Bishop David Ricken opens the Synod on Synodality - Oct. 17, 2021

• Synodality means asking "How can we as a Church grow and journey together?"
• So, let's dream about the Church we are called to be - becoming better witnesses to the Gospel!
• During this time, we are all invited to listen to one another in order to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit
• Just as Jesus reached out to all, no one is excluded from participating - we invite you to share your ideas with us.

We are guided by these fundamental questions:  How do we journey together at the different levels of the Church (from local to universal) to allow the Church to proclaim the Gospel? And what steps are the Spirit inviting us to take to grow as a synodal Church? Please click the image below to access a survey to share your story & ideas.

Leading a Synod meeting? Here is a resource on facilitating Synodal conversations.  Additionally, here is an extensive toolkit to guide listening sessions, courtesy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Synod in Action:

• Mar. 8, 2022 - Creating a space where people feel safe to share
• Mar. 1, 2022 -  Diocesan leaders help lead Catholics on the road to missionary discipleship
• Feb. 23, 2022 - Green Bay Diocese joins universal church in listening to members
• Feb. 15, 2022 - Campus ministry forms new faith leaders

Resources:

• pdf Summary (166 KB)
• image Timeline of Synod on Synodality (165 KB)
• Process for Facilitating Synodal Conversations
• pdf Synod Theme Areas & Questions (103 KB)
• Towards A Spirituality for Synodality
• About the Worldwide Synod - English | Spanish
• pdf Synod 2022 Compass Insert (2.54 MB)

 Recommended Links from the USCCB:

• Creating a Culture of Encounter through One-to-Ones 
  • As members of the Body of Christ, we are each created in the image of and loved by God, we are called to form relationships with one another, and we are called to "create a culture of encounter." How can we "encounter" one another? One tool that is used by many faith communities and community groups is the one-to-one relational meeting.

• Questions to Facilitate Encounter
  • This activity is to help members of a faith community to “encounter” one another and get to know other members of the family of the Body of Christ.  The questions in the activity are geared towards “going deeper” and will be most useful at a planning day, retreat, or other event where time is not an issue.  For shorter events not as conducive to community building, a single question could be used for discussion.

• We Are Salt & Light
  • Includes resources intended as a catalyst for both the New Evangelization and the continuing development of vibrant communities living the Gospel in the United States. Communities that strive to be salt and light share God's love with others, as we encounter Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit's transforming presence. Inspired by the Trinity's dynamic of community, we Pray Together, Reach Out Together, Learn Together and Act Together. 

• Communities of Salt and Light:  Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish
  • This statement offers a basic resource for pastors, parish leaders, and all Catholics seeking to strengthen the social ministry of their local community. The bishops’ reflection represents neither major new teaching nor a new national program.  Rather, it brings together the principles of our social teaching and local pastoral experience in a framework for vibrant Catholic communities.  

• Following Pope Fracis: Dialogue in Fratelli Tutti 
  • This resource explores the themes and ideas in Fratelli Tutti to recognize that the ability to dialogue across perspectives is essential in order that social love can inspire “new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations and legal systems from within” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 183).

• Loving Our Neighbor Through Dialogue
  • This resource can be used by parishes and dioceses to reflect and engage in authentic dialogue with their family, neighbors, and friends.