Book Club - Reading the Final Synod Document

‘Reading the Final Synod Document Together’-
the School for Synodality’s Online Book Club

After four weeks of listening, discerning and writing in October 2024, the final day of the Rome Synod Assembly brought a dramatic surprise from Pope Francis - that the recommendations of the Assembly would become Church teaching.  The three year listening process was over, and it was now time to get on with implementing it.

The Final Synod Document (officially ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission’) is our guide to the implementation, and while beautiful and inspiring, can be rather technical in places (episcopal conferences and Vatican dicasteries, anyone??). 

To enable us to reflect on the document in more depth, the School for Synodality organised an online bookclub with a stellar cast of experts in May and June 2025. Each week, the School for Synodality’s Director Avril Baigent unpacked a different section of the Final Synod Document, reflecting on its theological and practical implications, with time for questions afterwards. 

Below are individual session recordings, with reflection questions and suggested reading. You could bring together some in your parish and study this together in small groups? There have been many approaches to these rich insights that we hear about - please do contact us and share how you are discovering and using our book club resources!

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Part 1: The Heart of Synodality

Understanding the theological roots of what we are about 

- With Dr Jos Moons SJ

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Part 2: The Conversion of Relationships

Mission and ministry in a changing world  

- With Professor Anna Rowlands

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Part 3: The Conversion of Processes:

Discernment, decision-making and accountability  

- with Dr Estela Padilla

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Part 4: The Conversion of Bonds: The geeky week

- with guest Prof Cathy Clifford

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Part 5: Forming a People for Missionary Discipleship

We need everyone in the boat 

- with guests David McCallum SJ and Sandra Chaoul 

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Part 6 Conclusion: A Feast for All Peoples:

What next for our Church? 

 -with Archbishop Jason Gordon

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Reimagining Pastoral Councils - Starter Kit

Synodality 101: Our Workshops

How do we listen to each other well? How do we step back from our own agendas to be attentive to where the Spirit is moving? How can we make better decisions about organising ourselves as Christian communities? How do we enrich our parish communal life with enriching conversations?

The Synod process has emphasised the importance of listening and good conversations in our community life. However these are not always so easy in practice! This 101: Conversations in the Spirit workshop series will introduce the principles of holding prayerful, truthful and safe conversations which value gracious listening and courageous speaking. It is suitable for all levels of experience including people who have not been involved in the Synod process so far.

 Each week there will be an opportunity to experience a Conversation in the Spirit, helping to deepen our understanding of how this tool can be used to support us in talking and listening more effectively.

After attending these workshops, we hope you will have the resources you need to hold a conversation in the spirit in your community.

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What to Expect:

• Reflect on and experience synodality

• Look at the process of Conversation in the Spirit

• Draw lessons from Jesus’ ministry on the underpinning attitudes and dispositions needed for enabling Conversations in the Spirit

• Consider the role of the facilitator

• Give options for what to do if you do not have facilitators

• Unpack the experience of the Conversation in the Spirit process

• Notice the skills needed to support people in such conversations

• Think about how to handle some tricky situations that may arise

• Experience prayer that builds on the principles of synodality

• Look at ways you might use what you are learning in your parish/group/setting

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““The small group spiritual conversations were really enriching - both from the perspective of practicing skills, but also from the experience of having a spiritual conversation with people we wouldn’t otherwise ordinarily connect with.””

— Participant in our Spring workshop series

Conversations In the Spirit - a How To Guide

‘Conversation in the Spirit’, or Spiritual Conversation, is an ancient practice of the Church and a key tool of Synodality. A prayerful method, it allows for space for the spirit as well as voices usually not heard and can be used for faith sharing, difficult conversations, or when lots of creativity or ideas are needed.

Conversation in the Spirit is a strangely practical art. It relies on good communication – being able to hear and understand one another. It can be an excellent tool to ground any conversation in the Spirit, open us to new voices and possibilities, and move us to action when appropriate.

RESOURCES

Conversations in the Spirit - methods & best practice

How to host Conversations in the Spirit - easy to follow methods, practical considerations and helpful habits to embody.

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Conversations in the Spirit - prompt cards for groups

“How shall we be together?”

We have created helpful cards that can be used to facilitate Conversations in the Spirit within your own communities.

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Conversations in the Spirit - Leading prayer in meetings

“where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them”

We can have a terrible culture of a ‘quick prayer’ at the beginning of meetings - but this is not enough to help us grow as living communities of faith. This process can help us enrich decision making meetings to be both more effective, and become encounters that help us grow as living communities of faith.

Download our step by step directions for group meetings that draw on the rich tradition of Lectio Divina.

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Video - Introducing Conversations in the Spirit

Dr Avril Baigent introduces ‘Conversations in the Spirit’ - an ancient practice of the church which has emerged through the Synod process as a method for deep listening to one another, and to the Holy Spirit.

Video - Practicalities of Conversations in the Spirit

What exactly does having a Conversation in the Spirit with your Parish Pastoral Council entail? Dr Avril Baigent takes us through step-by-step with helpful tips.

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Four Steps to Practising Synodality

Final Synod Document - Reflection Resources

The last stage of the three year Synod journey was the creation of a Final Synod Document called ‘For a Synodal Church, Communion, Participation and Mission'.

These recommendations from the XVI Assembly have been approved by Pope Francis and taken into church teaching, and which the Pope has asked us all to implement in our countries and contexts. You can download the Final Document of the XVI Assembly, ‘For a Synodal Church, Communion, Participation and Mission' here >>.

The Final Synod Document a rich resource, beautiful but rather technical in places. Much like we might do with scripture, its possible to reflect on individual passages of the Final Document and allowing them to inspire us. Our series of reflections are an opportunity to reflect and respond alone or in groups, and we will be updating this page as we go along.

• REFLECTION ONE:

  Our first reflection concentrates on the definition of synodality. This passage from the Final Document is taken from 'Part I: The Heart of Synodality' which looks at how we are called by the Holy Spirit to conversion.

  “Oriented towards mission, synodality involves gathering at all levels of the Church for mutual listening, dialogue and community discernment.  It also involves reaching consensus as an expression of Christ rendering himself present... In simple and concise terms, synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform that enables the Church to be more participatory and missionary so that it can walk with every man and woman, radiating the light of Christ”

  - §28, Final Document

  Questions for reflection:

  • What stands out for you from this passage?  Is there a particular word or phrase that is resonating in you?

  • What are the possibilities for linking "spiritual renewal and structural reform"?

  • What possibilities does it open up for you?

• REFLECTION TWO:

  “Synodality is primarily a spiritual disposition. A synodal spirituality flows from the action of the Holy Spirit and requires listening to the Word of God, contemplation, silence and conversion of heart... A spirituality of synodality also requires asceticism, humility, patience and a willingness to forgive and be forgiven. No one can progress along the path of authentic spirituality alone; we need support, including formation and spiritual accompaniment, both as individuals and as a community.”
  - §43, Final Document

  Questions for reflection:

  • What does it mean to think about synodality as 'primarily a spiritual disposition'?  What changes does this require for our Catholic life together?

  • In a world that rewards loud voices and polarising opinions, how practically can we cultivate 'humility, patience and a willingness to forgive and be forgiven'?

  • The passage states the need for formation and community.  Who might my companions be on this synodal journey (they might not be the obvious people)?

• REFLECTION THREE:

  “13. We encounter three disciples on Easter Morning: Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and the disciple whom Jesus loved. Each of them is seeking the Lord in his or her own way; each has his or her own part to play in enabling the light of hope to dawn. Mary Magdalene is so driven by love that she is the first at the tomb. Alerted by her, Peter and the Beloved Disciple make their way to the tomb. The Beloved Disciple races to the tomb with all the strength of youth. He looks intently; he is the first to understand, yet he lets Peter go first, he who is the elder, entrusted with the responsibility of leading. Peter, weighed down by his renunciation of the Lord, has an appointment with mercy, the mercy which he will minister in the Church. Mary remains in the garden. She hears herself called by name. She recognises the Lord. He commissions her to proclaim his Resurrection to the community of disciples. For this reason, the Church recognises her as Apostle of the Apostles. Their dependence on one another embodies the heart of synodality.

  14. The Church exists to bear witness in the world to the most decisive moment in history: the Resurrection of Jesus. … The Gospels tell us that in order to enter into Easter faith and become witnesses to it, it is necessary to acknowledge our own inner emptiness, the darkness of fear, doubt and sin. Yet those who, in the midst of darkness, find the courage to set out as searchers discover that they themselves are the ones being sought. They are being called by name, offered forgiveness, and, in turn, sent out to their brothers and sisters together.”

  - §13 & 14, Final Document
  

  Questions for Reflection:

  • This is a particularly rich passage.  Which word or phrase stands out for you

  • Which of the three disciples do you most identify with?  What does this phrase mean to you: "Their dependence on one another embodies the heart of synodality."

  • These two paragraphs underline the missionary quality of synodality: "The Church exists to bear witness..."  How could synodality help your local community to become more outward looking?

• REFLECTION FOUR:

  “Ecclesial discernment is not an organisational technique but rather a spiritual practice grounded in a living faith. It calls for interior freedom, humility, prayer, mutual trust, an openness to the new and a surrender to the will of God. It is never just a setting out of one’s own personal or group point of view or a summing up of differing individual opinions. Each person, speaking according to their conscience, is called to open themselves to the others who share according to their conscience. In this sharing, they seek to recognise together “what the Spirit is saying to the Churches” (Rev 2:7). As ecclesial discernment entails the contribution of everyone, it is both the condition and a privileged expression of synodality, in which communion, mission and participation are lived. The more everyone is heard, the richer the discernment. Therefore, it is essential that we promote the broadest participation possible in the discernment process, particularly involving those who are at the margins of the Christian community and society.”

  - §82, Final Document
  

  Questions for Reflection:

  • In the Pentecost light of the Church, how do you respond to the first sentence: "Ecclesial discernment is not an organisational technique but rather a spiritual practice grounded in a living faith"?  How does this change how we think about decision-making in the Church?

  • What work is needed for people to develop "interior freedom, humility, prayer, mutual trust, an openness to the new and a surrender to the will of God"?  How can we support this at different levels?

  • "It is essential that we promote the broadest participation possible in the discernment process, particularly involving those who are at the margins of the Christian community and society." 

  • This is challenging.  In week 3 of our online bookclub, Manila-based theologian Estela Padilla describes how one diocese in the Philippines paid a day's wages to manual labourers so that they could take part in discernment processes.  What do we need to do in our context to engage all the voices?

  This section of the document is particularly rich and practical in its description of discernment processes, including in 83, the place of Scripture, and in 84, laying out step by step how such processes can be best conducted. 

  These passages are worthy of close study for anyone involved in pastoral councils, finance committees, school governors, clerical consultation bodies or indeed any group seeking to discern God's will.

• REFLECTION FIVE

  Check back here next month for reflection five

Bishop Nicholas Hudson Synodality Interview

Bishop Nicholas Hudson, auxiliary bishop of Westminster and Synod delegate, was interviewed at our event 'From Rome to Home' by Avril Baigent, the Co-Director of the School for Synodality and a Synod facilitator. They discussed their shared experiences of the Synod in Rome, and what synodality might mean for our Catholic communities at home.

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Watch the interview in full below:

Explainer video - What is Synodality?

The School for Synodality has created this short animation video exploring the synodal way, explaining it not as a one-off listening exercise but rather as an invitation towards an ongoing call to conversion, reshaping how we attend to all things, guided by the working of the Holy Spirit. 

While the ancient practice of synodality can be found throughout Church history, where leaders of the Church gathered in a way to listen and discern together, what is different here is this invitation into the practice of synodality is for all the people of God. 

We are all invited to integrate this ancient practice at all levels of the Church - including local, diocesan, national and global - changing how we gather, how we listen, how we include, how we plan, how we discern, and how we move forward together as a people of God.  

When we build on this style of encounter, when we include different voices and open the space to all, to discern and dream together, we can we strengthen the bonds of love and enrich all aspects of Church life.  

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Conversation in the Spirit Resource Cards

School for Synodality’s Podcast

Exploring with guest speakers how to become a listening Church, and what the practice of Synodality looks like in our own communities.

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Series one - Practising Synodality

While the first Synod assembly of the 2021-24 Synod took place in Rome in October 2023 there was a renewed focus on the potential of Synodality in our Church. During this time the School for Synodality ran a series of eight webinars exploring becoming a listening Church with speakers from both England and Wales and from across the world that can help us explore what the practice of Synodality looks like in our own communities.

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Series Two - Reading the Final Synod Document Together

Coming soon!

Video resource: Reimagining Pastoral Councils Workshop

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Moving to a new form of Pastoral Council requires learning new skills and practices, particularly in listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another. This is not so easy in practice!

The School for Synodality held an online workshop on 23rd November 2024 for all those interested in our resource ‘Reimagining Pastoral Councils, a Starter Kit’ which you can download here. We explained the journey of a reimagined Pastoral Council, talked through the practicalities, and gave the chance for attendees to share with others their own hopes for re-imagined pastoral councils in a synodal style in their communities.

Watch our edited video fo the workshop below:

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Re-imagining Pastoral Councils: Briefing Paper

Download here

Practising Synodality Webinar Series

Leading Prayer in Meetings

Conversation in the Spirit