For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission

On October 9-10th in Rome Pope Francis launched the theme of the 2023 Synod of Bishops – For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.  The diocesan phase of the Synod was introduced in every parish in the Archdiocese of Armagh on October 17th.   The diocesan phase involves the largest consultation with the lay faithful ever to take place and examines what life is like in the Church at this moment in time.  How do we make decisions?  How do we create community?  How welcoming are we?  Do we provide opportunities for people to participate in the mission of the Church to bring the love of Christ into every corner of the world?

The preparatory document for the Synod included over thirty questions based around ten thematic nuclei.  Great flexibility, however, was given to each diocese to adapt the questions to their own situation. 

After discussion with the Diocesan Synodal Core Group, the Priests’ Council and with a focus group of lay faithful, the Archdiocese of Armagh has decided to circulate the following four questions for consultation in the Archdiocese of Armagh:

1. What memory or experience of the Catholic Church do you value or cherish most in your life?

2. How can our Church be a welcoming and inclusive community?

3. How can we be listened to more effectively and encouraged to participate in decision-making processes in the Church?

4. What inspires you in the life of your parish community to bring the love of Christ into the world? What discourages you?

The next step for all communities across the Archdiocese is to to bring these questions to their community by means of public in-person or online meetings, hard copy questionnaires, websites, social media, etc., and invite responses.  Consultation meetings may also be held at Pastoral Area level, within the various Religious Orders in the diocese and with other groups across the Archdiocese.

The responses should be anonymous and placed in an envelope immediately after the meeting. Please returned to the Diocesan Office, Ara Coeli, Cathedral Road, Armagh, BT61 7QY by 28th February 2022.  The envelope should be marked Universal Synod. 

A gathering of representatives of every community and group across the Archdiocese will be held sometime during March to discuss the questions and responses agreeing a representative document that will be passed on, through the Irish Episcopal Conference, to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in August 2022.