Synod for a Synodal Church

Communion, Participation, Mission

Background

On Oct. 10, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica for the solemn opening of the Synod of Bishops, which is taking place in three stages over the next two years (Oct. 2021-April 2023). We are participating along with the other Diocese across the world in this very important undertaking in Church history. 

It is the Holy Father’s prayer is that through this synodal process of gathering together to prayerfully listen, reflect, and share dialogue on our lived experiences as Pilgrim People, the Church will discern “..which processes can help Her to live communion, to achieve participation, to open Herself to mission.” (PD 1) 

The fundamental question our Holy Father is asking us, as People of God, to consider is as follows:

“A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, ‘journeys together.’ How is this ‘journeying together’ happening today in your local Church? What steps does the Spirit invite us to take to grow in ‘journeying together’?” (PD 27)

What is a Synod?

The question the world is asking is “What is a synod?” The answer, simply put, is the Church journeying together. Quite literally, Synod comes from two words meaning “way” and “together.” The church since her very beginning established the practice of coming together at various levels to make decisions on important matters.

Pope Francis is asking us (laity, religious, deacons, priests, and bishops) to gather as the early church did to describe and discern the movements of the Holy Spirit in the Church today. By gathering together to prayerfully reflect, listen, share, and dialogue, we seek to understand how we are journeying together and discern how we can do it better. 

What are we doing locally?

• February 10 – St. Louis’ Parish at 6:30pm
• February 10 – St. Mary’s Parish in Jackson at 6:30pm
• February 17 – St. Patrick’s Parish at 6:30pm
• February 17 – Holy Angels Parish in Dyersburg at 6:30pm. BILINGUAL
• February 17 – St. Philip Parish at 6:00pm
• February 22 – St. Jude Parish in Martin 6:15pm SPANISH ONLY
• February 24 – Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish at 6:30pm
• February 24 – Immaculate Conception Parish in Union City at 6:00pm
• March 10 – Church of the Ascension 6:30pm SPANISH ONLY
• March 24 – Church of the Incarnation 6:30pm
• March 24 – St. Augustine Parish – 6:30pm
• March 17-31 – Online Self-Guided Payer and Discernment Session – See the link below.

Please click on the link to register for a Prayer and Discernment Session Register here

Please click on the link to start the Online Self-Guided Prayer and Discernment Session Click here for Online Prayer Session

The Diocese of Memphis will be holding Prayer and Discernment Sessions to support the work of the Synod throughout all of West Tennessee. These sessions begin in February 2022 and will last through March. Click on the “Register here” link above for details.

Where can I learn more?

Check out these links for more information about the Synod for a Synodal Church:

• Preparatory Document
• Diocese of Memphis Mass to Open the Synod 
• Pope Francis’ 2015 address on synodality
• The International Theological Commission’s 2018 document on synodality
• Read the Pope’s address on the Synod delivered on Sept. 18, 2021
• Learn more about the timeline and intentions for the Synod in this presentation (PDF)
• Explanation of Synod Process courtesy of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Who are your Diocesan Synod Team Leaders?

Sam Mauck, Diocesan Contact

Irma Hernandez, Catholic Church of the Ascension

Kelley Henderson, St. Peter Catholic Church

Sr. Mary Lawrence Wright, St. Paul Church and School

Ron Redwing, St. Augustine Catholic Church

Yissel Carroll, St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church

Kiki Hall, St. Michael Catholic Church

Who can I contact?

Contact Sam Mauck, Diocesan Contact for the Synod for a Synodal Church at synod@cc.cdom.org