What is synodality? Synodality means the Church, as the “People of God,” journeying and working
together, expressing communion through listening, dialogue, and shared discernment, guided by the Holy Spirit, to fulfil its mission. It’s a participatory style of being church, involving bishops, clergy, and laity in decision-making and spiritual renewal, emphasizing walking together and hearing each other’s voices.
In October 2024 the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops approved the Final Document (FD) “For a Synodal Church: Communion, participation, Mission.” This was the fruit of two years of discussion and discernment on the nature of synodality and its role in the Church. In June of 2025 the General Secretariat of the Synod produced a document entitled “Pathways for the implementation phase of the Synod” in which the universal Church was asked to reflect on the ways in which synodality is currently being lived out in their own local churches and in what new ways the Church may called to live synodality in the future.
The Church here in Johannesburg will gather on the 18th and 19th of September to discuss three central areas that have emerged as important during our synodal journeying: spirituality, governance and mission. Each
parish will be represented by their parish priest and the chairpersons of the PPC, PFC and PYF. Before then, each parish has been asked to hold listening circles on each of those themes and to provide feedback to the Archdiocese.
This is so that each one of us has the opportunity to share the fruits of our own prayerful reflection on each theme.
There are three dates I would like you to diarise:
♰ Sunday, 24th May;
♰ Sunday, 28th June; &
♰ Sunday, 19th July.
We will have parish listening circles on these three days, from 10h30 to 12h00. You are invited to participate and contribute to the Synodal journey that the Church is on. We pray that the Holy Spirit will be with us, to bless us with wisdom and guidance.
