New Resource: ‘A Feast for All Peoples’ for small groups
We are pleased to announce a new resource from the School for Synodality called ‘A Feast for All Peoples’, offering a way to engage with the Final Document in order to support small groups and parishes in their journey of conversion and renewal, and with a foreword by Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe O.P.
In 2021, Pope Francis announced a ‘Synod on Synodality’ – an opportunity for the whole Church to take part in a conversation about our life and mission. From initial group meetings in parishes to two Assembly meetings in Rome, the process engaged people in all stages of life around the world. A ‘Final Document’ was produced by the Second Assembly in October 2024, and was taken into the teaching of the Church by the Pope that year.
In a rapidly changing, hurting and polarising world, we are called to be prophetic voices, recognising the Lord in unlikely places. Our feast is for all peoples, as Jesus breaks bread with us, and asks us in turn to feed his sheep. Pope Leo urges us to be bridge-builders and peace-makers. Our task now is to become that synodal church, learning together how to take processes of listening, speaking and discerning the Holy Spirit into the everyday life of our communities.
This resource introduces five key passages of the Final Document for small groups to engage in community reflection and renewal, purposed towards communion, participation and mission. As well as reading parts of the Final Document, these sessions will help you become familiar with some of the practices of synodality. In these noisy times, it’s good to practice silence, listening and discernment, to help move us beyond a discussion group to a faith-filled small community.
Intended as a resource for small groups to discover over 5 weeks, each session has a pattern of opening prayer, scriptural reflection, and a conversation on a specific passage from the Final Document. The themes include the basics of synodality, how it can be a spiritual practice, used as a tool for mission, understanding discernment and more. There’s also a practical ‘next steps’ section, plus a very useful jargon buster.
The production of ‘A Feast for All Peoples’ has been a collaboration between the School for Synodality and the Agency for Evangelisation in the Diocese of Westminster.