Introduction To The Synod Process

Introduction to Synod Process
What is a Synod?
This video gives a helpful overview of Synodality (6 min 23 sec)

What is a Synod?
“Synod” simply means “journeying together”.
Pope Francis, following on from his invitation in 2013
for us to become “missionary disciples”, has called a
Universal Synod which is taking place in every
Catholic diocese across the world.
The Synod is themed: “For a Synodal Church:
Communion, Participation, and Mission”. This two-
year journey’s (2021-23) goal is for all members of
the church to be heard.
In our diocese, we launched the Synod on Sunday
28th November 2021 (First Sunday of Advent). We
will then have until Tuesday 1st March 2022 to
submit our response.
What is a Synod?
Eventually, after diocesan, national and
continental gatherings, the Synod of Bishops will
gather in Rome in 2023 to reflect on what has
been heard.
The Holy Father is inviting us to listen deeply to

one another; to discern what God is saying to the
Church, and to enter into a dialogue about how
we can journey together into the future.
He has also asked us to think about how we can

invite those on the margins and those searching
for faith to walk with us in communion.
What is a Synod?
Pope Francis wants to hear your voice about
our Church. He will be able to do that when
he receives the information from us.
After listening to your voice, he will be able

to see where the Church is now and ways
forward for the future. He believes that
every voice has value so, please, take the
time to share your thoughts.
To get a true picture, we would like you to

answer the questions honestly and not what
you think we would like to hear.
The Church as a diagram
Many people see the Church like this.
A hierarchy with the pope at the top of
the triangle and the lay faithful at the
Pope
bottom.
But in fact, the opposite is true. Cardinals
Jesus said “whoever wants to become & Bishops
great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be
your slave – just as the Son of Man did Priests & Deacons
not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for
many.” (Matthew 20:26-28).
Lay Faithful
The Church as a diagram
Another title for the Pope is Lay Faithful
‘Servant of the Servants of God’.
Using Jesus, the servant King, as
our example we serve one another Priests & Deacons
in love.
Pope Francis wants to hear from
the entire People of God - those Service Cardinals Listening
who are part of the Church and & Bishops
those who are not.
The Holy Spirit speaks through us
all. When the Pope and the Bishops Pope
meet in October 2023, they will
discern where the Holy Spirit is
calling the Church to, from what
they have heard from us.
Skills needed in a Synod
Listening Skills
Deeply listening to what the other person has to say. Listening

with the heart, without judgment, disagreement or wanting to
respond.
Discernment
Discernment takes practice, patience and prayer. When we ask

the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions we often know deep in our
hearts what is the will of God and what is not.
Openness
We have to be humble and teachable. We have to be open to

seeing a situation from a different perspective. Often we will be
presented with two different view points, which at first seem
opposed to each other, but with openness to the Spirit, amazing
things can happen. Pope Francis calls this ‘overflow’.
The importance of hearing from you…
In 2018, Pope Francis held a Synod on Young People.
He listened to what Young People had to say from around

the World.
From what he heard from the Young People, he wrote a

letter to them called ‘Christus Vivit’ which means ‘Christ
is Alive’.
In the letter, he reminded us that Young People aren’t

the future but the now of God! This is why it is
important you help shape the future of the Church, now.
What is the Church? The Church isn’t a building. It is the People of God!
Pope Francis wants to hear from everyone, those
who feel they are part of the Church and those who
feel they are not.
By attending a Catholic School and supporting our
charity organisations, you have experience of the
Church.
Key events in the life of the Church
There have been many more Ecumenical councils of the Catholic
Church but here are just some of them. Each involve discussion
and prayer to the Holy Sprit for inspiration and guidance.
• The Council at Jerusalem (see Acts 15) – AD 50

• Nicaea I (325)
• Constantinople I (381)
• Trent (1545-63)
• Vatican I (1869-70)
• Vatican II (1962-5)
• Synod on the Family (2015)
• Synod on Young People (2018)
How you can get involved…
Survey for Young People –
https://forms.gle/bUZoaCxJ6Us4ZGeA7
Survey for Parents, Staff and Governors -

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3D3FXJ2
Resource for facilitating a group response -

www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Facilitating
-a-Parish-Gathering.pdf
Group Response Feedback Form

www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Parish-Feed
back-Sheet-1.docx
Please respond before 1st March 2022

“It is precisely this path
of synodality which God
expects of the Church of
the third millennium.”
Pope Francis
“A Synod is a prayerful
journey of listening to what
the Holy Spirit may be saying
to the Church at this time so
that we may live the Gospel
values and continue the
mission of Christ in our own
times, with the present
needs and opportunities.”
Bishop John
For more information, please contact:
Synod, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Tel: 0161 817 2214
Email: synod@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Web: www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/faith/synod/
Launch Liturgy
WELCOME/GATHER
Opening Hymn
To start our time of prayer we pause and ask the Holy Spirit to fill and guide us.
© Holy Spirit Living Breath of God - Keith & Kristyn Getty
WELCOME/GATHER
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
R/ Amen
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
R/ And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that
by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations,
Through Christ Our Lord,
R/ Amen.
WORD
Scripture - Luke 24:13-35
Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem,
and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself
came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to
them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.
Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem
who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he
asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things
he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders
handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he
would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all
happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early
morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of
angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly
as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’
WORD
Scripture - Luke 24:13-35
Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not
ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through
all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.
When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to
stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.
Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it
to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then
they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the
scriptures to us?’
They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with
their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they
told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.
The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Reflection
The Gospel we have just heard is known as
‘The Road to Emmaus’.
It is a story we often hear in the season of

Easter.
What stands out to you from the story?
What do you think is happening here?

RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Reflection
In the story, we hear how the disciples are so
upset about the death of Jesus, that they
don’t even notice him walking alongside them.
Jesus walks on the road with them. He listens

to their story and shares in their suffering.
He then explains Scripture to them.
Jesus walks with us too on the road of life and

shares in our sufferings and joys.
Let’s ask him to guide us as we together
discern the way forward for the Church…
Stay with us Lord, on our Journey.

WITNESS
Taking part in the Synod
There are many ways you can support the Synod. Here are just some:
1. PRAY – Please pray for the Universal Synod, asking the Holy Spirit to guide the entire
People of God in their discernment. We pray especially for Bishop John and Pope
Francis and all those who will take part in the Synod of Bishops in 2023.
2. RESPOND – After prayer and discernment, make a response online to the ‘Synod Survey
for Young People’ and encourage family and friends to do the same. There is a survey
for adults too.
3. GET INVOLVED – The themes for the Synod are Communion, Participation, and Mission.
Find out more about how you can support your parish community. There are many ways
you can support the Mission of the Church by taking an active role in the Catholic Life
of your school community through prayer and helping others.
Closing Prayer
Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus – St. Isidore of Seville – used before each session at Vatican II
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.
Launch Liturgy

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Introduction to Synod Process

This video gives a helpful overview of Synodality (6 min 23 sec)

The Holy Father is inviting us to listen deeply to

He has also asked us to think about how we can

After listening to your voice, he will be able

To get a true picture, we would like you to

Deeply listening to what the other person has to say. Listening

Discernment takes practice, patience and prayer. When we ask

We have to be humble and teachable. We have to be open to

He listened to what Young People had to say from around

From what he heard from the Young People, he wrote a

In the letter, he reminded us that Young People aren’t

• The Council at Jerusalem (see Acts 15) – AD 50

Survey for Parents, Staff and Governors -

Resource for facilitating a group response -

Group Response Feedback Form

Please respond before 1st March 2022

Synod, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP

Tel: 0161 817 2214

R/ And You shall renew the face of the earth.

The Word of the Lord

It is a story we often hear in the season of

What stands out to you from the story?

What do you think is happening here?

Jesus walks on the road with them. He listens

Jesus walks with us too on the road of life and

Stay with us Lord, on our Journey.

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

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