BRISBANE archdiocese is holding SYNOD24 in September and October of this year.
A synod is a gathering of people – in this case a 150 Synod Members who represent the broad diversity of the Brisbane Archdiocese.
One of the decrees from the Australian Plenary Council mandated that each diocese in Australia (including Eastern Churches known as eparchies) needs to have a synod by the end of 2025, with each deciding on their own synod theme and aim.
How were topics chosen?
During the listening, dialogue and discernment phases of the Australian Plenary Council in 2018 and 2019, Brisbane submitted a significant number of responses answering the question: “What is the Holy Spirit asking of Australia at this time?”.
These submissions, along with all the others gathered across Australia, informed the “Plenary Council Decrees”.
These decrees will be the areas of focus for SYNOD24: I Am Making All Things New.
From this will come a series of action plans for Brisbane archdiocese that the Synod Members will discuss, debate and vote on.
What are some of the areas that we are being asked to explore through the Plenary Council Decrees?
· Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander symbols and rituals in Catholic liturgy and prayer that is liturgically and culturally appropriate.
· Authentic representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander on committees, boards and decision-making bodies.
· How best to continue responding with transparency, justice, and compassion to the victims and survivors of sexual abuse, their families, and communities.
· Safeguarding of children and adults at risk.
· Building better relationships between parish and schools.
· Authentic engagement with the marginalised.
· Representation of women at decision-making tables at all levels of church agencies and organisations.
· New opportunities for, and formation to support, women’s participation in ministries such as lector, acolyte and catechist.
· Formation for ministries such as Lector, Acolyte and Catechist and lay preaching.
· Exploration of intergenerational, cultural and ethnic diversity in formation and leadership.
· Exploration of leadership structures.
· Ecological wisdom shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
· Deeper understanding of Laudato Si’ and integral ecology.
You can download and read each Plenary Council Decree at https://aobsynod2024.com/plenary-council-resources/
