Synod 2021 – 2023
Pope Francis and the Synod office in Rome are inviting the whole Church to become Synodal.
We are invited to journey together, listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of the people we meet.
The whole ‘Synod’ will be a two-year process beginning in every diocese in October 2021 and moving on to a national then international listening exercise.
The Synod prayer, Preparatory document and the Synod Vademecum provide us with an in depth understanding of what the synod entails.
Information sessions to help us with understanding the process in Clifton are to be held in early November. These will be followed by parish meetings with specific areas for reflection during the season of Advent.
Please continue to look at this website for further updates.
As we move into the Season of Advent and our Synodal process two weekly reflections are offered to help with your planning and preparation. Weeks three and four will follow.
Advent reflections for the Synod Weeks One and Two
Below are Advent Prayers of the Faithful for the Synod
Pope Francis invites us to participate in a world-wide Synod – every person in the Church is called to respond. So that we can respond to this invitation with confidence we are offering formation in how to facilitate for those facilitating Synod Listening Conversations in the parish. If you intend to participate in one of the online Teams sessions or attend the Brockworth session, please let us know on the Eventbrite links. A Teams link can be found there for the online sessions. You can also email synod@cliftondiocese.com.
Synod Facilitation Training Sessions
Saturday 27 November, 10am-12noon: St Patrick, Brockworth:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/synod-facilitation-training-session-brockworth-tickets-209146251067
Monday 29 November, 7pm-8.30pm: Online Teams sessions
Tuesday 30 November, 7pm-8.30pm: Online Teams sessions
please let us know at the synod@cliftondiocese.com email address so that we can send a Teams invite a few days before the event.
Synod listening sessions poster
The documents below are the Delegates’ Guide to Synodal Pathway. They are for clergy, parish representatives and those organising the synodal pathway. Videos for the information day can be found below.
Delegates Guide to Synodal Pathway
For a Synodal Church – Facilitator’s Guide
Interactive Listening Activities
Participants Guide for Group Sessions
Questions Communion Participation Mission
Recorder notes Recording and Submitting Data
Bishop Declan welcome’s the Synod process
The next two years in the life of the Church
what exactly is synodality and what does it mean for Catholics in England and Wales? Fr Chris Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and Father Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission, discuss the process and explain this invitation to communion, participation and mission.
Bishop Declan introduces the information day
Fr Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission and National Ecumenical Officer at Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Sarah Adams, Adult education and evangelisation department
Journeying Together Information Session
Pope Francis invites us to participate in a world-wide Synod – every person in the Church is called to respond. So that we can respond to this invitation with confidence we are offering another preparation session on 12 January in how to facilitate for those facilitating Synod Listening Conversations in the parish. If you intend to participate in this online Teams session, please register on the Eventbrite links. A Teams link can be found there for the online sessions. You can also email synod@cliftondiocese.com.
Synod Facilitation Training Session:
Wednesday 12 January, 7pm-8.30pm: Online Teams session
