Welcome
Welcome to Becoming Synodal. This is a retreat for your parish or for a small church group. It is designed to introduce you to the practice of synodality, to give you opportunities to practice synodality amongst yourselves, and to develop between yourselves an atmosphere of community where synodality might flourish.
“A large, majestic tree, full of wisdom and light, reaches for the sky.”
“A sign of deep vitality and hope, it symbolises the cross of Christ. The horizontal branches, opened like hands, carries the Eucharist, which shines like the sun.”
“The branches are also outspread like wings, symbolising the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit over the whole Synodal process.”
The Format of the Becoming Synodal retreat is quite simple. It is designed to be carried out over a number of weeks. Part 1 (3-6 weeks) is about coming together to learn to be synodal. Part 2 (not yet written – you might like to contribute to that yourself – more on that later!) is about putting that synodality into practice within the local Church.
Ideally you will be able to put aside 20 minutes or more most days to explore and pray with the retreat resources, but don’t worry if you are unable to commit that amount of time. Glancing at the resources whilst you are on a bus ride or waiting for an appointment; keeping a significant phrase or question in mind whilst you are jogging or doing the household chores – these are all great ways of engaging with the retreat.
Each week has its own theme page including some Scripture, some advice from Pope Francis, some other commentary/resources on the theme, and a number of questions for you to ponder during the week. If you are especially rushed for time, then some of the resources are marked with asterisks * or * *. these are the most relevant bits for your meeting that week so best prioritise them in the time you have.
Top and tail of the pages are short liturgies for the week. You can use them on your own at the beginning and end of each day of the retreat, before and after you settle down to spend some time with the resources, or at the beginning and end of your weekly meetings together.
The weekly meetings are an adventure in a renewed way of being together – a renewed way of encountering each other within the freedom and grace and welcome of Spiritual Conversation. Join together in the opening liturgy and let yourselves be open to the Spirit. Then use the questions and the resources on the weekly theme page to share your thoughts and ideas and doubts and experiences from the previous week. Listen to each other. You may choose to have a plenary where you draw the thoughts of the whole group together. Then finish with the closing liturgy, giving thanks for all that you have shared.
There is no “end goal” to the retreat, you are not trying to reach a finishing point. It is all about the journey with each other, meeting and sharing together in a way which is safe, open and welcoming; creating a space where you can hear yourself, and where each one can be heard.
