The Synod on Synodality: What is the Synod about
The Synod on Synodality is an ongoing synod of bishops of the Catholic Church. The theme is: "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission".
What is Synodality?
Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church, expressing her nature as the People of God journeying together and gathering in assembly, summoned by the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. Synodality ought to be expressed in the Church’s ordinary way of living and working.
Synodality, in this perspective, is much more than the celebration of ecclesial meetings and Bishops’ assemblies, or a matter of simple internal administration within the Church; it is the specific modus vivendi et operandi of the Church, the People of God, which reveals and gives substance to her being as communion when all her members journey together, gather in assembly and take an active part in her evangelizing mission.
Communion
Participation is based on the fact that all the faithful are qualified and are called to serve one another through the gifts they have each received from the Holy Spirit in baptism. In a synodal Church the whole community is called together to pray, listen, analyse, dialogue, discern and offer advice on making pastoral decisions which correspond as closely as possible to God's will.
Participation
Our mission is to witness to the love of God in the midst of the whole human family. This Synodal Process has a deeply missionary dimension to it.
It is intended to enable the Church to better witness to the Gospel, especially with those who live on the spiritual, social, economic, political, geographical, and existential peripheries of our world.
Mission
The communion we share finds its deepest roots in the love and unity of the Trinity. Together, we are inspired by listening to the Word of God, through the living Tradition of the Church, and grounded in the sensus fidei that we share. We all have a role to play in discerning and living out God's call for his people.
Diocesan Synod Corner
The General Assembly concluded on October 27, 2024 with the publication of the Final Document for a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission. In the letter that accompanies this document, Pope Francis offers several statements that are important to all of us as we continue this Synodal journey:
- Acknowledging the value of the synodal journey completed, I now hand over to the whole Church the indications contained in the Final Document, as a restitution of what has matured during these years, through listening and discernment, and as an authoritative guide for her life and mission.
- The Final Document will form part of the ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter, and as such I ask that it be accepted. The local Churches and Church groups are now required to implement, in various contexts, the authoritative indications contained in the Document, through processes of discernment and decision-making envisaged by law and by the Document itself.
- The conclusion of the 16th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops does not put an end to the synodal process.
The Final Document can be found on the diocesan website https://www.stocktondiocese.org/synod-2021-2023.
Synod Corner, Part 1
As we begin to read Part 1 of the Final Document for A Synodal Church let us remember that “The development of the Final Document is guided by the Gospel Resurrection narratives. The race to the tomb on Easter morning and the appearances of the Risen One in the Upper Room and on the lakeshore inspired our discernment and enriched our dialogue. We invoked the Easter gift of the Holy Spirit, asking Him to teach us what we must do and show us the way forward.”
This Final Document is a gift from the Holy Spirit to the Church throughout the world. It is a document of faith, love and charity. It calls forth the best in the People of God as the Church moves forward in Synodality, moving forward together as Bishop, clergy, consecrated men and women and laity. This inspiring document “suggests pathways to follow, practices to implement and horizons to explore.”
Part 1: The Heart of Synodality: Called by the Holy Spirit to Conversion, includes six sections. We invite you to read the first three sections:
- The Church as the People of God, Sacrament and Unity
- The Sacramental Roots of the People of God
- Meaning and Dimensions of Synodality
The Final Document can be found on the diocesan website https://www.stocktondiocese.org/synod-2021-2023
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us in our desire to be a Synodal Church.
El Rincón del Sínodo, Parte 1
Al comenzar a leer la Parte 1 del Documento Final para una Iglesia Sinodal, recordemos que "El desarrollo del Documento Final está guiado por las narraciones del Evangelio de la Resurrección. La carrera hacia el sepulcro en la mañana de Pascua y las apariciones del Resucitado en el Cenáculo y en la orilla del lago inspiraron nuestro discernimiento y enriquecieron nuestro diálogo. Invocamos el don pascual del Espíritu Santo, pidiéndole que nos enseñe lo que debemos hacer y nos muestre el camino a seguir".
Este Documento Final es un don del Espíritu Santo a la Iglesia en todo el mundo. Es un documento de fe, de amor y de caridad. Convoca a lo mejor del Pueblo de Dios a medida que la Iglesia avanza en la sinodalidad, avanzando juntos como obispo, clero, consagrados y laicos. Este documento inspirador "sugiere caminos a seguir, prácticas a implementar y horizontes a explorar".
Parte 1: El Corazón de la Sinodalidad: Llamados por el Espíritu Santo a la Conversión, incluye seis secciones. Te invitamos a leer las tres primeras secciones:
- La Iglesia como Pueblo de Dios, Sacramento y Unidad
- Las raíces sacramentales del pueblo de Dios
- Significado y dimensiones de la sinodalidad
El Documento Final se puede encontrar en la página diocesana:
https://www.stocktondiocese.org/synod-2021-2023.
Que el Espíritu Santo, don del Resucitado, sostenga y guíe a toda la Iglesia en este camino.
