Sign up to take this workshop
Now that the four-year synodal process is completed, it is time for the everyone in the global Church to live out what we have discerned together: how to become a renewed and vibrant community where all people have a voice in the decision-making of their community and the clergy and lay people live the Gospel mission together. If your parish or community struggles to engage all its members and to build relationships with others, imagine it being rejuvenated by respectful dialogue and genuine encounter. And if you are already part of a vibrant parish or community, consider what would happen if more and more people were invited into creating and carrying out a mission and vision they discerned together.
How to Become a Synodal Parish: Sign up to take this workshop
“How to Become a Synodal Parish: Level 100 Context and Practices will be offered in two parts – each part being offered twice to accommodate the differing time zones globally. Each part will last for two and a half hours. The dates and times are shown below.
The program is interactive being offered by Bernadette Rudolph, program director at the Cranaleith Spiritual Center; please plan to attend in person if possible. Afterall, we are building a faith community! However, it will also be recorded if you want to go back and relisten or catch parts you may have missed. Bernadette will offer it again so, if you are too busy now, keep your eye out for future offerings. The cost is $65 for the combined sessions. Scholarships are available if needed.
If you are part of a leadership or ministry team in a parish or would like to be, and if you are interested in bringing synodality to your own community, you are encouraged to register. To find the times for you in your locale, click on Our Universal Calendar and scroll down to the specified dates.
Are you aware that Pope Francis has set the entire Church on a four-year journey to become a more synodal Church? What does that mean and why should you care? In a synodal Church, we become a people characterized by participation, communion and mission. Everyone has a voice because we acknowledge that the Holy Spirit lives in each person. Everyone has gifts to offer the whole. We walk together as disciples on The Way of Jesus – not on separate journeys or even similar journeys, but one journey as God’s people.
Being synodal matters when we have decisions to make. It matters as we figure out how the Church should approach the world and handle our problems. It matters as we imagine our future. God is with us and has a plan. A synodal Church can receive it and bring it to life – together. Jesus consistently rooted his ministry in prayer and encounter; synodality calls us to do the same. This journey is lifelong.
How can you and your parish join in?
If you are part of a leadership or ministry team in a parish or would like to be, you and your team could grow through this workshop into a team equipped to bring synodality to life for the people you serve and to participate in the dreams God has for you and the Church.
At the end of this workshop, your team will be able to:
- Practice spiritual discernment – of God as real in your life, of the Holy Spirit working in and through you; of the Holy Spirit working in and through others.
- Understand and practice elements of synodality – story telling, deep and active listening, dialogue, spiritual and communal discernment, co-responsibility.
- Identify possible places where you could bring what you’ve learned back to your parish community.
What people are saying about “How to Become a Synodal Parish”
- This was a positive experience that gave me language to communicate more effectively about why this synodal process is so important and transformative for the church.
- Calling on the Spirit in our conversation reduces our anxiety and allows us to listen.
- The program was fully on point, with just the right pace and balance of input and engagement.
- Moving from scoffing into an attitude of positive doing.
- We had great connections, and we could take the courses at home. Very good use of remote learning. • We were given good tools. We will have to put them into practice and come back for more help