On Sunday, Pope Francis will solemnly open the process that will result in the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2023. The theme for that assembly is “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”
The word synod, derived from the Greek sunodos (sun – “together” and hodos – “way”) denotes a gathering or meeting. In the fourth session of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Saint Paul VI announced that he would establish “a special council of bishops … to make ever greater use of the bishops’ assistance in providing for the good of the Universal Church.” As such, the Synod of Bishops is an advisory body to the Holy Father who alone decides how to implement any recommendations of the synod. This will be the 16th meeting of General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which ordinarily meets every three years. In addition, there have been three extraordinary general assemblies, called for matters immediately pertinent to the Universal Church, and 11 special general assemblies, called to discuss matters important to a region with the Church.
Pope Francis set the theme for the upcoming synod, “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission,” to elicit consultation beyond the sphere of the bishops. He has invited every parish in the world to reflect on the synodal nature of the Church and to provide feedback that will ultimately be discussed at the General Assembly in October 2023. The Holy Father believes that Catholics need to walk together and reflect together on their journey of faith. “Our “journeying together” is, in fact, what most effectively enacts and manifests the nature of the Church as the pilgrim and missionary People of God.” (Preparatory Document #1).
In the Diocese of Camden, preparations for our participation in the synod have been ongoing since June. Bishop Sullivan, as requested by the Holy Father, will open the synod process on Sunday, Oct. 17, with a 3 p.m. Mass at Saint Agnes Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood. Pastors have been asked to appoint four lay delegates from their parish. These delegates will have the responsibility of gathering groups of parishioners (from Oct. 18 to Nov. 30) to discuss the synod document and its questionnaire. In addition, they will complete an online response to the synod questionnaire for their parish by Dec. 8. They will also represent their parish at deanery-level meetings in February 2022 with the purpose of synthesizing the responses of the parishes. Other groups in the Diocese, including the priests and deacons, will be asked to gather to provide their input on the questionnaire. The official response of the Diocese will be submitted to Washington by Bishop Sullivan no later than April 1.
The Holy See will review the responses from dioceses around the world and create a first instrumentum laboris (working document), which will be published and sent to all dioceses. In the fall of next year, there will be a national gathering, not yet defined, to discuss the “working document” and provide feedback to Rome. A second instrumentum laboris will be published, and that document will be discussed by those who gather for the General Assembly in Rome during the month of October 2023.
I encourage you to participate in a synod session at your parish or to form your own discussion group (if you need a facilitator please contact my office). Sharing your experience of Church may offer you clarity while also deepening the faith of another. It is hoped that this worldwide consultation of the faithful through “listening and discernment will constitute its contribution to the journey of the universal Church.” (Preparatory Document #32)
The preparatory document can be found at synod.va/en/documents/english-version-of-the-preparatory-document.html.
Father Robert E. Hughes is vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Camden.
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