Synod 2021 - 2024: For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. 

Pope Francis has asked us how we can journey together as the People of God to better proclaim the Gospel which is the mission entrusted to the Church. He asked all parishes to engage in this process of Walking Together and has held two special meetings (Synods) in Rome. 
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The first Synod was held in October 2023. A synthesis Report called 'A Synodal Church in Mission' was published after the first Synod: Click here. 

​The final Synod was held during October 2024. 
The Final Document from the Synod has been published in Italian: Click here. 
Official Working documents are available in English: Click here,    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
in French Click here, in Portuguese Click here, in Polish Click here and in German Click here.
​A simplified document with easier language has been written by the Trustees of ACTA "The publication of a working translation of the Final Document at the end of October 2024 presents the reader with a version that has a reading age score commensurate with a postgraduate student. The fifty two pages represent a real challenge to those, devout Catholics who will find the text too difficult and will act as a deterrent to their becoming engaged in the process of synodality." The document is copyrighted but we have permission to present it here. It is 9 pages long and a lot easier to read. Click here for shorter and simpler document.             <<<<<<<<<<<<

We are now in the Implementation stage, initiating the reception of the Synod’s conclusions in all local Churches.
From the first session ten study groups were set up by the Pope on relevant questions arising from the synthesis' with a request to complete their reports by June 2025.
These study groups cover:                   Click on blue link for some initial information
Group 1: Some aspects of the relationship between the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church.
Group 2: Listening to the Cry of the Poor.
Group 3: The mission in the digital environment.
Group 4: The revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalisin a missionary synodal perspective. [The formation of Priests.]
Group 5: Some theological and canonical matters regarding specific ministerial forms. [including the participation of women].
Group 6: The revision of documents touching on the relationship between Bishops, consecrated life, and ecclesial associations.
Group 7: Some aspects of the person and ministry of the Bishop.
Group 8: The role of Papal Representatives in a missionary synodal perspective.
Group 9: Theological criteria and synodal methodologies for shared discernment of controversial doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues.
Group 10: The reception of the fruits of the ecumenical journey in ecclesial practices.

As the Catholic Church moves into the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality (or on Walking Together), Bishop Nicholas Hudson, an Auxiliary Bishop in the Westminster Diocese has shared an 8-page guide. Click here. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
It is designed to encourage clergy and laity alike to read the Final Document in its fullness.
“Formation was a key theme of the Synod. I suggest that familiarising ourselves with the Final Document is the first formation on which we need to focus.” 

Locally: Between October 21 and April 22 our Catholic Leamington parishes held meetings to discern our desires for the Church; we published a Stage 1 Report (Click here).

In January 2023 we reviewed  this Report and discerned how we could progress our Walking Together in our parishes. Ten meetings happened in May 2023 on four of the five topic areas. A Stage 2 Report was produced summarising the discernments arising from the areas: Community, Inclusivity, Faith and Youth. Click here for the Stage 2 Report.  
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Minutes of the Catholic Leamington Walking Together Team: Click on the blue links below to download:
​19/01/23; 16/03/23   +  Facilitator's Form  +  Draft Slides; 30/03/23 + Timetable;
04/05/23; 31/05/23; 20/07/23; 05/10/23 + Office for Mission (notes by Paul Northam from the Diocese, on his role); 18/01/24 + Article from Vatican News; 18/04/24; 06/06/24; 05/09/24; 16/01/25; 15/05/25 
Minutes of the Catholic Leamington Walking Together Combined Group: Click on the blue links below to download: 17/10/24; 30/01/25, 22/05/25.
This group coordinated a Lenten Study Group.
 
Future meetings:
Arising from Topic group 3: 'Deepening and sharing our Faith':
Every Friday between 11am and 12noon in the Davenport Room at St Peter's:  meeting to study and reflect on the readings of the following Sunday's Mass. All welcome.
Please contact Jonathan Holden( [email protected] or 01926 420045) with any questions. 

The Walking Together Topic groups 1+2+3 arranged a Lent Study Group, meeting on Thursday evenings at St Joseph's, 'Getting more out of the Mass".   

Walking Together Team meeting - Steering group: Thursday September 18th 2025:
7.30pm Our Lady's Small Hall. All Walking Together participants are invited.  
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Walking Together Topic groups 1+2+3 meeting: Thursday September 25th 2025:
7.30pm Our Lady's Small Hall. All Walking Together participants are invited.  

Queries can be sent to:  [email protected]. Our Walking Together Team would like to be inclusive. If you want your voice to be heard and cannot join our planned meetings for whatever reason, please send your views to this email address or ask somebody to do so on your behalf.

Look here for Synod Reports or Syntheses of Reports:          NB Click the blue links.

Diocesan (Local) Phase October 21 - April 22:
Catholic Leamington Synod Report without Appendices: Synod Report click here.
Full Catholic Leamington Synod Report: Synod Report with Appendices.
For the Diocesan Synthesis: Diocesan Synod Report click here.

National Phase where Bishops meet in an Episcopal Conference:
For the Synthesis of the Bishops of England and Wales: National Synod Report click here.
Our Bishops have considered carefully the Synthesis and offer some initial reflections in the light of our shared faith in Christ and our shared belonging to his Church. Click for reflection.

Continental Phase September 22 - March 23:
A Working Document has been prepared as part of the Continental Phase. Click here.
The Diocesan response to this Working Document (DCS). Click here.
Final remarks from the European Continental Assembly. Click here.
Concluding statement from the Bishops of Oceania. Click here.
There are 7 Continental Phase Assemblies, here are their reports:
      African Bishops Conferences Click here
      Asian Bishops Conferences Click here.
      European Bishops Conferences Click here.
      Latin American and Caribbean Bishops Conferences Click here.
      Middle East Bishops Conferences Click here.
      North American Bishops Conferences Click here.
      Oceania Bishops Conferences Click here.
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A Digital Synod - outreach through Digital Media is described in a report Click here.

Universal Phase - the Synod of Bishops - October 23 and October 24:  
The Working Document for the October 2023 Synod, called the Instrumentum laboris has been published alongside Worksheets for the Synodal Assembly. Click here.
A Synthesis Report concluded the October 2023 Synod called 'A Synodal Church in Mission' Click here.

A prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide us
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts.
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You who are at work in every place and time,
​in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen

​This web page and content were designed by the Catholic Leamington 'Walking Together Team'. Catholic Leamington is St Joseph's Church in Whitnash, Our Lady's Church in Lillington, and St Peter's Church in Leamington Spa working together.