Resources
Final Report for the 2024 Synod
The 52-page document, which was approved by 355 synod members in attendance, outlines the proposals reached by consensus for Church renewal.
Vaticanelle
VATICANELLE is a parody with seven Women bishops and Pope Sister Martha in a Synod of Bishops discussing if men could be ordained. After a long discussion a clear decision is made:
Ad Experimentum suitable men will be ordained as priests and deacons in those communities that wish to take this opportunity.
The motion is approved by a vote 6 – 2.
Exploring the Roles and Responsibilities of Women in a Synodal Church
In this moment of deep reflection and transformation for the Church, you are invited to actively engage in this important event designed to amplify the voices of women in the synodal journey. This webinar will bring together a group of inspiring speakers many of whom...
The Holy Shakeup Comes to Rome
Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP ordained three priests: Belen Repiso Carrillo from Spain, and Anne Malloy La Tour and Mary Katherine Daniels from the United States and t hree deacons Loan Rocher from France, and Maria Teresa Ribeiro Rosa and Txus Garcia Pascual from Spain on the Dram, a boat, anchored on the Tiber River.
Reports from the Ground in Rome
The highlight of the presentations during the We Are Church Int’l meetings was Vaticanelle – parady play of an all female hierarchy weighing the requests from men to be accepted into the prieshood.
Meetings Too!
The meetings were led by Colm Holmes and Martha Heizer and included We are Church Germany, Austria, Italy, Ireland, UK, Scotland, Pakistan, and U.S. among others.
Becoming a Synodal Church
It is our hope that Synod delegates will be emboldened by the Gospel to advocate for women’s equality and gender equity so that a path toward credible synodality can be initiated at this Synod with the urgency it requires. Guided by the Holy Spirit, may it be so.
Oceana Continental Report
Synodality is alive and well in Oceana.
People appreciated the opportunity to be heard and took seriously their call to share roles and act co-responsibly, and the opportunity to review existing structures.
There is a strong sense of the church being a vehicle for empowerment of peoples to address critical issues and improve the well-being of all.
Report on the Empowerment of Local Church Communities
The 2023 Synthesis Report encourages more involvement of the laity and the entire community in discernment and decision making within their own community. To further explore this topic, this was a panel presentation on just three of the ways for the laity to participate in the decision-making in their community and sharing best practices where this is already being implemented.
Latin American Continental Report
We have been gifted with information from three prominent Latin American reformers involved in Church and societal reform: Fr. Peter Hughes, Birgit Weiller, MM, and Olga Consuelo Vélez. It is important to note that 40% of the world’s Catholics live in Latin America.
North American Continental Pre-synod Session
There must be openness to listen to all our fellow pilgrims on this journey and to all topics of concern for our Church to be truly synodal. When one holds sacred space to truly listen, one affirms and validates others for who they are. This builds the trust needed for the marginalized (women, LGBTQ+, divorced & remarried, etc.) to respond to the invitation to speak