Journeying as One Stories, reflections and updates on our synodal journey. Accompanying one another in the life and mission of the Church.
Issue 4 October 2026
In this edition!
As we continue our journey as a synodal Church, this fourth edition of Journeying as One invites us to reflect on what it means to walk together as the People of God. In his latest theological reflection, Fr Biju explores the theme, “Walking Together as Pilgrim People of God,” reminding us that our journey of faith is not one we make alone. We are called to journey alongside one another, listening, learning and discerning together as we seek to follow where the Holy Spirit is leading us. This theme of walking together is also reflected in the Sharing our Journey section of this edition of the newsletter. This month we hear from the CCD team, who intentionally used the practice of Conversation in the Spirit to listen deeply to catechists as they undertake the development of the fourth edition of Walking With Jesus: Pathways of Discipleship. Their experience offers a practical example of what it can look like to listen together, discern together and recognise the wisdom and experience present among the People of God.
Patti Beattie
Head of Pastoral Discernment and Accompaniment, Broken Bay
Synodality through a theological lens Reflection by Rev Dr Biju Jose OSH
In this edition, Fr Biju explores: Walking Together: The Pilgrim People of God "The Lord went in front of them..." (Ex 13:21)
bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated women and men, and lay faithful are called to walk together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, discerning God's will and participating in Christ's saving mission. This vision invites the Church of Broken Bay to embrace a renewed way of living and serving as a Christ-centred and people-oriented community. This vocation is lived through a rich network of parishes, communities of faith, schools and social services. Each has its own responsibility and charism, yet all belong to one ecclesial communion and share one fundamental mission: to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. This calls us beyond individual ministries and isolated pastoral activities towards deeper communion, genuine collaboration, and shared responsibility. Like Israel journeying through the wilderness and the first Christian communities growing in faith, we are invited to trust God's faithful presence, accompany one another with patience and humility, and witness together as missionary disciples.
The Church is the Pilgrim People of God, called by the Father, gathered into communion through Christ, and continually guided by the Holy Spirit on her journey through history. From Israel's Exodus (Ex 13:14) to the disciples' encounter with the Risen Lord on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24: 13-35). Sacred Scripture reveals a God who faithfully accompanies His people. The Church, therefore, is not simply an institution or organisation but the People of God, the Body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit, a communion of believers journeying towards the fullness of Every pilgrimage begins with a renewed awareness of identity. God's Kingdom (Heb 13:14). Before the Church can listen, discern, deepen communion, foster participation, or be sent on mission, she must first recognise who The Greek word synodos, meaning "journeying together," she is: the Pilgrim People of God (1 Pet 2:11), constantly formed by expresses this fundamental ecclesial identity. Synodality is the Word of God (Logos people), nourished by the Eucharist not merely a pastoral programme or organisational method (Eucharistic people), and led by the Holy Spirit (Pneumatic but a constitutive dimension of the Church's life and mission. community). From this identity flows the synodal way of life. Yet no As the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary Assembly of the pilgrim people can remain faithful to its vocation without first Synod of Bishops reminds us, the whole People of God— learning to listen attentively to God and to one another.
“ “Synodality is the walking together of Christians with Christ and towards God’s kingdom, in union with all humanity.”
Final Document Paragraph 28
News and Updates Towards the Ecclesial Assemblies 2027–2028:
RR EE CC O OL LL LE EC CT T II N NG G
In the September edition of Journeying as One, we introduced the Recollecting stage of our journey towards the 2027–2028 Assemblies and the October 2028 Ecclesial Gathering in Rome. We reflected on how we might gather the fruits of our diocesan journey through three connected steps: a Narrative Report, a Diocesan Assembly, and a Letter to the Other Churches. The Narrative Report will gather the stories, experiences and learning from across our Diocese; the Assembly will provide a space to reflect on these fruits together; and the Letter will enable us to share something of our journey with the wider Church. As part of this Recollecting stage, we are now preparing for a Diocesan Assembly in the first half of 2027. The Narrative Report will be the starting point for our Assembly, providing a shared account of what we have heard, experienced and discerned across the Diocese. The Assembly will not simply seek to review the Report, but will invite us into mutual listening, an exchange of gifts and common prayer, creating the space for Spirit-led discernment about where we may be invited to journey next. At the Assembly, we will particularly reflect on three questions: What resonates most from the Narrative Report? Where are the gaps and possibilities? What might some practical next steps be? These questions invite us to listen for the threads that are emerging, notice what may not yet have been heard or addressed, and discern together where the Spirit may be inviting us to respond. The fruits of this discernment will contribute to the Letter to the Other Churches, which will become an expression of our diocesan experience and our contribution to the wider synodal journey. The Narrative Report and Letter will need to be submitted to the General Secretariat of the Synod by 30 June 2027, in keeping with the national and continental evaluation processes and timelines. This provides a helpful horizon for our Recollecting journey.
2024
The Final Document
What we gather and discern locally will contribute not only to our own diocesan journey, but also to the wider process of listening and discernment across the Church as we journey towards the October 2028 Ecclesial Gathering in Rome. During this Recollecting phase, we are invited to reflect on our own experience of the synodal journey within our parishes and communities. In particular, we might ask: How has the Final Document been received and implemented in our parish community? What processes have been initiated? What transformations are underway? What difficulties or challenges have emerged? What new perspectives are beginning to come into view? These questions are not intended as an assessment, but as an invitation to notice, share and learn from what is already unfolding among us. As we continue to recollect, we invite every parish community to consider these questions prayerfully and to share the stories that are emerging. What has been your experience of journeying as a synodal Church? What have you noticed, learned or discovered? Where have you seen signs of the Spirit at work? As we listen to these experiences and bring them together, we begin to recognise the gifts and fruits of our journey. Perhaps, at the heart of our reflection, we might hold one simple question in prayer:
How is God speaking to you about how we might continue to nurture a culture of being a synodal Church?
2025-26
2027
Implementation Phase
Local Diocesan and National Assemblies
2028
Continental Assembly and Celebration Ecclesial Assembly in the Vatican October 2028
Supports and Resources A Feast for All People. Another excellent resource for reflecting on the Final Document A Feast for All People, from the School for Synodality, is an excellent resource for communities seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of synodality. Drawing on the journey of the Synod from 2021 through to the two Assemblies in Rome, the resource invites small groups to explore the Final Document of the Synod and consider what it might mean for the life and mission of our communities today. With a foreword by Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe O.P., A Feast for All People explores five key passages from the Final Document, providing opportunities for prayer, reflection and conversation. Alongside engaging with the document itself, participants are introduced to practical synodal practices, including silence, listening and discernment, helping groups move beyond simply discussing ideas towards becoming communities that genuinely listen and discern together. At its heart, the resource reminds us that the Church’s table is open to all people. In a world that can feel increasingly divided and polarised, we are called to become people who build bridges, listen across differences and recognise Christ in unexpected places. A Feast for All People offers a practical and faith-filled way for communities to continue learning what it means to walk together, listen together and discern together, as we seek to nurture a more deeply synodal Church.
Practicalities of Conversation in the Spirit Conversation in the Spirit is more than a way of structuring a conversation; it is a spiritual practice that helps us to listen to one another and, together, listen for what the Holy Spirit may be saying. The School for Synodality has produced a helpful video exploring the practicalities of Conversation in the Spirit, offering simple guidance for those who are preparing to facilitate or participate in a conversation.
The video is a useful resource for parish teams, ministry groups and anyone wanting to become more familiar with and confident in this way of listening and discerning together. It complements our newly prepared Practice Guides: Conversation in the Spirit, the Role of the Table Facilitator and the Role of the Table Scribe and provides a practical introduction to creating a prayerful space where people can speak, listen deeply and discern together.
A Council by Another Name? The Synod on Synodality and What Comes Next, by Jesuit theologian Christoph Theobald, offers a thoughtful theological reflection on what the Synod on Synodality might mean for the future of the Church. Drawing on his experience as a participant in the Synod and his knowledge of the Second Vatican Council, Theobald explores synodality not simply as a process or programme, but as a constitutive dimension of the Church and a way of being Church in the world today. The book invites readers to look beyond the Synod itself and consider “what comes next”- how the experience of listening, discernment, participation and co-responsibility might continue to shape the life of the Church.
Sharing our journey Sharing Our Journey is a space to celebrate and learn from the many ways across our Diocese we are living out the call to be a synodal Church.
WHEN WE LISTEN,WE DISCERN TOGETHER A Synodal Reflection ~ CCD Broken Bay Kristy Komadina CCD Broken Bay Regional Coordinator, North Shore
Earlier this year, as part of the development of the fourth edition of Walking With Jesus: Pathways of Discipleship, the CCD team intentionally adopted the synodal practice of Conversation in the Spirit to listen deeply to those at the heart of our ministry. During the school holidays, catechists from across the Central Coast, Northern Beaches and North Shore deaneries gathered both in person and online to reflect on their experience of using the current curriculum. Rather than seeking quick feedback, we created a prayerful space where participants could listen attentively, speak honestly, and discern together what the Holy Spirit might be revealing for the future of Special Religious Education. The experience reminded us that genuine listening is itself a ministry. Our catechists demonstrated a deep love for the children they teach and a remarkable commitment to sharing the Gospel well. They offered thoughtful affirmation of what is already bearing fruit, alongside honest and constructive suggestions for growth.
Listening attentively, speaking honestly and discerning together!
An important next step has been inviting catechists to bring this same synodal approach into their classrooms. After receiving formation in the process, they have begun facilitating age-appropriate listening conversations with their students to hear directly how children are engaging with the curriculum. While this stage of the project will continue throughout the year, the early responses have already highlighted the value of creating space for young people to express their experience of learning about faith. This journey has given us great hope. We have been encouraged to discover that the curriculum is serving catechists and students well in many areas, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen it for the future. Most importantly, we have experienced firsthand that when we make space for prayerful listening, respectful dialogue and shared discernment, the Holy Spirit is truly at work among us. As we continue revising the curriculum, we do so with confidence. Not simply because we have gathered valuable feedback, but because we have sought to listen together as the People of God.
One catechist reflected, “It was wonderful to feel that our experiences in the classroom were genuinely valued and that our voices would help shape the future of the curriculum.” Another shared, “The listening process helped me hear ideas from other catechists that I hadn’t considered before. We weren’t just giving feedback. We were discerning together.”
Contact:
PDA@bbcatholic.org.au
Pastoral Discernment and Accompaniment