“Becoming a synodal Church on mission” will be the overarching theme of Adelaide Archdiocese’s Diocesan Synod in May and June 2026. Source: The Southern Cross.
Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Regan formally announced the convocation of the Synod late last month following consultation with the Bishop’s Council of Priests and the Diocesan Pastoral Council. The focus of the Synod will be to agree upon and build actions to guide pastoral strategy.
“Our recent participation in Diocesan Assemblies, Regional Assemblies, the Australian Plenary Council and the Synod of Bishops on Synodality in Rome provides a strong foundation from which to launch this Diocesan Synod,” Archbishop O’Regan said.
The five key themes to be discerned are: formation for mission and leadership; mission of Catholic Education and Being Church Together; structures and planning for communion, participation and mission; becoming missionary disciples; and Communion in grace-sacrament to the world.
Prior to the Synod, a liturgy of Convocation will be held next month on the Solemnity of Pentecost, Sunday, June 8, at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.
There will be opportunities in the next year for the faithful to engage with the themes, formation and prayer. A selection process for member delegates will begin next month.
In 2026, a preparation gathering for delegate members will take place on March 14, with the first full delegate day on May 30 and the second, and final, full delegate day on June 27.
Archbishop O’Regan has appointed a preparatory commission, chaired by Adelaide’s Vicar General Fr Dean Marin and supported by Sarah Moffatt and Peter Bierer as lead facilitators.
“The Diocesan Synod helps us journey further along the way as a diocesan community and pinpoint specific actions and ways forward in the many important areas we have been talking about,” Ms Moffatt said.
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2026 Diocesan Synod dates announced (By Richard Evans, The Southern Cross)
