As the Synod of Bishops’ second assembly continues in Rome, 14 Australian participants are making important contributions to shaping the future of the Church, particularly in the context of synodality—a process of listening, discernment and communal journeying. The month-long second assembly of the Synod of Bishops aims to deepen the Church’s understanding of how to live synodality in every aspect of Church life.
The synod process began in October 2021, when Catholics worldwide were invited to reflect on what it means to be a synodal Church and provide their views on priority issues. This extensive consultation process informed discussions during the first session of the synod in 2023, culminating in a ‘synthesis report’.
The second session, currently underway, is tasked with continuing this discernment and offering a final document to Pope Francis for implementation. Discussions at the second session are being guided by a document known as the Instrumentum laboris, which summarises the ‘fruit’ of the consultation so far.
The Australian delegation, led by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Archbishop of Perth, brings with it the unique experiences of the Australian Church. Speaking before the synod’s opening retreat, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration, observing that the whole Church is being called to walk the synodal path in a way that ‘sustains, supports and encourages each other’.
Whatever the outcomes, they will be offered to the Holy Father in a spirit of freedom and trust.
Archbishop Costelloe said there was a fundamental question behind the synod. ‘How can I, in the concrete reality of my own life and circumstances, play my part in keeping alive and effective the presence of Jesus Christ in that part of the world and Church in which I find myself?’ he said.
‘And because each Christian, and certainly each Catholic Christian, is by very definition a member of the Church which is the community of the disciples of Christ, the question really becomes a “we” question rather than an “I” question.’
The synod’s outcomes, he said, were in no way predetermined. ‘It is important to stress that, whatever the outcomes, they will be offered to the Holy Father in a spirit of freedom and trust, fully respecting the right and duty of the Holy Father to make whatever decisions he believes are right and proper for the good of the Church at this time as it seeks to be faithful to its Lord.’
Australia’s synodal journey has been deeply shaped by its own Plenary Council, held between 2021 and 2022. The outcomes of this national process have informed Australia’s contributions to the global synod. Synod of Bishops national coordinator Dr Trudy Dantis noted that much had been learned about synodality and its implications for the Church’s mission.
For the Australian Church, this is an opportunity to build on the outcomes of the Plenary Council and the synodal journey we have been on.
‘The second assembly will allow us to expand our understanding while also learning how to implement some of these practices in our local churches,’ Dr Dantis said.
‘For the Australian Church, this is an opportunity to build on the outcomes of the Plenary Council and the synodal journey we have been on.
‘It’s a time for us to learn about and celebrate our unique roles as baptised people of God, both lay and ordained alike, to implant synodal practices into our ways of working at all levels in the Church, and to enhance mutual cooperation and co-responsibility in bringing the Good News to all.’
Ahead of the opening of the synod, the Australian delegation joined other synod members and participants for a two-day retreat in Rome.
Preaching at a Mass for the memorial of St Jerome on 1 October—the second day of the retreat—Archbishop Costelloe emphasised the centrality of relationship and community to questions of how to live out synodality in the Church.
‘Our experience of the synodal journey has confirmed for us this profound truth—that in the creative design of God we are made for each other, that we are meant to depend on each other, and that it is in and through our relationships that we come to be the people God has created us to be’ he said.
‘Our engaging in the “conversations in the Spirit” has opened our eyes to the possibilities which deep, respectful and unhurried attention to the other holds for us all. These are precious gifts for the whole Church.’
Catholics around Australia are asked to pray that the continuing journey of the faithful together in the synod be a time of grace and that active listening, dialogue and discernment strengthen the dynamic relationships between the People of God and the Risen Lord.
Banner image: Australian delegates Ms Kelly Paget (front centre), Dr Trudy Dantis (front right) and Bishop of Sandhurst Shane Mackinlay (back right) at the synod retreat in Rome.
All photos courtesy of Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC).