Listening to the Holy Spirit; listening to each other
The Synod process
As ever, we welcome your prayers and your thoughts in this process.
A two-year 'synodal' process is taking place in the Catholic Church from October 2021 that culminates in the final Synod Gathering of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. The overall theme is "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission".
Our Parish Delegates
Terri Hancock
Julian Jennings
The parish delegates will help facilitate the process in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and attend meetings at the diocesan level on behalf of the parish community.
The Wider Process
The Synod, which presents itself as a real “synodal time”, was opened by Pope Francis on 9-10 October 2021 and in Southwark by Archbishop John Wilson on 17 October.
The synodal journey will be marked by three phases:
Diocesan Phase (Local)
October 2021 – April 2022
During which each individual faithful can participate in the diocesan consultation. This phase will end locally with a pre-synodal assembly: the culminating moment of diocesan discernment. For more resources and information, visit the Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis Synod page via the link below.
National Phase
A period of discernment will begin for bishops gathered in an assembly (Episcopal Conference). They will listen to what the Spirit has inspired in the churches entrusted to them. A ‘synthesis’ will be drafted and in due course sent to the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops along with the contributions of each of the local churches (before April 2022).
Continental Phase
September 2022 – March 2023
Which will have the task of discussing the text of the first Instrumentum Laboris.
Synod of Bishops (Rome)
October 2023