Global Synod

The Catholic Church is in synod! What does that mean? A synod is a gathering of the Church for discernment or decision-making.  The word synodality comes from two Greek words that mean "a way together." Our Holy Father Pope Francis convened the Synod on Communion, Participation, and Mission which began in October 2021 and will conclude in 2024. This journey follows in the wake of the renewal proposed by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).  The themes of the synod are communion, participation, and mission.

The Synod began with the Diocesan Phase in 2021 which invited all of the Catholic dioceses around the world to engage members in listening sessions. Every conference of bishops around the globe submitted a national synthesis. To view the US National Synthesis of the People of God in the United States of America, click here.  All of the input from these sessions were synthesized by a gathering of experts in Rome. Enlarge the Space of Your Tent, also called the Document for the Continental Stage, was published on October 22, 2022 and is a synthesis of all the input gathered from Catholics around the world. 

The next step in the process was the Continental Phase. From January - March 2023, continental assemblies were held on each continent:  Bangkok (Asia), Prague (Europe), Bogota (Latin America), Suva (Oceania), Orlando (U.S. and Canada), Addis Ababa (Africa) and Beirut (the Middle East) and a digital synod gathering.  The continental assemblies included meetings, communal and private prayer, and various liturgical events. After these gatherings, the Instrumentum Laboris was published in June 2023. This document is a series of worksheets created to guide the Synodal assembly in October 2023. 

All of the work of the Synod that has happened to this point has prepared the way for the gathering of delegates in Rome for the Synodal assembly in October 2023. This is the first time ever in Church history when voting members will not only include bishops, but also laymen and women selected by Pope Francis. One of the representatives is from the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns, who serves in ministry at St. Joan of Arc parish in Minneapolis. Rhonda Miska, St. Timothy's Director of Communications, will be in Rome October 13-21 as a part of a delegation from Discerning Deacons. 

The work of the bishops and delegates who gather in Rome in October will be guided by the Instrumentum Laboris. That document's focus are questions focused on how the Church can foster communion, strengthen participation, and better carry out its mission. Some topics considered include care for creation, ecumenism (relationships with non-Catholic Christians), the role women, and the inclusion and welcome of marginalized groups. 

Among the questions, concerns, and hopes that emerged from the synodal listening sessions held around the globe was the need to "rethink women's participation." This was named as "critical and urgent," emerging from every part of the world. Specifically, women's preaching, women in governance, and the women's diaconate were named as areas that were lifted up for consideration. We invite you to pray for the intercession of St. Phoebe, namd in Romans 16:1-2 as a deacon that served in the early church, as these questions are discerned. 

LEARN
To learn more, check the Church of St. Timothy Facebook October 14-21 for live updates from Rome from staff member Rhonda Miska. 

America Magazine, Vatican News, and other Catholic publications have been covering the Synod and will continue to do so. 

WITNESS
You are invited to be a part of the discernment and to share your thoughtful and prayerful response to one or more of the questions in the Instrumentum Laboris that is guided the October assembly. Click here to visit the Discerning Deacons webpage where you can submit your message to Pope Francis. You may also directly send an email to synodus@synod.va.

PRAY
Please pray for all the Synod partipants to listen well and be guided by the Holy Spirit in their conversations. You may use prayer to the Holy Spirit shared below or pray in your own way with your own words.