In September 2021, Pope Francis invited Catholics worldwide to take part the Synod on Synodality, a two-year process of discussion and reflection in preparation for a meeting of the Synod of Bishops to take place in October 2023. This process begins with a parish phrase, then a diocesan phase followed by a national phase, regional phase concluding with the meeting in Rome. 

Our Parish began its parish phrase with a Mass Sunday, November 21, 2021. The theme for all parishes is: "Journeying Together: Communion, Participation and Mission." Synod is Greek for "walking together on the same path." A synod is a process in which the Church discerns a particular issue. Since becoming pontiff, Pope Francis has held synods on the family (2014), youth (2018) and the Pan-Amazon region (2019). 

The Synod 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 heal wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlightne minds, warm hearts, and restore strenth to our handsfor our common missions. (Synod preparatory document, 32)

The three touchstones of the process:

• Communion — unity amid diversity, which finds its deepest roots in the love and unity of the Blessed Trinity.
• Participation — builds on communion and seeks the involvement of everyone in this process of deep, respectful listening to each other.
• Mission — Then once we have a shared sense of direction, the Holy Spirit leads us forth to share the love of God with the whole human family, and especially “those who live on the spiritual, social, economic, political, geographical and existential peripheries of our world.”

Click here to go to the official Vatican website on the Synod 2021-2023.