Book Club - Reading the Final Synod Document

Reading the Final Synod Document Together -
the School for Synodality’s Online Book Club

21st May - 25th June 2025

After four weeks of listening, discerning and writing in October 2024, the final day of the Rome Synod Assembly brought a dramatic surprise from Pope Francis - that the recommendations of the Assembly would become Church teaching.  The three year listening process was over, and it was now time to get on with implementing it.

The Final Synod Document (officially ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission’) is our guide to the implementation, and while beautiful and inspiring, can be rather technical in places (episcopal conferences and Vatican dicasteries, anyone??). 

To enable us to reflect on the document in more depth, the School for Synodality is organising an online bookclub with a stellar cast of experts. Each week we will unpack a different section of the Final Synod Document, reflecting on its theological and practical implications, with time for questions afterwards. 

To watch live, register for the link for the webinars on YouTube, the dates are below. The sessions will also be available on YouTube and on our Podcast afterwards at your convenience.

The sessions are suitable for small groups or individual reflection, so why not gather a group in your parish and get inspired together?

The School for Synodality held our first series of webinars in Autumn 2023 called ‘Practising Synodality’ with guest speakers exploring a variety of topics, which you can watch here >>.  

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Part 1: The Heart of Synodality

Understanding the theological roots of what we are about 

- With Dr Jos Moons SJ

• The Heart of Synodality: Reflection Questions

  • Following Fr Jos's presentation on the theology of synodality, what particularly stood out or challenged you?

  • He described baptism as the foundation for our active participation in the church?  In what ways do you experience your baptism as gift or calling?  What might help develop this more?

  • How can we experience many different voices and perspectives as a strength and not division?

  • What is the potential for synodality to transform, challenge and heal your community?

  • As Catholics we can be a bit less familiar with the Holy Spirit.  In what ways have you felt the Holy Spirit moving in your life?  Can we all take the leap and pray: "‘Come Holy Spirit!’

  Jos Moons SJ co-wrote “'The Future of Synodality'“ with Kristin Colberg, available here ». This book offers a primer on the theological and historical origins of synodality, while offering concrete suggestions for the attitudes, structures and practices of personal and communal conversion required.

Part 2: The Conversion of Relationships

Mission and ministry in a changing world  

- With Professor Anna Rowlands

• The Conversion of Relationships: Reflection Questions

  • What really stood out for you with Anna’s description of an ‘abundance’ mindset when approaching challenges in the church? 

  • How do we help all who serve in the Church - clergy, lay ecclesial ministers, committed volunteers - to develop capacity for mature and meaningful relationships?  (with thanks for Fr Raymond LaFontaine for this question during the live Q&A!)

  • How does the second chapter of the Final Synod Document explore how we can discern and meet the mission needs in our contexts right now? 

  • Anna takes us through the differences between charisms and ministries. Reflect on current roles within your church community – are there ways you could review and renew these responsibilities? Is there space to do so? 

  • What is the potential for a synodal approach to revive or renew current structures? 

Part 3: The Conversion of Processes: Discernment, decision-making and accountability  

4th June 2025 - with guest Dr Estela Padilla

Dr Estela Padilla is a Manila-based theologian and lay woman who serves as Executive Secretary of the Office of Theological Concerns at the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), the first woman and lay member to hold this position.  She was one of the 70 lay delegates appointed to the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Dr Padilla is also a founding member of the Bukal ng Tipan organisation, which empowers local church communities through pastoral skills and leadership training towards a vision of a participatory church in the world. 

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Part 4: The Conversion of Bonds:
The geeky week exploring Vatican Dicasteries, Episcopal Conferences, relating to other churches and religions, the role of the Pope and more

 11th June 2025 - with guest Prof Cathy Clifford

Professor Cathy Clifford is Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada. Her research interests and publications are focused primarily in the areas of ecclesiology, ecumenism, and the history of the Second Vatican Council, with a particular emphasis on the understanding of conversion and renewal of the churches, the development of doctrines, and the unity and diversity of Christian communions within the world Christian movement. She was a delegate to the Rome Synod Assembly and served as an elected member of the 2024 Synod on Synodality’s drafting commission for the final document.  

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Part 5: Forming a People for Missionary Discipleship: We need everyone in the boat 

 18th June 2025 with guests David McCallum SJ and Sandra Chaoul 

Fr. David McCallum S.J. Ed.D is a Jesuit priest from the USA East province. He serves as the founding Executive Director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, a formation experience that integrates Catholic spirituality, adult learning and development, and leadership best practices. Since 2021, Fr. McCallum has worked with the Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops on the Commission on Methodology, as a member of the international group that developed the synthesis of the National and Regional Bishop’s Conferences reports at Frascati, and as an expert facilitator at the Synods in October 2023 and 2024. 

Sandra Chaoul is the lead facilitator on the English Program and serves as the Director of the Discerning Leadership International Accompaniment Network. She is an an experienced learning programs designer and facilitator, and an ICF Certified Leadership Coach. She holds a Masters in Financial Economics from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Sandra served as an expert facilitator in the Synod on Synodality in Rome for both 2023 and 2024 sessions.  

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Part 6 Conclusion: A Feast for All Peoples: What next for our Church? 

 25th June 2025 with guest Archbishop Jason Gordon

Archbishop Jason Gordon is a Trinidadian Roman Catholic prelate and the current Metropolitan Archbishop of Port of Spain since his appointment in 2017. He was the representative delegate of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) for the Synod on Synodality in October 2024. Archbishop Gordon has published a book in 2024 entitled ‘Reviving Our Caribbean Soul: A Contemplative Synodal Journey’ illustrates how the synod can give a region - often polarised along racial, ethnic, socio-economic and political lines - hope for healing and a renewed vision for communion, mission and participation.  

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Reimagining Pastoral Councils - Starter Kit

Synodality 101: Our Workshops

How do we listen to each other well? How do we step back from our own agendas to be attentive to where the Spirit is moving? How can we make better decisions about organising ourselves as Christian communities? How do we enrich our parish communal life with enriching conversations?

The Synod process has emphasised the importance of listening and good conversations in our community life. However these are not always so easy in practice! This 101: Conversations in the Spirit workshop series will introduce the principles of holding prayerful, truthful and safe conversations which value gracious listening and courageous speaking. It is suitable for all levels of experience including people who have not been involved in the Synod process so far.

 Each week there will be an opportunity to experience a Conversation in the Spirit, helping to deepen our understanding of how this tool can be used to support us in talking and listening more effectively.

After attending these workshops, we hope you will have the resources you need to hold a conversation in the spirit in your community.

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What to Expect:

• Reflect on and experience synodality

• Look at the process of Conversation in the Spirit

• Draw lessons from Jesus’ ministry on the underpinning attitudes and dispositions needed for enabling Conversations in the Spirit

• Consider the role of the facilitator

• Give options for what to do if you do not have facilitators

• Unpack the experience of the Conversation in the Spirit process

• Notice the skills needed to support people in such conversations

• Think about how to handle some tricky situations that may arise

• Experience prayer that builds on the principles of synodality

• Look at ways you might use what you are learning in your parish/group/setting

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““The small group spiritual conversations were really enriching - both from the perspective of practicing skills, but also from the experience of having a spiritual conversation with people we wouldn’t otherwise ordinarily connect with.””

— Participant in our Spring workshop series

Conversations In the Spirit - a How To Guide

‘Conversation in the Spirit’, or Spiritual Conversation, is an ancient practice of the Church and a key tool of Synodality. A prayerful method, it allows for space for the spirit as well as voices usually not heard and can be used for faith sharing, difficult conversations, or when lots of creativity or ideas are needed.

Conversation in the Spirit is a strangely practical art. It relies on good communication – being able to hear and understand one another. It can be an excellent tool to ground any conversation in the Spirit, open us to new voices and possibilities, and move us to action when appropriate.

RESOURCES

Conversations in the Spirit - methods & best practice

How to host Conversations in the Spirit - easy to follow methods, practical considerations and helpful habits to embody.

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Conversations in the Spirit - prompt cards for groups

“How shall we be together?”

We have created helpful cards that can be used to facilitate Conversations in the Spirit within your own communities.

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Conversations in the Spirit - Leading prayer in meetings

“where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them”

We can have a terrible culture of a ‘quick prayer’ at the beginning of meetings - but this is not enough to help us grow as living communities of faith. This process can help us enrich decision making meetings to be both more effective, and become encounters that help us grow as living communities of faith.

Download our step by step directions for group meetings that draw on the rich tradition of Lectio Divina.

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Four Steps to Practising Synodality

Final Synod Document - Reflection Resources

The last stage of the three year Synod journey was the creation of a Final Synod Document called ‘For a Synodal Church, Communion, Participation and Mission'.

These recommendations from the XVI Assembly have been approved by Pope Francis and taken into church teaching, and which the Pope has asked us all to implement in our countries and contexts. You can download the Final Document of the XVI Assembly, ‘For a Synodal Church, Communion, Participation and Mission' here >>.

The Final Synod Document a rich resource, beautiful but rather technical in places. Much like we might do with scripture, its possible to reflect on individual passages of the Final Document and allowing them to inspire us. Our series of reflections are an opportunity to reflect and respond alone or in groups, and we will be updating this page as we go along.

• REFLECTION ONE:

  Our first reflection concentrates on the definition of synodality. This passage from the Final Document is taken from 'Part I: The Heart of Synodality' which looks at how we are called by the Holy Spirit to conversion.

  “Oriented towards mission, synodality involves gathering at all levels of the Church for mutual listening, dialogue and community discernment.  It also involves reaching consensus as an expression of Christ rendering himself present... In simple and concise terms, synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform that enables the Church to be more participatory and missionary so that it can walk with every man and woman, radiating the light of Christ”

  - §28, Final Document

  Questions for reflection:

  • What stands out for you from this passage?  Is there a particular word or phrase that is resonating in you?

  • What are the possibilities for linking "spiritual renewal and structural reform"?

  • What possibilities does it open up for you?

• REFLECTION TWO:

  “Synodality is primarily a spiritual disposition. A synodal spirituality flows from the action of the Holy Spirit and requires listening to the Word of God, contemplation, silence and conversion of heart... A spirituality of synodality also requires asceticism, humility, patience and a willingness to forgive and be forgiven. No one can progress along the path of authentic spirituality alone; we need support, including formation and spiritual accompaniment, both as individuals and as a community.”
  - §43, Final Document

  Questions for reflection:

  • What does it mean to think about synodality as 'primarily a spiritual disposition'?  What changes does this require for our Catholic life together?

  • In a world that rewards loud voices and polarising opinions, how practically can we cultivate 'humility, patience and a willingness to forgive and be forgiven'?

  • The passage states the need for formation and community.  Who might my companions be on this synodal journey (they might not be the obvious people)?

• REFLECTION THREE:

  “We encounter three disciples on Easter Morning: Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and the disciple whom Jesus loved. Each of them is seeking the Lord in his or her own way; each has his or her own part to play in enabling the light of hope to dawn. Mary Magdalene is so driven by love that she is the first at the tomb. Alerted by her, Peter and the Beloved Disciple make their way to the tomb. The Beloved Disciple races to the tomb with all the strength of youth. He looks intently; he is the first to understand, yet he lets Peter go first, he who is the elder, entrusted with the responsibility of leading. Peter, weighed down by his renunciation of the Lord, has an appointment with mercy, the mercy which he will minister in the Church. Mary remains in the garden. She hears herself called by name. She recognises the Lord. He commissions her to proclaim his Resurrection to the community of disciples. For this reason, the Church recognises her as Apostle of the Apostles. Their dependence on one another embodies the heart of synodality.

  The Church exists to bear witness in the world to the most decisive moment in history: the Resurrection of Jesus. … The Gospels tell us that in order to enter into Easter faith and become witnesses to it, it is necessary to acknowledge our own inner emptiness, the darkness of fear, doubt and sin. Yet those who, in the midst of darkness, find the courage to set out as searchers discover that they themselves are the ones being sought. They are being called by name, offered forgiveness, and, in turn, sent out to their brothers and sisters together.”

  - §13-14, Final Document
  

  Questions for Reflection:

  • This is a particularly rich passage.  Which word or phrase stands out for you?

  • Which of the three disciples do you most identify with?  What does this phrase mean to you: "Their dependence on one another embodies the heart of synodality."

  • These two paragraphs underline the missionary quality of synodality: "The Church exists to bear witness..."  How could synodality help your local community to become more outward looking?

• REFLECTION FOUR

  Check back here next month for reflection four

Bishop Nicholas Hudson Synodality Interview

Bishop Nicholas Hudson, auxiliary bishop of Westminster and Synod delegate, was interviewed at our event 'From Rome to Home' by Avril Baigent, the Co-Director of the School for Synodality and a Synod facilitator. They discussed their shared experiences of the Synod in Rome, and what synodality might mean for our Catholic communities at home.

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Watch the interview in full below:

Explainer video - What is Synodality?

The School for Synodality has created this short animation video exploring the synodal way, explaining it not as a one-off listening exercise but rather as an invitation towards an ongoing call to conversion, reshaping how we attend to all things, guided by the working of the Holy Spirit. 

While the ancient practice of synodality can be found throughout Church history, where leaders of the Church gathered in a way to listen and discern together, what is different here is this invitation into the practice of synodality is for all the people of God. 

We are all invited to integrate this ancient practice at all levels of the Church - including local, diocesan, national and global - changing how we gather, how we listen, how we include, how we plan, how we discern, and how we move forward together as a people of God.  

When we build on this style of encounter, when we include different voices and open the space to all, to discern and dream together, we can we strengthen the bonds of love and enrich all aspects of Church life.  

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Conversation in the Spirit Resource Cards

Video resource: Reimagining Pastoral Councils Workshop

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Moving to a new form of Pastoral Council requires learning new skills and practices, particularly in listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another. This is not so easy in practice!

The School for Synodality held an online workshop on 23rd November 2024 for all those interested in our resource ‘Reimagining Pastoral Councils, a Starter Kit’ which you can download here. We explained the journey of a reimagined Pastoral Council, talked through the practicalities, and gave the chance for attendees to share with others their own hopes for re-imagined pastoral councils in a synodal style in their communities.

Watch our edited video fo the workshop below:

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Re-imagining Pastoral Councils: Briefing Paper

Download here

Practising Synodality Webinar Series

Leading Prayer in Meetings

Conversation in the Spirit