The Heart of Synodality

(Note: This is the first of five articles that will summarize the results and impact of the recently concluded “Synod on Synodality”)

If you’ve been paying attention to Catholic Church news, you are aware that the second and final General Assembly of the XVI Synod (the “Synod on Synodality”) concluded on Oct. 27, 2024. After each of the other Synods since Vatican II, the pope would issue an “apostolic exhortation” that would put the results of the discussions at the synod into theological and ecclesial (Church organization) terms. But, in this case, Pope Francis decided to let the final document issued on Oct. 26 stand on its own with his endorsement. The final document is available on the synod section of our diocesan website, and I highly encourage you to follow along section by section with these articles.

We’ll get to the substance of that document in this article and the subsequent four articles – each article addressing one of the sections of the final document. But first, we need to review the participation in the synod in our own diocese. You may remember that in the spring of 2022, we held over 30 Listening Sessions, led by over 30 trained facilitators, and listened to over 600 Catholics and others from around the diocese. As a result, Carrie Frank, my co-leader for the synod, and I submitted the summary document to the U.S. bishops. That summary is also available on the synod section of the diocesan website.

We heard a number of hopes and challenges from the People of God, and we raised and outlined those results in the document. Unfortunately, no action was taken on these issues, in part because the Road to Renewal occupied most of our organizational energy and activity. Nevertheless, those hopes and challenges remain and are still available in our document. These articles will point out connections between our diocesan document and the final document of the worldwide synod. And let’s be clear – whether we have embraced synodality in our diocese or not, it will become the way we are Church from this point on.

The final document (technically called “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission – Final Document”) is divided into five major sections (hence the series of 5 articles): Part I – The Heart of Synodality; Part II – On the Boat, Together; Part III – “Cast the Net”; Part IV – An Abundant Catch; and Part V – “So I Send You.”  The entire document is divided into numbered paragraphs (as are most all Church documents), so I’ll reference those paragraphs when necessary. Let’s turn to part I – The Heart of Synodality: Called by the Holy Spirit to Conversion.

Perhaps the highlight of this part of the document is its clear and decisive definition of “Synodality.” That word has tended to confuse many folks, and so it is helpful to lay out what is meant (especially from now on as the Church uses the term).  Here are two excerpts from Paragraph 28:

“Synodality is the walking together of Christians with Christ and towards God’s Kingdom, in union with all humanity. Orientated towards mission, synodality involves gathering at all levels of the Church for mutual listening, dialogue, and community discernment …”

“In simple and concise terms, synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform that enables the Church to be more participatory and missionary so that it can walk with every man and woman, radiating the light of Christ.” (Emphasis is mine).

I would suggest that each of us pray over these words (and the entire document) before going on in the document or reading the next article. It would be especially enlightening to consider what you understand by each of the highlighted words or phrases.  And as you do, ask yourself if you are open to a new definition or a new direction of the Church based on those words.

The rest of the document will elaborate on these aspects of synodality – and indicate how these will be put into practice throughout the worldwide Church.

Next up – Part II – On the Boat, Together: The Conversion of Relationships.