SYNOD ON SYNODALITY
The Opening Celebration
The Synod on Synodality started in 2021 and was originally a two-year process. Officially known as “Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” it is a process that allows bishops to consult with all Catholics and with people beyond the Church in a spirit of collaboration and openness.
Most Reverend Bishop Miehm celebrated the Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains on October 17, 2021, to launch the synodal process in the Diocese. This celebration rooted the synod in prayer, sacrament, and community. At the same time, Bishop Miehm extended an invitation to the clergy, Religious, and faithful to participate in the conversation through a video.
The Local / National Stage
The Diocese reached out as widely as possible to ensure that parishioners as well as those distanced from the Church or people from other faiths could participate in the synodal conversation. About 4000+ people participated online or in person. Whether the respondents are currently engaged with the Church or distanced from it, making the effort to respond to the synod questions reflected a deep personally-held connection with the Roman Catholic faith tradition.
There are three reports from the Synodal Process. The first is a Diocesan synthesis reflecting the input of people to the Diocese of Peterborough. The second is a provincial report developed by the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (ACBO) from the Diocesan synthesis documents. And the third is a national report developed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from the four regional syntheses.
- Diocesan Synthesis - What We Heard, June, 2022
- EN - Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario - Regional Synthesis, June 2022
- FR - Assemblée des évêques catholiques de l’Ontario - Regional Synthesis, juin 2022
- EN - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops - National Synthesis, September 2022
- FR - Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada - Synthèse nationale, septembre 2022
The Continental Stage
Continental Phase - "Enlarge the space of your tent." (Isaiah 54:2)
The next phase of the synodal process involves the development of a “Document for the Continental Phase” by the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome.
- EN - WORKING DOCUMENT FOR THE CONTINENTAL STAGE, “Enlarge the space of your tent” (Is 54:2)
- FR - DOCUMENT DE TRAVAIL POUR L’ÉTAPE CONTINENTALE, « Élargis l’espace de ta tente » (Is 54,2)
The Universal Stage
TRANSFORMING OUR LIVES; BUILDING OUR CHURCH
To learn more about the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Process from 2019-2023, please click the link below:
DIOCESAN PASTORAL PLANNING PROCESS
The timing of the Synod on Synodality coincided locally with the re-energizing of a Diocesan Pastoral Planning Process for the Diocese of Peterborough. The Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee decided to bring together the two processes and to optimize the feedback from the clergy and the faithful for both purposes – the synodal process and the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Process. In April of 2022, an infographic entitled, What Are We Hearing, was released as an interim report to collect the feedback being received through the parishes and online.
- What Are We Hearing, April, 2022
After the publication of the Diocesan Synthesis, an online survey entitled, Now what?, was released in the summer. The purpose of the survey was to allow respondents reading the Diocesan Synthesis to identify priorities and next steps.
- Now what? - Online Survey Results
Six draft goals for the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Process were formulated.
- To reach out and engage all people with the message of the Gospel.
- To be an inviting and welcoming Church that fosters community.
- To offer well-prepared Liturgies that promote prayer and participation
- To be a Church engaged in ministry and mission.
- To engage in responsible stewardship of God’s gifts for the present and future.
- To be a Church that nurtures reconciliation, healing and mercy.
In the Fall of 2022, four Deanery meetings were held to discuss strategies to achieve these goals. Then the parish teams from the Deanery meetings came together at a Diocesan gathering to review the goals and to provide input for the next steps.
- Central Deanery, September 24, 2022
- Southern Deanery, October 8, 2022
- Northern Deanery, October 29, 2022
- City Deanery, November 5, 2022
- Diocesan Gathering, November 19, 2022
On January 11, 2023, the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee reviewed the five input summaries referenced above and a framework for the Diocesan Pastoral Plan was formulated. Now the work of writing and formatting begins with an expected publication date of Easter, 2023 in mind.
Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee Members
These are the members of the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee:
- Most Reverend Bishop Miehm, Chair of the Committee
- Msgr. Michael Heffernan, Vicar General, Diocesan Finance Council member
- Jeannie Armstrong, Superintendent of Special Education and Faith/Equity, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
- Fr. Craig Cruikshank, Dean of the Southern Deanery
- Fr. Joseph Devereaux, Dean of Central Deanery
- Fr. Randy Foster, Dean of the City Deanery
- Deacon Sean Gallagher
- Anne Higgins, Southern Deanery layperson
- Kathie Hogan. Northern Deanery layperson
- Joanne Hough, Catholic Lay Organization Member, Past President CWL
- Helena Lessard, Diocesan President of the Catholic Women's League / Central Deanery layperson
- Fr. Tom Lynch, Priest and Principal of Sacred Heart College
- Sr. Eileen McManus CSJ, Religious
- Deb McRae, Director of Finance, Property, and Administration, Diocesan Finance Council member
- Michael Nasello, Collaborative Consultation Resource
- Fr. Jerry Tavares, Resource for Parishes
- Deirdre Thomas, Assistant to the Bishop / Communications
- Fr. Roy Villas, Dean of the Northern Deanery
- Vacant, City Deanery layperson