On Oct. 10, 2021, Pope Francis formally opened a two-year ‘synodal’ process in the Catholic Church that will culminate in a final Synod gathering of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. The overall theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission”.

Bishops around the world are consulting with parishioners, all clergy and Catholic institutions before coming together for the gathering in 2023.

This consultation is in four stages:  1) Diocesan   2) Episcopal   3)  Continental    4) Universal

As part of the Diocesan phase there have been several meetings in the parish(es).

Please see below for the reports and recommendations from those meetings in our parish(es).  (The Synod prayer is at the bottom of the page.)

 

Latest Synod News (Jan 2023):

Please see the Stage 3 document dated 22 Dec 2022** with minutes/notes from parish dicussion of ‘The Continental Stage’ which has been forward to Rev David Cross Diocesan coordinator. (Pub 03 Jan 2023)

 

Reports:

Stages 1 + 2:  Local/National Stage:  Parish + Diocese

• Feb 2022 – Synodal Reflection Process: Report to Parish
• Feb 2022 – Synodal Reflection Feedback from the Parish to the Diocese
• Apr 2022 – Diocesan Final Document bringing together all Diocesan feedback (View Dioc webpage) (View Document)

 

Stage 3:  The Continental Stage: ‘Enlarge the space of your tent’ Is54:2)

• 23 Oct 2022 – Synod Working Document for the Synod Continental Stage
• 25 Oct 2022 – Synod – Frequently Asked Questions
• 31 Oct 2022 – Letter to parish from David Cross (Dioc) requesting discussion of the Working Document for Continental Stage
• **22 Dec 2022 – Minutes/Notes from the parish discussion of the Working Document for the Continental Stage

 

Stage 4:  The Universal Stage (To follow – October 2023)

 

Links:

• Synod Prayer (Screen size)    –   Synod Prayer (A4 printable)
• Vatican website – Synod – the full process & latest news and posts
  
• Vatican website – The Continental Stage
• Middlesbrough Diocese:  Bishop Terry – From ‘I’ to ‘We’ (Synod)
• Middlesbrough Diocese: Synod Resources / Documents page

 

Synod Prayer  (Link: view A4 printable copy)

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.