Synod on Synodality: Why we should care

Pope Francis has formally announced a two-year global consultation process to “look others in the eye and listen to what they have to say” with the launch of the 2023/2024 synod on synodality.  Submissions from all continents across the globe will be the basis for the Synod beginning in October this year. The Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific) are meeting in Fiji early February to finalise their submission to the Synod on Synodality in response to the call of Pope Francis.

According to the Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform, the Church is now at a ‘kairos’ moment regarding its future direction with proposals being developed across the seven continental regions to form the basis for the Instrumentum Laboris (Working Document) for the formal Synod gathering in October this year.

Eleanor Flynn and Peter Johnstone, co-conveners of the Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform, have said that the success of the Synod on Synodality is “crucial for our Church…in its inclusion of the faithful.” They describe SYNODALITY (a Church word) as inclusive leadership, listening to the sense of faith of the faithful.

In an invitation letter to join a  free webinar they are hosting, they say: “Everyone has a stake in the future of our Church. The Synod on Synodality is an opportunity for much-needed change to the Catholic Church’s culture, leadership and governance structures. The bishops must listen to the people of the Church and open their minds to the cultural and structural renewal urgently needed to rescue it from irrelevance. Renewal must include a focus on: the role and status of women, acceptance of the spirituality of First Nations people, inclusion of all without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gender, marriage, race or relationships, clericalism and the harm done by the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults, synodality and the inclusive use of authority.”

The Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform is launching a free webinar programme on discussion of  the Church’s Synod on Thursday 2 February at 6.30pm (AEST) {7.30pm AEDT} with a major discussion on the Church’s Synod.  The online event will bring together an expert panel of speakers to outline the real challenges facing our Church, and to uncover ways forward for the people of God to shape the mission of the Church and to play our part in the global movement towards renewal.

Speakers will include Susan Pascoe AM, Member of the Vatican planning group for the 2023 Synod; Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference; Francis Sullivan AO, Leadership roles in major Church ministries; Grace Wrakia, PNGSI lay representative, Oceania Synod Task Force; and Patricia Gemmell, Leader in the Grail Australia and Australian Women Preach.

Register now for this free Zoom webinar.  The Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform is encouraging as many people as possible to take part.

ACCCR-Convocation Flyer

Event details:

A Convocation of Catholics (by ZOOM) Register here
Synod on Synodality: Why we should care
Thursday 2 February 2023
Note: 6.30 -7.45pm in QLD.

* The ZOOM link will be sent on registration and again 1-2 days before the event. Please share this with anyone you think may be interested.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe President, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

Francis Sullivan AO Leadership roles in major Church ministries

Grace Wrakia PNGSI lay representative, Oceania Synod Task Force

Patricia Gemmell Leader in the Grail Australia and Australian Women Preach

Susan Pascoe AM Member of the Vatican planning group for the 2023 Synod