Sijeesh Pullenkunnel
Professor Renee Kohler-Ryan
Dr Trudy Dantis

Australian facilitators and experts include:

Br Ian Cribb SJ
Adjunct Professor Susan Pascoe
Fr Ormond Rush
Fr Asaeli Raass
Dr Sandie Cornish

Resources:

Live transmissions of some events will be available at www.vaticannews.va
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has a synod web page
The Vatican synod website can be found at www.synod.va

Courtesy of ACBC