Synod 2021-2024

‘Synod’ is an ancient and venerable word in the Tradition of the Church,
whose meaning draws on the deepest themes of Revelation [...] It indicates the path along which the People of God walk together. synodality enables the entire People of God to walk forward together, listening to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, to participate in
the mission of the Church in the communion that Christ establishes between us.
It is clear that the purpose of this Synod is not to produce more documents. Rather, it is intended to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission (PD, 32).

 GLOBAL SYNOD UPDATE: THE WORKING DOCUMENT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED!  Bishops and lay delegates will gather in Rome from October 4-29, 2023. Their discussions will be based on a working document (“Instrumentum Laboris”), which is a synthesis of and reflection on the listening and prayer that has happened around the world. It should give us a good idea of the topics and areas of concern that will guide the work of the Synod delegates this fall. The text is available following at HERE. Exciting!

In a historic shift, Pope Francis allows
women to vote at bishops' meetings!

SEE THE SYNTHESIS REPORTS FROM OLG PARISH,
ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE,
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION, & THE UNITED STATES BELOW

Thank you to everyone who participated in our parish’s listening sessions for the 22-23 Synod. CLICK HERE for a summary of responses as they relate to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

SEATTLE, June 30, 2022 –Today, the Archdiocese of Seattle submitted its Synod Synthesis Report to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), officially concluding the local consultative process of Pope Francis’ global synod. The synthesis report captures feedback from nearly 1,000 online and in-person gatherings since January, involving over 11,000 people across Western Washington. The
report, which is publicly available on the Archdiocese of Seattle’s website, will now be included in a national synthesis process before a consolidated United States report is submitted to the Vatican for the October 2023 Synod of Bishops in Rome.
“Pope Francis’ vision for the synod called for the largest consultative process both in the history of the Catholic Church and the history of humankind,” said Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, who attended several local gatherings. “I’m so proud of the many thousands of people in Western Washington who led, participated and invited others to prayerful dialogue. These events were marked by prayer, heartful sharing and attentive listening. The purpose was not to determine solutions; rather to practice walking with each other as Church, to listen for the Holy Spirit and to begin to discern what God is asking of us in our time.”  ...

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All ten of the dioceses of Region XII took part in the synod. We approached the
synodal process in a variety of ways. Several dioceses incorporated the synod
discussions into ongoing strategic planning efforts. Synodal listening took place in
groups small and large, both online and in person, in parishes and missions, schools,
universities, chanceries, homes, shelters, prisons, camps for migrant workers, and
outreach centers. Each diocese made efforts to reach out to marginalized communities.
This was challenging at times, as not everyone we hoped to hear from felt safe to
participate in this effort, but the synod offers a pathway to begin to build or rebuild
relationships.
People shared their experiences, their dreams for the Church, and their concerns
with openness and courage. Participants appreciated the opportunity to share their
stories — including painful stories — without interruption, contradiction, or
apologetics. Many expressed that the process and the experience were healing and
hopeful, and desperately needed in the Church today...

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The synthesis marks the completion of the Diocesan Phase of the 2021-2024 Synod: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission: 

"Here in the U.S., the beginning of the diocesan phase of the Synod was met with a combination of excitement, confusion, and skepticism. “Several dioceses noted some apprehension and even opposition as they began their synodal listening – ranging from those who felt the process would be futile, to some who were afraid of what it would change, to clergy and parish staff who perceived it as an overwhelming task.”2 As the
Synod continued, however, “many were surprised by a level of engagement and richness that surpassed their expectations. It was frequently noted how much agreement participants found when they listened to each other.” This National Synthesis concludes the diocesan phase of the synodal process...

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