Please find on this page the latest information regarding the Synod of Bishops.
Update 16 May 2025
Dear Diocesan Contacts, Group Coordinators and Other Synod Contacts,
It has been some time since we’ve had an update for you and we thank you for your patience.
The Implementation Phase of the Synod
In March 2025, the late Pope Francis approved the Implementation Phase of the Synod. The Churches around the world were encouraged to implement the actions from the Final Document of the Synod in a way that was appropriate to the local context. Please see attached a copy of the ‘Letter on the Accompaniment Process of the Implementation Phase of the Synod’ which sets out the expectations for that phase. The activities being undertaken were to culminate in an ecclesial assembly in the Vatican in October 2028. Further information on the implementation phase was expected to be received in May 2025.
Following the election of Pope Leo XIV, the General Secretariat of the Synod has written to the new pope to seek his direction for the future of the Implementation. Please find a copy of that letter attached.
What is happening in Australia?
Many dioceses, eparchies and Catholic organisations in Australia have already begun the process of implementation. The ACBC has begun to collate instances of synodal activities taking place since the implementation of the Synod process.
With this in mind, and while we await further direction from the Holy See, an interim coordinating group has been formed, which Dr Trudy Dantis is chairing, to manage the collation and dissemination of synodal activities. The members of the former Synod Working Group, which coordinated the Synod consultations and writing of the syntheses, together with a new representative from the Eastern Churches, will form the interim coordinating group.
In order to ensure that all the activities being undertaken are captured, we ask that our contacts send details of any present or future activities that have not already been reported to a new email address created for the purpose: synodality@catholic.org.au
New Webpage – Synod Next Steps
In addition to collecting information for reporting back to the Holy See, we believe it is important in the interests of transparency, accountability and cooperation to share those activities with all the Church. Therefore, we have created a new webpage where those activities can be shared, as well as providing other information about the implementation process, resources on synodality, and regular news updates on the topic.
The webpage, and the initial information collected on synodal activities, is available here:
We encourage you to engage with the webpage. Any updates, suggestions, further resources or other comments can be sent to synodality@catholic.org.au.
Synodality in the News
An Australian research project examining governance in the Catholic Church has found more than 100 religious institutes worldwide have transferred their ministries to canonical bodies overseen predominantly by the laity.
Trudy has just left for a period of leave and plans to return in mid-June. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact either me (leith.dudfield@catholic.org.au) or Stephen Reid (stephen.reid@catholic.org.au) and we would be happy to help you. Kind Regards,
LEITH DUDFIELD Research Assistant, National Centre for Pastoral Research Australian Catholic Bishops Conference GPO Box 368, Canberra ACT 2601 P: (02) 6201 9813E: leith.dudfield@catholic.org.au | W: ncpr.catholic.org.au
This is our last update prior to Christmas, and we share with you some recent news and reflections for the final week of Advent.
Pontifical appointments of the XVI Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod Last Friday, 13 December 2024, Pope Francis appointed four new members to the XVI Ordinary Council. Notably, two of the appointed members were women. The four new members are:
• Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ • Sr Simona Brambilla MC • Cardinal Roberto Repole • Dr Maria Lia Zervino
Reflections on the Synod experience I have shared a brief account of my experience of the Synod in an article in the December edition of the NCPR quarterly newsletter, which will be published this week. The newsletter can be accessed through the NCPR website, and you can also choose to subscribe to ensure it is delivered directly to your inbox:
We’d like to invite you to send us details of experiences from the other Australian participants and where these reflections are published so we can share them more widely.
News from the Synod We continue to follow news that is being published about the Synod and the issues raised during the Assembly. Here are three recent articles:
Christmas break The NCPR will close for Christmas from 23 December 2024 until 3 January 2025 (inclusive). During this time, we will be unable to process any requests.
We will take a break from providing email updates until February 2025. However, if you need anything before then, please feel free to contact Leith, Stephen, or me.
We wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and look forward to continuing the synodal journey with you in 2025.
Kind Regards,
DR TRUDY DANTIS National Coordinator, Synod of Bishops 2021-2024 Director, National Centre for Pastoral Research | Australian Catholic Bishops Conference GPO Box 368, Canberra ACT 2601 P: (02) 6201 9812 | E: trudy.dantis@catholic.org.au | W: ncpr.catholic.org.au
Please find the Synthesis Report from last month’s Archdiocesan Assembly. As well as a summary of the report for your convenience. Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact either patrick.mcardle@cg.org.au or Huw.Warmenhoven@cg.org.au
18-20 October | Come, Holy Spirit – Archdiocesan Assembly All are invited to take part in the Archdiocesan Assembly that will explore the theme ‘Come Holy Spirit.’ This will focus on celebrating the Year of the Holy Spirit and explore new opportunities for Evangelisation and Synodality in the life and mission of our local Church going forward. Website
Please find attached the statement prepared by the Plenary Council Implementation Interim Working Group after their meeting on 10 November 2023.
The statement sets out the status of progress made on the implementation of the Plenary Council decrees and notes that they cannot yet be promulgated as we have not yet received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. Nevertheless, it recognises the significant work done by the Bishops Commissions in preparing pastoral strategies for each decree, the publication of a pastoral study guide for Pentecost 2023 relating to the first eight decrees, and the ongoing synodal engagement through the dioceses, parishes, religious communities and other groups throughout Australia that carry on the work and spirit of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia.
Update 3 November 2023 Synod of Bishops: English Translation of the Synthesis Report.
We are pleased to advise that the synthesis report is now available in English.
English Translation of the Synthesis Report
The English translation of the synthesis report has now been released. Please find a copy attached. You can also find a copy on the Google Drive in the “First Assembly 2023” folder, or on the Synod website, where it has been published in a number of formats:
We expect to be in touch again prior to Advent to provide you with resources to continue the synodal journey to the Second Assembly.
NCPR Contacts
Dr Trudy Dantis is taking leave following the Synod, and returning to the office on 20 November 2023. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Stephen Reid (stephen.reid@catholic.org.au) or I (Leith Dudfield) (leith.dudfield@catholic.org.au), if you require any assistance.
Update 22 September 2023 For those of you interested in following along with the Synodal process. Please see the below links: Australian Synodal Church: https://catholic.org.au/synodalchurch & on the official website for the Synod 2021-2024: https://www.synod.va/en.html Updated 6 April 2023 Please see, for your information, the Executive Summary of the Diocesan Pastoral Council Report and the response from Archbishop Prowse. Updated 2 December 2022 FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCES OF OCEANIA The next meeting will be held in Suva in Feb 2023. Focus is on care for the oceans & an important part of caring for our common home, as set forth by Pope Francis. Also focusing on the finalising of the continental (Oceania region) response to the Synod of Bishops ‘Document for the Continental Stage’ – see https://www.catholic.au/s/article/XVI-Ordinary-General-Assembly-of-the-Synod-of-Bishops. Closing date for Submissions The submission portal for this Continental Stage closes on Friday 9 December 2022, in approximately a week’s time. The submission portal can be accessed on the synod website: https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurch Thank you to all the groups who have already sent in their submissions. Reflection Guide video: To assist groups in the reflection process, an excerpt has been created from the Group Coordinators webinar which focussed on using the Reflection Guide and preparing for the group session. This video can be accessed at the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4BW4sZ2ifA Updated: 11 November 2022 Working Document for the Continental Stage The WorkingDocument for the Continental Stage (DCS) has been released in Rome. The DCS is the fruit of listening & discernment. It is a working doc seeking to bring out the voices of the People of God,their insights,questions& disagreements. The Reflection Guide Included in the DCS are 3 guiding questions & are available at: https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurchThe Submission Portal is open & closes Fri 9 Dec. After groups have met to reflect on the DCS, they will submit a summary of their reflections on the Working Doc for the Continental Stage via the online portal, see: https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurchGroup Coordinators Workshop The recording of this can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/GroupCoordinatorsWebinar If you have any questions, contact: leith.dudfield@catholic.org.au Updated: 9 September 2022 Report of the Working Party on a Diocesan Pastoral Council Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) – All feedback welcomed Archbishop Christopher has proposed a new Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) that will assist him in the core mission of the Church in this Archdiocese. The Working Party has reviewed the records of past Councils and given thought to the why, what & how of a possible new Council. They are now seeking to engage the whole Archdiocese in synodal discernment about a DPC. The DPC Working Party has considered; 1. Past attempts at a DPC – our legacy, 2. The present context and needs and 3. Options for a workable DPC. Download the Executive Summary and Report or contact your parish office for a copy. 4 questions have been developed to aid reflection. Answer questions online here or email workingparty@cg.org.au by the 28 October. A brief overview along with downloadable files and a video can also be viewed at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/diocesan-pastoral-council-join-in-the-conversation/ Diocesan Pastoral Council note. Updated: 16 August 2022 The report has now been published and sent to the General Secretariat. A copy is now available on the Synod website at https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurch This now concludes the diocesan input into the Synod process, but please keep an eye on the website for updates as we move towards the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. Please click here to read the Final Synod of Bishops Australian Synthesis Report. Please click here to read the media release relating to the Synod of Bishops Australian Synthesis. The national working party will continue to meet every two months to ensure engagement with the Synod process continues over the next year. DR TRUDY DANTIS National Coordinator, Synod of Bishops 2021-2023 Director, National Centre for Pastoral Research | Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Honorary Research Associate | University of Divinity GPO Box 368, Canberra ACT 2601 P: (02) 6201 9812 | E: trudy.dantis@catholic.org.au | W: ncpr.catholic.org.au Updated: 29 July 2022 Plenary Council: What Next for the Archdiocese? Please click here to read a letter letter from Archbishop Christopher regarding the “Year of Walking Together” which will officially begin on the Solemnity of the Australian Saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, 8th of August 2022. You can also read his Report and watch accompanying videos on the 2nd Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council. https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/plenary-council-report-archbishop-christopher-prowse/ The latest Plenary Council “Plenary Post” Edition 47—July 28 2022 is also available to read here. Updated: 15 July 2022 277 members of the Plenary Council voted on 30+ motions from the Motions & Amendments document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GxQwIb3kNjgKPttwQlufi672hBpBKHCh/view The voting was staged over two rounds – the consultative & deliberative votes. Results of the voting may be found at: http://www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au By November the Australian Bishops will forward to Rome the final document reflecting the Plenary decisions. In due course, with deliberation & consultation, they will be returned to Australia where they will become law for the Australian Catholic Church. See https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/plenary-council-report-archbishop-christopher-prowse/ for accompanying videos & to read Abp Christopher’s Report on the 2nd Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia Updated: 24 June 2022: Plenary Tracker – Toward a Transparent, Inclusive & Humble Church Join us for Plenary Tracker #2a daily Zoom with exclusive news, insights, and panel discussions hosted by respected former ABC presenter Genevieve Jacobs AM and Walkley Award-winning journalist Paul Bongiorno AM. Every night from Sunday, July 3 to July 8 at 7.30 pm AEST*, Plenary members and insiders will summarise, highlight, and discuss the day’s events from the second Australian Plenary Council. Registering for Plenary Tracker #2 is FREE. See this link for all of the details on how to register and for more information. By registering you will also receive daily emails with a video recording of the previous night’s session, and links to blogs from John Warhurst, Francis Sullivan and Geraldine Doogue Plenary Tracker #2is brought to you by Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn (CCCG) in partnership with the Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform(ACCCR) and with the support of Garratt Publishing. Updated: 1 June 2022: The Framework for Motions for the second assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia has been published this morning. It emerges from more than four years of listening, dialogue, discernment, reflection and prayer within the Catholic Church in Australia. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, the Plenary Council’s president, says the document “will form the backbone of our reflection, discussion and decision when we gather” for the second of two assemblies, to be held in early July. The release has been published at: https://mediablog.catholic.org.au/motions-framework-published-for-second-council-assembly/ You can download the Framework for Motions at: https://bit.ly/FrameworkForMotions
Walking in the Spirit
The People of God in Australia are invited to make the prayerful journey towards the Second Assembly of the Plenary Council through the Walking in the Spirit prayer pilgrimage. The campaign begins on Easter Sunday, April 17, & runs until the Second Assembly, which opens on Sunday, July 3. The resources can be found at: https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/walkinginthespirit/ & have been created for use by individuals, families, schools, parishes & other Catholic communities. The media release can be found here: https://mediablog.catholic.org.au/catholics-invited-tosurround-plenary-council-in-prayer/
Synod of Bishops submissions:
Included is the Submission Report for the 2023 Synod from our Archdiocese. This Report and these submissions will form the basis of the Archdiocesan Synthesis which Archbishop Prowse will present to the Bishops’ Conference after 1 May 2022. Please click here for the current draft document of the Synthesis Report for the Synod 20221 – 2023. Every submission received will be attached in full as an Annex to the Synthesis document. If you have inputs please email the Parish Office at wodensouth@cg.org.au . The Synthesis drafting team comprises Patrick McGrath, formerly of our Catholic Education Office who now works with the local SVDP; Cathy Moffitt who formerly worked in an executive capacity in the Chancery Office and now works in schools on the South Coast, and Fr Richard Thompson as the appointed Archdiocesan contact person for Plenary Council and 2023 Synod. Fr Richard will be presenting this Report to the Archbishop during the 11am Sunday Mass at the Cathedral 15 May. This Mass is live-streamed. The presentation of this Report completes the local consultation phase and is a synthesis of all the local submissions received. This Report is now added to all the Reports from every Australian diocese and from that compilation the bishops will arrive at an Australian synthesis to present at the 2023 Synod on Synodality in Rome. The Final Synthesis Report for the Archdiocese can be accessed here. Please see here a list of available documents to date:
