Synodality - Implementation Phase

What  is synodality?

Sr Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, describes Synodality:

“… it’s a way to be Church. That was a way, from the early Church, that we retrieve from the Second Vatican Council as a fruit highlighting that, first of all, we are all baptized; and as baptized together as people of God, we are called to carry on the mission together. So, it’s calling every baptised person to be a protagonist of the mission, to help us understand that we are called to work together, exercising co-responsibility for the mission—of course, a differentiated co-responsibility because we don’t all have the same vocations. There is a diversity of vocation, of charisms, of ministries. But we are people of God, journeying with the other people.

… we have to understand synodality as both ways: A way to be Church, as brothers and sisters in Christ; and a way to be Church, working with all the others. So, it goes hand-in-hand with ecumenism, that was one of the strongest fruits of the Synod; but also with interreligious dialogue, dialogue with society, with all the people; and highlighting the importance of listening to everybody, especially the poor or the marginalized, and to be a welcoming Church, willing to work with everybody to preach the Gospel.” [ Source-  Synodality is Vatican II in a nutshell ]

Key themes for a synodal Church

Communion: "The communion we share finds its deepest roots in the love and unity of the Trinity. …We all have a role to play in discerning and living out God’s call for God’s people."

Participation: We... "are called to serve one another through the gifts we 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."

Mission: "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."

https://www.synod.va/en/the-synod-on-synodality/what-is-the-synod-about.html

The Synod on Synodality- steps prior to the Implementation Phase

1.         Consultation Phase 2021-2023

From 2021- 2023, one of the largest consultations ever held in the Catholic Church took place. Pope Francis had called for a Synod on Synodality and the whole Church had been asked to reflect on our journeying together, seeking to discern what  the Holy Spirit is saying to our Church today.

2.        Synod Assembly in Rome, October 2023 and October 2024

The Assembly of the Synod of Bishops then held two sessions in Rome, in October 2023 and October 2024, with invited laity and religious also taking part. Participants reflected on matters arising from the global consultation and used a process of communal discernment to reach decisions. This is a prayerful process of listening to each other and seeking to understand God’s will together, being attentive to where the Holy Spirit is leading the church.

3.        The Final Document (FD),   “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission” ,  was issued at the end of the Synod Assembly. The FD, in its totality is the  “the point of reference for the implementation phase”.

How can we, together, better be a Church that listens, dialogues and walks together “ with Christ and towards God’s Kingdom, in union with all humanity” ( FD 28).

Pope Francis called on the local Churches  to implement the proposals contained in the FD,  in the context of their own local Church.

Putting synodality into practice

Now is the time for us to learn more about the FD and explore ‘new practices and structures’, in our local context, that, in keeping with the overall vision of the FD,  will help us to be a more participatory and missionary Church. It’s about moving from vision to action.

 The idea is that synodality will be ‘part of the ordinary life of the Churches’, not  an ‘additional task demanded by Rome’. It’s also important that we hear from and listen to those who we have not yet heard from on the synodal journey.

The Synod Secretariat, at the Vatican, has issued the important Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod document which offers guidelines and a shared framework to help with the implementation phase.

Key aspects of the Pathways document:

1.        What is the implementation phase and what are its objectives?

2.        Who will participate in the implementation phase? What are their tasks and responsibilities?

2.1   Responsibility of diocesan Bishop

2.2   Task of synodal teams and participatory bodies

2.3   Role of groupings of Churches

2.4   Service of the General Secretariat of the Synod

3.        How to engage with the Final Document?

3.1   The importance of preserving the overall vision of the Final Document – (for details see pages 18-19).

3.2   Investing in some concrete practices – For some examples see page 20.

4.        What method and tools can help shape our path during the implementation phase?

4.1   Ecclesial discernment-  The way we make decisions is very important for a synodal Church  (See pages 21-22)

4.2   A synodal approach to designing and accompanying processes -giving practical examples for consideration ( see pages 22-23)

• How to be a synodal Church in mission- take-outs from the Final Document -Diocese of Westminster

• SCHOOL FOR SYNODALITY has several good tools and resourses to help us to simply understand synodality as well as to help implement it in our parishes. Some examples are:

  • FAQ : What is Synodality

  • Reading the Final Document: Lectio Divina Resources  with quotes from the FD and questions around some key issues.

  • Conversations In the Spirit - a How To Guide

‘Conversation in the Spirit’, or Spiritual Conversation, is an ancient practice of the Church and a key tool of Synodality. A prayerful method, it allows for space for the spirit as well as voices usually not heard and can be used for faith sharing, difficult conversations, or when lots of creativity or ideas are needed. 

• A Feast for All Peoples is a small group resource from the School for Synodality, offering a way to engage with the Final Document in order to support small groups and parishes in their journey of conversion and renewal

• Reimagining Pastoral Councils - Starter Tool Kit

The Pastoral Council Starter Toolkit is a new resource from the School for Synodality, and offers a reimagined style of Pastoral Council, enabling us to walk with Christ along the road together, with listening and talking, and being moved by the Holy Spirit. 

• • Four Steps to Practicing Synodality
    Our framework for developing new synodal processes and habits based on Acts 15 (the Council of Jerusalem) as they (1) encountered a changing world, (2) listened to all the voices, (3) discerned the Holy Spirit and (4) moved to action. This framework can be applied to any group making decisions or discerning the future, and we have provided a plan so you can get started straight away. 

  • Leading prayer in meetings.

•  The website https://www.synodresources.org/ has initiatives from around the world. The idea is that we will share and learn from each other.

During the Implementation Phase there will be a period ( 2027-2028) of evaluation at diocesan, national and continental stages with an ecclesial Assembly in the Vatican in October 2028.

We are “a missionary Church, a Church that

builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a

Church ever open to welcoming, like this Square

with its open arms, all those who are in need of our charity, our

presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love.” (Leo XIV)