Synod 2021-2024:  

Walking Together as  

 Church 

What is  SYNODALITY?*

*DEFINITION of SYNODALITY: walking together, listening to one another, dialoguing, hearing the other, learning from the other. The three key pillars of Synodality are Communion, Participation, and Mission with no hierarchy between them. The Synod on Synodality is also known as the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops—but this time the Synod is historically very different.


INTRODUCTION: For a short video explaining the Synod on Synodality 2021-2024

click HERE.

NOTE:  this page is chalk-full of information, so to help you navigate its length, use the following "Contents" and click on the areas you wish to explore.

 CONTENTS of this page: click a title to access its section

**The SYNOD's Conclusion - The NEWS:

**NOTE: As of October 26th, 2024 the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality concluded at least as far as the Vatican meetings are concerned. 

Delegates for the Final Session of the Synod gathered at the Vatican Oct. 2-27, 2024. The session began on Oct. 2 with an outdoor Mass.

Events that Concluded the Final Session:

Fall 2023 to Fall 2024: The Synod's Progress





IMPORTANT: 

an omission and a necessary addition

Parish priests were notably missing at the Synod in 2023. To correct the oversight, 300 were invited to Rome at the end of  April 2024 to "listen, pray, and discern" in preparation for meeting with Pope Francis on May 2 and to provide input for the Final Session of the Synod in October 2024. Read the news article HERE.






The SYNODAL PROCESS Diagram:

What has already transpired in the Synod on Synodality? Stages 1, 2, and most of Stage 3 as shown in the diagram above were completed up till October 2023. The Second Session of the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (or the Synod on Synodality) begins in October 2024.

Thanks to St. Mary's Synod Committee and Fr. Dennis, our parish hosted two listening sessions in 2022 —March 27 in-person and March 29 on Zoom.

St. Mary's Parish (Cochrane) Synodal Listening Sessions Spring of 2022 

 About sixty participants met and collaborated through reflection and prayer to answer Pope Francis' call to Catholics world-wide about their personal experiences journeying together as Church. Participants then discerned what steps the Holy Spirit is inviting all of us to take—as Church—to grow in "synodality". 

 The Synodal Theme Song, "Listen, Let Us Listen" (presented in the video on the left) was part of our listening sessions.

Fall 2021 to Fall 2023: The Synod's Background