Pope Francis has launched a two-year ‘synodal’ process that will lead up to a Synod Gathering of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. The overall theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission”. We have all been invited to play our part.
“Synod” means “walking together” or a “shared road”. We are being invited to think about how we walk together as the Church, how we contribute, and how we take the Gospel to others – the three themes of “communion – participation – mission”.
THE SYNODAL WAY: CONTINENTAL PHASE
We have an opportunity to make a further contribution as a parish to the Church’s Synodal Way.
On 16 October, the Holy Father announced that the celebration of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place in two sessions: the first from 4 to 29 October 2023, the second in October 2024. A two-phase Synod allows adequate time for honest discussion, reflection, discernment at the level of particular Churches.
It is very important that synod processes involve listening and responding to all of God’s people at every stage of the process, because this is how we move forward as a synodal Church.
In this Continental Stage there is a “giving back” to those who have contributed to the process in the first phase. An account of how this initial spiritual conversation was received from around the world is given in the working document and reflects on how the response to the first phase from around the world can now be seen in this broader, continental context.
We have been asked to comment on this working document by 11 December. The document can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
Please send any comments to admin@elyrcchurch.com by 10 December, after which they will be assembled together into a parish response.
What is next?
The survey has now closed and responses have been sent from parishes across the Diocese. All responses will be read and taken into account as the Diocese prepares a synthesis. This response will be passed to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, culminating in the final Synod Gathering of Bishops in Rome in October 2023.
The Diocesan Synodal Pathway webpage is still open, so please continue to check back on it for any updates as the process moves to its next stage. You can reach this by clicking on the button below.
What did the Diocese say?
The Diocese of East Anglia has compiled a synthesis of all the responses to the Synodal questions and has sent the document to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. This document can be viewed by clicking on the button below.
What did we say at St Etheldreda’s?
Discussion meetings took place over three Saturdays in February and March 2022. Each meeting generated some discussion notes, which can be viewed below, along with a summary document which has been submitted to the Diocese. All documents can be viewed by clicking on the button below.
Praying for the synod
We have been asked to say this prayer for the success of the Synod process. It is known as the Adsumus, from its first words in Latin.
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, 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.
Finding Out More
The Vatican has a Synod website here: www.synod.va
The English and Welsh Bishops have a Synod page here: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission – Catholic Bishops’ Conference (cbcew.org.uk)