Final Synod Document Resources
As we move into the implementation stage of the synodal process, here are some key resources from the School for Synodality to help guide our understanding of the Final Synod Document.
Video Resources - Pathways Event
Video recordings from our ‘Pathways’ event, including the sections from Bishop Brendan Leahy and Austen Ivereigh
The School for Synodality held an online event - 'Pathways for Implementation: Next steps on our Synod Journey' - held on Saturday, 18th October at 11am (UK time). As ever, when the School for Synodality community gathered, there was plenty to challenge and inspire us. Come Holy Spirit!
This event was inspired by the guiding document for synodality released by the Vatican in June 2025, called ‘Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod’. The Final Document has been brought into church teaching, and as we seek to embed synodality in our everyday Catholic life and culture, we explore the next steps at grass-roots level.
Led by the School for Synodality Directors Dr Avril Baigent and Fr Matthew Nunes, we had author and commentator Austen Ivereigh give us an insightful overview of the Implementation Document, Bishop Brendan Leahy of the Limerick Diocese in Ireland as keynote speaker, and heard testimonies of how synodality is being successfully implemented in the Blessed Sacrament Parish of Exeter, England.
The School for Synodality Directors Dr Avril Baigent and Fr Matthew Nunes were also joined by Austen Ivereigh at the end of the session, for a panel discussion and to answer questions that arose.
Pathways for Implementation: Next steps on our Synod Journey'
The full video of School for Synodality’s online event held on Saturday, 18th October at 11am (UK time).
Austen Ivereigh
Author and commentator Austen Ivereigh gives us a brief background and guides us through what this means for parishes, dioceses, and the global Church.
Bishop Brendan Leahy
Join Bishop Brendan Leahy and Dr Avril Baigent as they explore the aspects of implementing the Final Document drawing on local and global experiences they discuss how listening, hope, and collaboration can shape a more participatory and missionary Church for the future.
Synodality testimony
Fr Jonathan Stewart and Angela Folden share their journey of implementing synodal practices in their parish of Blessed Sacrament in Exeter, England, with exciting and moving results.
Explainer video - What is Synodality?
What is Synodality, exactly? Watch and share the School for Synodality’s video exploring the core components of the synodal way.
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.
Video resource: Reimagining Pastoral Councils Workshop
The video of our online workshop from November 2024 exploring our latest resource, the ‘Pastoral Council Starter Kit’.
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:
Leading Prayer in Meetings
Step by step directions for meetings that draw on the rich tradition of Lectio Divina. 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.