We are the Body of Christ, sharers—whether lay or ordained—in a common baptism. All have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our oneness as Christ’s Body is celebrated, manifested, and deepened when we gather for Eucharist. We are in this together, not as isolated individuals or as ideological “camps.”
We are to be humble in listening and courageous in speaking, open to conversion and change. Dialogue and discernment (not power struggles and partisanship) are to be the order of the day. And that dialogue needs to include others with whom we share a common baptism, those of other faiths or no faith at all, and, especially, those on the margins, whose voices are rarely heard.
We are a Pilgrim People, a people of joy and hope, a Church on “the Way.”
....Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.
Thank you for your contributions to this process. We will benefit from these efforts for years to come. The next step of the process is the regional synthesis. Bishop Zinkula is leading the Region IX (Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas) synthesis process, which is to be complete by July 22. A national synthesis process will follow.
The Church is gathering around this question: 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 in order to grow in our “journeying together?”
The Church on the Way: Pray for a Synodal Church
Pope Francis
Timeline
Synodal Spirituality: The Wisdom of Catholic Spiritual Traditions
Resources from the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops
Letter to priests about the synodal journey (English) (Spanish)
Discerning Deacons
Video: From the Margins to the Center (A Webinar on LGBTQ Catholics & Synodality)
Newsletter:
The Pentecost Vigil Project
Webpage
Facebook Page
Catholic Climate Covenant
Webinar: "Together in the Journey: The Synod, the Laudato Si' Action Platform and the Eucharistic Revival"
Catholic Mobilizing Network
Webinar: "Five Lessons from Restorative Practices for the Synod on Synodality"