Pope Francis has asked every one of the People of God to let him know how things are for them in the Church. He believes we are all trying to journey together through life, finding ways to communicate the fundamental message of Jesus, to love one another, in how we live our lives and in our words. That is the meaning of the word “Synodal” - it means “journeying together”.
He has asked the Bishops of the world to ask you and then tell him. You can do this with other people in your parish; tell Bishop Ralph what you think between October 2021 to 7 March 2022.
Your parish will hold meetings so you can think together about what important things you need to say.
Bishop Ralph will collect your thoughts and take them to a meeting of the bishops of England and Wales. Some of our bishops will gather in Rome for a Synod (meeting) in 2023 to listen to what you are saying about our journeying together. Following this Pope Francis will write to the whole Church reflecting what has been discerned from this process.
The question Pope Francis is asking you to pray, listen and discern is this:
“How does this “journeying together” take place today on different levels (from the local to the universal one), allowing the Church to proclaim the Gospel?”
Leading to a Diocesan Pre-Synod Celebration Meeting
The Diocesan Pre-Synod Meeting is a big get-together to pray, to hear what's been happening with the synod process in the diocese, and to hear what will be sent to Bishop Ralph as a record of our discussions.
The meeting will be on 26 March 10.30-2.30 at St Peter-in-Chains, Doncaster, and on-line.
Programme
Prayer, scripture reflection, sharing
Responses from across the diocese
Small groups, to reflect and discuss the responses
Shared lunch and liturgy
