A two-year ‘synodal’ process is taking place in the Catholic Church that culminates in the final Synod Gathering of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. The overall theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission”.
SOME USEFUL LINKS
Bishop’s Pastoral Letter: For Our Synod Journey October 2021
Prayer for the Synod: Adsumus Sancte Spiritus
Guidebook for the Synod: Vademecum
Official Website: Vatican Synod Website
PROGRESS SO FAR
The Synod Report for the Lancaster Diocese was submitted to the national synthesis team of the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales at the beginning of Holy Week. Since then the team has been synthesising over 700 pages of reports from all the dioceses and other church organisations, associations and movements.
To see the Diocesan Report click here: LANCASTER DIOCESAN REPORT ON THE SYNOD PATHWAY
Because of the limited size of the report (ten pages maximum) it has not been possible to include every individual comment. Instead we have tried to represent a cross section of views from around the Diocese.
On 1st June representatives from all the dioceses and groups gathered in Southwark diocese for a day of consultation and prayer to consider the first draft of the national synthesis. All the comments that were made on the Synod Day were reviewed and and have been incorporated into the final report where appropriate.
To see the National Report click here: SYNOD NATIONAL SYNTHESIS – ENGLAND & WALES – 22JUN22
The next stage in this work will be for our bishops, who will gather on Tuesday, 28th June, to review their reflections and discernment of the material in the national synthesis. That document which they are writing, along with the above synthesis, will then form our submission to the Synod Office in Rome. This will be considered, along with the other national synthesis documents from around the world, and from these, the Synod Office will produce the Instrumentum Laboris 1 for the work at the European (Regional) Phase. And so the journey of becoming a Synodal Church continues, moving forward to the Regional Phase but also continuing the reflections and work here in England and Wales at the local and diocesan level.
On Wednesday, 29th June, the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul, Cardinal Nichols and all the bishops present for the meeting on Tuesday, will celebrate Mass together at Westminster Cathedral at 10.30am. All are welcome to attend.