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)
North American Final Document for the Continental Stage
- EN - North American Final Document for the Continental Stage
- FR - Document final nord-américain pour l’Étape continentale
The Universal Stage
The "Instrumentum Laboris" (working document) for the first session of the Synod has been released!
A Synodal Church in Mission - Synthesis Report from the First Session of the Synod
Key Actions and Timeline
- June 2025 - December 2026: Dioceses and local Church groupings implement the suggestions from the Synod's Final Document, focusing on practical experimentation with new ways of being a participatory and missionary community.
- First Half of 2027: Evaluation assemblies will be held within each diocese and eparchy to assess their progress.
- Second Half of 2027: National and international bishops' conferences will hold their own evaluation assemblies.
- First Half of 2028: Continental evaluation assemblies will take place.
- October 2028: An Ecclesial Assembly at the Vatican will gather the fruits of this global journey to inform the Pope's future discernment.
Diocesan-Level Activities
- Strengthening Synodal Teams: Composed of clergy, religious, and laypeople, these teams will work alongside the bishop to facilitate dialogue and integrate synodality into the local church's ordinary life.
- Focusing on the Final Document: The 2024 Final Document serves as the main point of reference, providing "concrete indications" for the mission of the Churches.
- Promoting Participation and Mission: The process emphasizes moving beyond discussion to action, exploring new practices for decision-making, and ensuring that every change helps the Church better serve the world and share its message.
- Prioritizing the Marginalized: Special effort is encouraged to listen to those on the peripheries of the Church and society, including the poor, young people, and those who feel excluded.
- Utilizing Existing Councils: Parish and diocesan councils are asked to operate in a more "synodal" fashion, incorporating prayerful discussion and communal discernment into their work.