Mere days from the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, a sentiment expressed by an African prelate at the first gathering in 2023 lingers with Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) President Bishop William McGrattan.

“He said ‘it’s better to take smaller steps with a larger number of people than larger steps with fewer people,’ ” the Bishop of Calgary told The Catholic Register.

To McGrattan, the piece of advice struck a chord in one sense because it intermingled spirituality and practicality. Equally impactful was the disposition in which his brother bishop delivered his insight.

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“It wasn't done out of exasperation,” said McGrattan. “It was done out of a deep love for the Church and just wanting us to be attentive. Should we be going a little slower, maybe having more time to discuss this with a greater number of people than just quickly making decisions and having less people aware of and concerned or involved in the path forward?”

While understanding that time and patience are required for the synodal process to bear transformative fruit, McGrattan and his fellow 367 delegates will strive to take some smaller steps forward from Oct. 2 to 27.

Including McGrattan, there are a number of Canadians with voting privileges during the general assembly. Bishops joining McGrattan are Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver, Auxiliary Bishop Alain Faubert of Montreal and Quebec Auxiliary Bishop Marc Pelchat. Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, will attend in his role as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Quebec City's Cardinal Gérald Lacroix is also slated to return as he served on the Synod on Synodality’s Ordinary Council, the group tasked with organizing the general assembly.

The four non-bishop Canadian voters are Sami Aoun, a Université de Sherbrooke professor emeritus; Sr. Chantal Desmarais of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary; Catherine E. Clifford, a Saint Paul University systematic and historical theology professor; and Linda Staudt, a former London District Catholic School Board director.

Fr. Raymond Lafontaine of Montreal, Fr. Gilles Routhier of Quebec and Sr. Laurence Loubières, XMCJ, director of the Service for Discernment in Common on behalf of the Jesuits of Canada, have all been selected as non-voting theological experts and conversation facilitators.

McGrattan became more well-versed with the Instrumentum Laboris, the written working document for the second session, in synod-centred discussions at the recent CCCB Plenary Assembly in Beaupré, Que.

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The “conversations in the Spirit” due to take place are not expected to touch on controversial social issues such as ministering to LGBT Catholics or allowing women deacons. Inspired by work completed by 10 study groups examining various synodal themes, there is expected to be extensive deliberation about stimulating and enriching the spiritual gifts of the laity.

Regarding lay Catholics, McGrattan is aware there are congregants skeptical of the Synod on Synodality while others have thus far deemed this journey opaque.

“We have to understand that sometimes individuals and also maybe groups within the local Church need more time to sort of appreciate and understand,” said McGrattan. “The responsibility of the bishop is to be educating, talking, sharing and giving insights into what is the synodal process, what are the principles and how does conversation in the Spirit work.”

McGrattan added it will help show churchgoers examples of how the synodal process is already at work in their local house of worship. He said parishes with a strong spirit of co-responsibility, delegation and communal discernment are exhibiting positive vital signs.

One of the standout seedlings in McGrattan’s view of the synodal process moving forward in Canada is the National Online Gathering for Priests video conference in August. Nearly 100 priests openly shared their hopes, successes and trepidations related to synodality.

Following that meeting, Lafontaine told The Register attendees spoke about the urgent need for the Church and faith “to break through the perception of decline and negativity” so Catholics feel empowered to evangelize and use their gifts to the fullest.

McGrattan concurred by alluding to Matthew 5:15: “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.”

“Maybe our culture wants us to sort of, you know, not be seen in that positive light, as a contribution to the broader society of Canada," he said. "Yes, we have a responsibility to speak out and witness to many of the social and moral issues we know need to be addressed and need to be seen as important and not something that defines us.

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“At the same time, we as a Church have a responsibility to take on that prophetic role. I think oftentimes maybe society will try and in a sense devalue that role of the Church. I think we're moving beyond that.”

At the end of the 2024 assembly, all work completed will be submitted to Pope Francis.