Synod of Synodality - Journeying Together - Survey Link

With just a few more days to complete the Synodal survey

There are two surveys, one for young people under 18, and another for adults.  Each survey has a number of questions to show how much you agree or disagree, these are quick and easy to fill in.  Then there are open questions for you to explain your views or say more.

Prayer before completing the survey

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.

Conversation and questions about the Synod

In this week's post we share two possible actions about the Synod, a conversation to listen to, and a question to think about and respond to.

1)  A conversation: a video from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales which is a conversation between Fr Chris Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and Father Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission. In their conversation they explain what is different about this Synod and how we might get involved as we think about what communion, participation and mission means for us.

2) Questions to think about: Who are our fellow travellers, our companions for the journey? Who belongs to our community, and what can we do to welcome those who may feel on the edge?  This is a question we often ask our confirmation young people. This is a time now for us all to think who do we need to reach out to, people we have lost touch with, or those who may be new arrivals to our city. 

We are all different

A Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission

In hist pastoral letter to everyone in the diocese Bishop Paul explains the purpose of the synod which in Greek is about 'together' 'way'. ... He explains how the hope is that this will lead to 'conversations will actually help us hear the voice of God, and recognize the Word of God'.  In 2023 the Bishops will meet in Rome, they will listen to the messages that have been discerned from the conversations in their dioceses across the universal Church. There are three words which provide a focus for this synod which will be called - For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.

The diocese has received questions that invite us to: 

1) deepen our sense of communion in our parishes and diocese, as well as with the wider Catholic Church and Holy Father,

2) to affirm our baptismal dignity together with the gifts and charisms we share through our parishes, work and family life,

3) to deepen our adult formation as disciples of Christ for His Mission, building on what we received and promised in Baptism and Confirmation.  

In the coming months we will hear more about how we can get involved. To read this pastoral letter in full here is a link to Bishop Paul Swarbrick's Pastoral Letter for our Synodal Journey.