SYNOD 2024: National Consultation – Towards the Second Assembly
Another opportunity to lift our voices!
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is inviting CRA to participate in the Australian national consultation following the First Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2023), as we look towards the Second Assembly (October 2024).
The CRA National Council will make a submission, based on the contributing voices of its Members.
Congregations are invited to participate in this process, via the following steps:
Each Congregation gathers one or more small groups (7-12 people in each) from its members (and ministries) to reflect on the key question, using the 2024 National Consultation Reflection Guide.
Discern, summarise and submit a response to CRA by 15 March 2024.
CRA will endeavour to capture the common thread of responses, as well as minority views, in its submission to the ACBC by 30 March 2024.
The 2024 National Consultation Reflection Guide has been created by the National Centre for Pastoral Research (ACBC) to assist groups to reflect on the key question and prepare their response. The guide follows a similar format to previous consultations. It includes the key reflection question as well as information on the chapters of the Synthesis Report that are pertinent to the discussion.
The full list of documents relating to the synodal journey can be accessed here, while the most relevant ones for our task can be found below:
· 2024 National Consultation Reflection Guide (5 pages)
· Synthesis Report – Excerpt on consecrated life (2 pages)
· Synthesis Report – Full text (40 pages)
Participation in this exercise of synodality is strongly encourage in order to maximise CRA’s voice within and from the Church in Australia. At the same time, we recognise that not all Congregations will be in a position to participate, given the limits of resources and time. Also, please note that, while the timeline is fixed, the process is flexible and can be adapted as necessary.
Next Steps for CRA Members:
To participate in the Synod 2024 national consultation, please:
Email Taylor to indicate your intention to participate: ea@catholicreligious.org.au
Organise a meeting between now and mid-March 2024 for your members to reflect on the key question. You may choose to use the process outlined in the 2024 National Consultation Reflection Guide or another suitable method.
Prepare a brief Summary Report from your group reflections and email it to ea@catholicreligious.org.au on or before 15 March 2024.
Thank you!
SYNOD 2023: A Path for Entering the Synodal Journey as Catholic
Religious in Australia
On 10 October 2021, Pope Francis formally opened a two-year synodal process of consultation with the Faithful around the world, leading towards the Synod of Bishops which will be held in Rome in October 2023. The focus of the 2023 Synod of Bishops is: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”
CICLSAL has issued a specific invitation to consecrated men and women to be involved in the synodal journey, and to religious bodies such as CRA to coordinate the response, to be submitted to CICLSAL by March 2022.
In light of this, CRA has devised a simple, flexible process to invite the involvement of Australian Religious in the synodal journey in the months of October and November 2021. The responses will be collated by CRA in the new year and forwarded to the Holy See by March 2022.
To learn more about this synodal journey, click on the links below.
‘For a Synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission’
XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome, October 2023