Pope Francis launched a 2-year worldwide Synod process on 10th October 2021 entitled: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.

He has invited everyone to take part in a dialogue of listening and speaking under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This begins at the local level in our parishes and diocese. Between now and 28th February we are inviting as many people as possible to engage with this process. The feedback will be submitted to the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales on Palm Sunday and this will then contribute to a national report.

Pope Francis wants to hear from the whole Church about what is happening in local parishes. He and the bishops would like to know what individuals think we should all be doing to help make our parishes better. The way he has proposed doing this is a synodal process. Synod means “journeying together” and it involves listening to the Holy Spirit and to each other in order to discern the path we are called to walk together.

The synod “is intended to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission.”

Eventually this, in turn, will contribute to reports which will be sent to the Vatican in 2023. The Pope and Bishops of the world will then meet in Synod to discuss their findings. This whole process is teaching us how to be a ‘synodal’ Church, a Church which discerns the Holy Spirit’s voice in and through the People of God.

We encourage individuals to respond by attending any gatherings organised in the parish or to meet in groups to experience the opportunity of listening and speaking in a prayerful way. They can then individually fill the survey in online or on paper. 

Pastoral Letter for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time  2-3 October 2021 from  Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster

Pastoral Letter – Synodal Pathway 

Schools and Synod 2021-23 – PowerPoint

As the Church continues with its synod questions in parishes, students at Blessed Dominic are also considering the same questions.

Journeying
The journey to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35): An Ignatian Reflection on ‘Supper at Emmaus’, by Matthias Stom

Listening 
Hearing Gods call (John 1:35-39): Encountering God, Day 7

Discernment
Discerning Christ’s call, Day 1 (Mark 1:21-39)

Communion
Living as One (Acts 2:42-47)
The Journey of the Synodal Community (Ephesians 4:1-16, 5:2)
The First Council (Acts 15:1-35)

Mission
Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-15,22,25-31):
Gifts at the Service of Community
Go out to the whole world (Mark 16:13-19)
Sharing the Good News
‘Feed’ and ‘Tend’ Others, Day 4 (John 21:1-19)