Walking
Together: a Synodal Journey for 2021-23
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Overview: Pope
Francis invited the entire Catholic Church around the world to
take part in a listening journey, a process of discernment
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit which formed the agenda of
the 16th Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. report links are below.
As a church, we were asked to reflect on how we respond to today's problems and
needs, and upon how we become a listening Church. The Roman
Catholic Diocese of Plymouth started its listening journey in
Advent 2021 through to
February 2022.
The Church were invited
to gather with facilitators in groups or individually, to listen to
the Lord in our hearts, and then speak openly with each other and to listen to each other from our hearts, not to respond
or solve particular issues or concerns, but simply to discern and
listen to the Holy Spirit. Responses were gathered in parishes, passed on anonymously to the Diocese, and
from there to the
Vatican.
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 The Synod
Report October 2023 at the conclusion of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality is
published, "A Church that involves everyone and is close to world’s wounds. ecumenism, and abuse." Looking ahead to the second session in 2024, the text offers reflections and proposals on topics such as the role of women and the laity, the ministry of bishops, priesthood and the diaconate, the importance of the poor and migrants, digital
mission.
Members participating in the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops have issued a ‘Letter to the People of God’ giving thanks for their experiences and explaining the work of the past weeks.
Read more.
Synodal
Journey Walking Together - newsletter May 2023
European
Assembly Document - Prague, Feb 23 (English p37-86)
Synodal Journey ‘Walking Together’ update Easter 2022: Thank
you to everyone for your support and encouragement and honest and
open reflections on this first phase of our listening
journey. The Diocesan synthesis
for the Synodal Journey in the Diocese of Plymouth has now been
completed and includes a Foreword from Bishop Mark. This has been sent to the Bishops Conference, to contribute to the
National Synthesis. It can be downloaded here - the appendices are here - The Diocese will continue to reflect on
taking this forward at local level. The final report
sets out some initial next steps whilst the discernment phase
continues at national level.
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Synodal Journey ‘Walking Together’ update late March
2022: Thank you to all of you able to make your views known in
person in the groups, online or by post to the Diocese. The next
step is that the ‘synthesis’ of all the replies and thoughts needs
to be with the Bishops’ Conference by 8th April.
This will
be made available electronically and online along with a letter
from Bishop Mark. (see above - Easter 2022)
Sixty
‘in person’ groups participated in the Diocese, along with about
1,000 replies. An outreach worker was working with marginal groups
to find out their views too. Several themes are emerging. Many
parishes are continuing to meet and talk to each other, also
incorporating Bishop Mark’s document,
'A
Precious Place of God's Grace', about the future for
our parishes in the Diocese. There will be discussion materials
with the synthesis report. The Diocese hopes to develop a way for
parishes to share ideas, resources, and good practice
online.
Locally: Once Holy Family Parish has its new meeting
facilities running in Penzance, we hope to continue the talking and
sharing process. A double sided A4 sheet is available, please
ask.
Diocese of Plymouth, Walking Together Synodal Journey
January newsletter
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Synodal Journey news! Fr. Philip wrote in
our 1st January 2022 newsletter: Thank you to those who came along to
the Advent meetings and participated with such openness and
boldness, and to everyone who has shared their feedback so far. As
a Church, the Pope has called us all into spiritual direction, and
wishes us to listen to one another, and listen to those on the
margins, where God is speaking. The matters arising will be brought
into prayer and discernment at all levels of the Church, and will
determine the agenda of the 2023 Synod of Bishops.
We've made a good
start in Walking Together in our parish and the journey continues.
For many of us, this listening process has been new, challenging,
and experimental -- and has proved to be a deep blessing. Responses
have been positive, and there is a desire to continue to listen: to
ourselves, to each other, and to God. We will arrange more meetings
in the new year, and online feedback forms continue to be available
for all of us. Feedback will continue to be welcomed throughout the
Synod, and beyond. We are also looking for more
facilitators.
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Background: The Synod local facilitators
held meetings at the churches in Penzance and Hayle over four weeks
in November and December 2021. The Diocese
provided us with many interesting questions and ideas for meeting
and journeying together. Please find a pdf booklet with the
guidance and questions for each week of Advent here
and a pdf of guidance and ground rules for the meetings
here - other useful links are further below.
There will be other
opportunities to meet and talk.
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Message
from Bishop Mark: A two-year ‘synodal’ process is taking
place in the Catholic Church from October 2021 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”. Pope Francis will open the Synodal Journey in Rome on
10th October. We will be launching our diocesan phase on Sunday,
17th October with Mass in our Cathedral.
This will
be followed with an online gathering to introduce the Synodal
journey. (Watch: “Behind the global synod:
why Pope Francis wants you to speak boldly and listen carefully.”
with Austen Ivereigh on 16 November video link)
The first phase of the Synodal Process is a time of listening in
local churches. We propose that this phase takes place in parishes
during the Season of Advent. The aim is to foster as broad a
consultation as possible, reaching out to integrate the voice of
the poor and the excluded, and not only engaging those who have
some role or responsibility within the local parish. Our Diocese
has already started its Synodal journey through some discussions
and submissions made through ‘A Precious Place of God’s Grace’ and
we will build on what has been shared so far.
Each parish will have scope to adapt the listening phase to local
circumstances and guidance and resources will be provided. The
process will culminate in a Diocesan pre-synodal meeting in
February/March 2022.
We hope that everyone will take part in this opportunity to have a
say in our future Mission.
Bishop Mark
also writes: ‘I encourage you to fully engage with this
important process in the life of the Church, locally and
universally, so that we can all be more effective missionary
disciples. Very important is our prayer to the Holy Spirit so that
we listen to what God is saying to us, as well as listening deeply
to what we are saying to one another. May the Holy Spirit guide us
on this journey together and give us a share in God’s wisdom and
understanding.’
Prayer for the Synod: We stand
before You Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With
You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; teach
us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and
sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead
us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us
find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal
life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All
this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time in the
communion of the Father and the Son forever and ever.
Amen.
‘Dear
brothers and sisters, have a good journey! May we be open to the
Holy Spirit’s surprises, the grace of encounter, reciprocal
listening and discernment, joyfully convinced that, even as we seek
the Lord, He always comes with His love to meet us first.’ ~ Pope
Francis
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LINKS: For further information please use the
external links links below
The Easter 2022 Diocesan synthesis
of responses can be downloaded here and its appendices here.
Bishop
Mark has shared an Address on ‘Walking Together’ given by Papal
Nuncio Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti to a meeting with the
Conference of Religious. Click here
to read.
Diocesan Pastoral Message from
October
From
Plymouth Diocese: Walking
Together: The Process | Key
Documents | FAQ's
The
Diocese was joined online by Austen Ivereigh on 16 November to
explore the topic: “Behind the global synod: why Pope Francis wants
you to speak boldly and listen carefully.” video
Bishop's
Conference Synod page
and their FAQ's
page
An
explanatory video from the Catholic Church England and Wales is
here.
(Description: Pope Francis has invited the whole
Catholic Church to question itself on what's called "synodality".
It's an important theme in the life and mission of the Church -
especially over the next two years. But what exactly is synodality
and what does it mean for Catholics in England and Wales? Fr Chris
Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of
England and Wales, and Father Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission,
discuss the process and explain this invitation to communion,
participation and mission.)
Austen
Ivereigh on Pope Francis' vision for a synodal church video | talk
Communion | Participation | Mission
visit our
news page for any late updates
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