Definition of Synodality:
Mutual collaborative listening, guided by the Holy Spirit, in which all of the faithful have something to learn from each other, in order to know what God is saying to the Church (1). It stresses the common dignity and mission of all the baptized, in exercising the diversity and interwoven richness of their charisms, their vocations, and their ministries (2).
Webinars
Toward a Synodal Church: Co-Responsibility and the Lay Apostolate
What does a “synodal Church” truly look like? How can we engage bishops, priests, and the laity in the Church in effective ways of moving the Church forward? Join this webinar with Most Rev. John Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe in New Mexico and Episcopal Liaison to the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM), Colleen Moore, Director of Formation for the McGrath Institute on Church Life at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Fr. Rafael Capó, Vice President for Mission at the University of St. Thomas in Miami, Julia McStravog is the Synod 2021-2023 Consultant for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC.
Colleen Moore is the Director of Formation for the McGrath Institute on Church Life at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
Julia McStravog is the Synod 2021-2023 Consultant for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC.
Fr. Rafael Capó is the Vice President for Mission at the University of St. Thomas in Miami.
Most Rev. John Wester is the Archbishop of Santa Fe in New Mexico and Episcopal Liaison to the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM).
Moderator: Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C.
Colleen Moore is the Director of Formation for the McGrath Institute on Church Life at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
Julia McStravog is the Synod 2021-2023 Consultant for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC.
Fr. Rafael Capó is the Vice President for Mission at the University of St. Thomas in Miami.
Most Rev. John Wester is the Archbishop of Santa Fe in New Mexico and Episcopal Liaison to the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM).
Moderator: Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C.
Toward Communion: The Role of the Laity Across Cultures and Generations
The Catholic Apostolate Center and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth are pleased to announce the fourth webinar in a series surrounding synodality on May 4, 2022 at 3 pm EDT. This webinar, Toward Communion: The Role of the Laity Across Cultures and Generations, will explore themes of lay engagement across different cultures and generations. The webinar will feature Bishop Larry Silva, Diocese of Honolulu, Dr. C. Vanessa White, Associate Professor of Spirituality and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union, Dr. Jem Sullivan, Associate Professor of Practice in Catechetics at The Catholic University of America, and Dr. F. Javier Orozco, Executive Director of Human Dignity and Intercultural Affairs for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Synodality and Lay Leadership from the Magisterium’s Perspective
The Nexus of the Laity and the Catholic Church Today
This is the first webinar in the Catholic Apostolate Center's series with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. This webinar will introduce and explore the themes of co-responsibility and synodality in the Church. Join Archbishop Nelson Perez, Hosffman Ospino, Paul Jarzembowski, Jennifer Baugh, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. for a conversation about lay ministry, apostolate, and participation in the Church today.
Toward Participation: Unpacking Leadership of the Laity in the Church
The Catholic Apostolate Center and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth are pleased to announce the fifth webinar in a series surrounding synodality. This webinar, Toward Participation: Unpacking Leadership of the Laity in the Church, explores themes of leadership throughout the Church. Included in this webinar is a discussion of engaging the laity into leadership positions, co-responsibility with priests and the laity, and promoting shared work as part of mission for the Church.
The webinar is moderated by Paul Jarzembowski, Associate Director for the Laity for the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth at the USCCB. This webinar features Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, Mark Erdosy, the Executive Director of Mission Integration at Marian University in Indianapolis, Matthew Manion, the Faculty Director for the Center for Church Management at Villanova University outside of Philadelphia, Helen Osman, President of SIGNIS, an international Catholic communications association, headquartered in Brussels and Rosie Chinea Shawver, the Executive Director of Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL), based in Los Angeles.
The webinar is moderated by Paul Jarzembowski, Associate Director for the Laity for the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth at the USCCB. This webinar features Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, Mark Erdosy, the Executive Director of Mission Integration at Marian University in Indianapolis, Matthew Manion, the Faculty Director for the Center for Church Management at Villanova University outside of Philadelphia, Helen Osman, President of SIGNIS, an international Catholic communications association, headquartered in Brussels and Rosie Chinea Shawver, the Executive Director of Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL), based in Los Angeles.
Scriptual references
Joshua 24, Nehemiah 8, Jeremiah 31: 1-14, John 15, John 16, 1 Corinthians 12; Acts 15; Romans 12; Ephesians 4:1-24
Church References
- Evangelization Begins with Listening, Wednesday, 11 December 2019, Cardinal Tagle
- Christus Vivit (CV), Francis, 206-208
- General Audience Wednesday, 23 October 2019, Pope Francis
- Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission
- Ceremony Commemorating The 50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops, by Pope Francis
Possible Questions to Further Unpack:
How is Synodality woven through Scripture?
See above; Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 12-23; General Audience Wednesday, 23 October 2019, Pope Francis.
How is Synodality used in the first millennium?
Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 24-30; Ceremony Commemorating The 50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops, by Pope Francis.
What is the difference between council and synod?
Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 4, 97-102; Ceremony Commemorating The 50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops, by Pope Francis.
What do we mean when we say Collegiality?
Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 7; Ceremony Commemorating The 50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops, by Pope Francis; The Final Report of the 1985 Extraordinary Synod, 4. Collegiality.
How is Synodality a living expression of the Catholicity and Oneness of the Church?
Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 45-46, 58-61; CV, 206-208
What is the sensus fidei fidelis (Sense of the faith on the part of an individual member of the faithful)?
How are they the same and how are they different?
How are they the same and how are they different?
How do you implement a Synod and what different types of Synods exist?
Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 75-96, 104-106; Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in the Conference Promoted By the Society For the Law of the Eastern Churches, Francis.
What are some key elements of a Synod?
What is the role of listening and discernment within a Synod?
Synodality in The Life and Mission of the Church, International Theological Commission, 110-114; Evangelization Begins with Listening, Wednesday, 11 December 2019, Cardinal Tagle; Ceremony Commemorating The 50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops, by Pope Francis; CV, 206-208