Join with us as we share our reflections with the synod delegates prior to their arriving in Rome. The reports of each event will be sent to the voting delegates before they arrive in Rome to join with Pope Francis. Since they are there to represent all of us at the 2nd Assembly of the Synod at the Vatican, our goal in these reports is to provide them with concrete suggestions that we – members of church reform communities – want to have included in their roundtable discussions: practical, detailed ideas for how we can all take steps to become more co-responsible members of our communities.
These reports will also be sent directly to Cardinal Grech who has assured us of his commitment to read our reports. It is his desire to include all of us in this synodal process. By holding these pre-synodal online events, we have an opportunity to plant seeds in the minds and hearts of the delegates and the Synod office leaders.
We invite you to join any or all of these online gatherings with the intent to listen, to learn, and to contribute your reflections as we grow together in becoming more synodal communities – clergy and laity walking together as we move our Church forward.
To reach everyone globally, two events will be held each day: one live and one recorded.
Wednesday, September 11: Selection of Church Leadership
Saturday, September 14: African Continental presentation
Monday, September 16: North American Continental presentation
Wednesday, September 18: Oceana Continental presentation
Saturday, September 21: Latin American Continental presentation
Tuesday, September 24: Empowerment of Local Church Communities
Saturday, September 28: ACTA National Conference with ICRN
Selection of Church Leadership Presentation
Wednesday, September 11
As part of the series of online international presentations being hosted by global reform leaders, this will be a panel presentation on Wednesday, September 11 live [noon e.s.t.] and recorded [8:00 e.s.t.] facilitated by Frank Callus, ICRN on how bishops are currently appointed in the Church and why it isn’t working [Margaret Mary Moore, CCRI); how this process could be improved to be made more synodal with the people having a voice in the selection process [Dr. Luca Badini, Wijngaards Institute], and how this is currently done in the Episcopal Church [Patrick Carolyn, Catholics for Common Good]. There will be time for Q&A and breakout room discussions about how to implement a more synodal process involving all the people in the selection of our bishops and pastors.
Use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83175835373?pwd=wUMnyCv6xF7hPaZv8MZBclNaYVB9cx.1.
The password is spirit.
All are welcome.
To find the time for these events in your locale click on Our Universal Calendar.
African Continental Presentation
Saturday, September 14
As part of the series of online international presentations being hosted by global reform leaders, Africa will have a live panel discussion on Saturday, September 14 [11:00 e.s.t.] and again recorded [8:00 e.s.t.] with representatives from two African organizations. All are welcome to learn what reform movements are happening in this part of the world. Q&A followed by breakout room discussions.
African Synodality Initiative with Andrew Kaufa and Leocadie Lushombo
Young Adult Seekers with Mary Wahome and Alloys Nyakundi
The African Continental Link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83175835373?pwd=wUMnyCv6xF7hPaZv8MZBclNaYVB9cx.1
The password is spirit. All are welcome.
To see the times in each locale, click on Our Universal Calendar.
North American Continental Presentation
Monday, September 16
As part of the series of online international presentations being hosted by global reform leaders, North America will have a live online presentation on September 16 [2:00 p.m. eastern] and a recorded presentation [8:00 p.m. eastern] in cooperation with other geographical regions of the world. Panelists include Future Church, Assoc. of US Catholic Priests, DignityUSA, Concerned Lay Catholics of Canada, Catholics for Choice, Canadians for Women’s Equality (CNWE), and the Association of Women Catholic Priests (recorded). Join to learn about the reform movement in this part of the world. All are welcome.
Sign on is https://zoom.us/j/2429500175 and password is spirit.
To find the time for these events in your locale, click on Our Universal Calendar.
Oceana Continental Presentation
Wednesday, September 18
As part of the series of online international presentations being hosted by global reform leaders, Oceana will have an online presentation on Wednesday, Sept. 18 [5:30 pm AEST] and recorded for the rest of the world [noon e.s.t.] hosted by Garrett Publishing on behalf of ACCCR. In their presentation, they will hear from the following panelists:
New Zealand: Manuel Beazley, Vicar of Maori for Auckland Diocese and an official Delegate for the Synod in Rome
Pacific Islands: Dr Susan Sela, of USP Suva, who was at the Continental gathering at Suva Feb 2023 and part of the writing committee for the Oceania Continental response on Synodality
PNG/SI: Fr Victor Roche svd, spokesperson on Synodality
Australia: Kelly Paget of the Diocese of Broken Bay, also a Delegate of the General Synod in Rome.
They will address: What does ‘becoming a synodal church’ mean in their particular regions, what are the obstacles and challenges, what are the opportunities, and how is it already happening in their region?
To register, click here. All are welcome.
To find the time for these events in your locale click on Our Universal Calendar.
Latin American Continental Presentation
Saturday, September 21
As part of the series of online international presentations being hosted by global reform leaders, Latin America will hold an oline presentation on September 21 live [noon e.s.t.] and recorded [8:00 p.m. e.s.t.] hosted by Charlie Gibson (CCRI). Panelists include Pedro Hughes from Peru who will address Latin American’s general reaction to the Synod and how they are carrying it out. Olga Lucia Alvarez, as part the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, will address the thinking and work of progressive Catholic women in Latin America. Other potential panelists who’ve been invited include Sebastian Cozar Gavira, president of the Federation of the Latin American married priests, Birgit Weiler, an expert on women’s issues and environmental justice, and Lula Ramires, a member of the LGBTQ+ organization in Brazil.
Sign on is https://zoom.us/j/2429500175; password is spirit. All are welcome.
To see the times in each locale, click on Our Universal Calendar.
Empowerment of Local Church Communities
Tuesday, September 24
As part of the series of online international presentations being hosted by global reform leaders, this will be on Wednesday, September 25 live [noon e.s.t.] and recorded [8:00 e.s.t.] panel presentation. Picking up on the Synod’s working document encouraging more involvement of the laity and entire community, there will be a panel presentation on the various ways for the laity to participate in the decision-making in their community: serving on diocesan and parish councils with a determinable voice in decision-making; new ministries for laity to include serving not just as lectors but also as homilists [Betty Anne Donnelly]; serving as a coordinator of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in the parish [Rev. Max Stetter and Rev. Joe Healey], and more.
Sign on is https://zoom.us/j/2429500175; password is spirit. All are welcome.
To see the times in each locale, click on Our Universal Calendar.
The Practical Implications of a Synodal Church
Saturday, September 28
A Call to Action in cooperation is holding its National Conference in conjunction with the International Church Reform Network. Their guest speakers and topics are:
Believing Not Belonging
Dr Liam Hayes, Director, Centre for Ecclesial Ethics.
Margaret Beaufort Institute, University of Cambridge
A Proposed Constitution for the Catholic Church
Dr Luca Badini Confalonieri, Director of Research
Wijngaards Institute
The need to underpin pastoral council discussion with Conversations in the Spirit
Dr Catriona Fletcher, Director, Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Glasgow
To register, click here. To see both the live and recorded time schedules in each locale, click on Our Universal Calendar.
Your donations are most appreciated
YOUR GIFT – IN ANY AMOUNT – IS PRICELESS
When you make a donation to support our cause, you join with others who are investing in restoring our Church to what Jesus intended. The dollars we receive are used to run our programs and to reach a broad spectrum of the People of God. We are focused on reaching out to the Faithful, reform activists, young adults as well as those who feel abandoned by the Church, to mention just a few. Your personal contributions in offering your suggestions and your donations are most appreciated.
We have begun to genuinely join our voices together behaving as a synodal Church. Let us now stay abreast of what is happening with each stage of the Synod from now through 2024 and beyond. The real work of becoming a synodal Church is still ahead of us. It is crucial that we stay involved in the process. We will keep you informed and continue to gather online as a community.
On behalf of the CCRI steering committee,
Rene Reid
CCRI director