What distinguishes a parish that embraces synodality?

Gary Warner, chair of the laity movement Concerned Lay Catholics, said the churches that embrace the process modelled at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2023 and 2024 will, in the forthcoming years, cultivate dynamic congregational participation and leadership.

“My hope is that every Catholic parish in Canada will participate in the contemplative listening in the spirit and that we will begin to see the seeds of the (Synod’s) final report take shape,” said Warner. “It will take shape, for example, in parish committees and diocesan councils being considered or put into place where they previously did not exist.

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“We’ll also see (the seeds) when the laity, in particular people who previously took the position that they would sit back and wait for instructions, begin to evolve out of that mentality.”

Instead of instinctually feeling too apprehensive about proposing bold, out-of-the-box ideas, members of a synodal church will feel inspired to pitch new programs and initiatives with gusto.  

A four-day gathering at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ont., from June 15-18 — Journey of Encounter: Pilgrims of Hope Embracing Synodality — is poised to shed light on how to manifest Warner's vision.

Concerned Lay Catholics is hosting this in-person-only synodal gathering in partnership with Canadian delegates who participated in the general assembly as a voting delegate or facilitator, and a steering committee composed of clerical and lay Catholic leaders.

Participants will experience an opening retreat guided by Greg Kennedy, executive director of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ont.

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“The conversations in the spirit, (the Jesuits) are pioneers of that (method),” said Warner. “We think that the retreat follows the model of Synod on Synodality. The retreat will occur on Sunday evening and go into Monday morning, and that provides some idea on how critical it is to set the pace.”

The crux of the summit will be devoted to various participants sharing their input and personal stories about synodality, and the whole assemblage completing four “circle conversations.” This format of discussion, rooted in Indigenous tradition, invites each person to openly share their ideas as only they may speak when they hold the designated object passed around the circle as others engage in active listening.

Warner, a professor emeritus at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., hopes this “concrete expression of bringing people together” will noticeably contribute to the “little ripples” of synodality spreading around the world.

Organizers hope Bishop Alain Faubert of Valleyfield, Que., will be a key voice at these proceedings. Faubert, who serves on the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, has been tasked by Rome to play a key role in helping implement the proposals outlined in the Final Document of the 16th General Assembly. The 60-year-old will also help organize an ecclesial assembly at the Vatican in 2028 to evaluate how the worldwide Catholic community is integrating synodality daily into the Church.

Warner was pleased Pope Francis approved an assembly for 2028.

“When laying out the implementation steps you need to have some process for reflecting, evaluating, seeing and understanding what progress has been made,” said Warner. “What are the stumbling blocks? What are the barriers? What are the things that we need to rethink? What are the things that are working very well?

“The 2028 date signifies to me that we're taking this seriously. October 2024 was not the end of the process — it was a launching pad.”

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Canadian delegates to the Synod and attendees confirmed to play a key role at the gathering at St. Jerome's include University of St. Paul professor Catherine Clifford, Fr. Raymond Lafontaine of the Archdiocese of Montreal, and author Michael Higgins.

To learn more about the event, visit synodalchurch.ca.