One clear theme emerged from the Toowoomba Diocesan Synod: a sense that the Catholic community across the diocese is moving forward together.
Held on October 22-24, the three-day gathering at St Patrick’s Cathedral Centre Toowoomba brought together more than 100 people from across the diocese to pray, listen, reflect, and discern the future direction of the local Church.
The gathering marked a significant milestone in a process that has been in detailed planning for over 18 months and in the making for years.
The Synod Assembly formed the next stage in the diocese’s journey, moving from listening and discernment to decisions and directions.
Earlier this year, people from parishes, schools and communities across the diocese participated in listening sessions. They shared their experiences of Church life, the challenges they face and their hopes for the future. Those conversations and the data gathered in the process provided the foundation for the Synod Assembly discussions.
As the listening phase concluded, three working groups were called to each consider the strongest themes emerging from those conversations and discern where the Holy Spirit may be leading the local Church.
For members of the Synod Advisory Committee, reaching this point represented the culmination of countless hours of preparation, prayer and collaboration.
Committee member Fr Nathan Webb said the journey to the Synod Assembly was well worth the investment of time, prayer and heart.
“It was necessary now to have the faithful gather in assembly; it would have been impossible to glean such insight if we had not been in the room together sharing, changeling, and celebrating.”
Synod facilitator Sally Hood said the synodal process was “new to many of our people and as such has required a high degree of trust and vulnerability”.
“Witnessing the fruit of synodality unfold over these days has been evident – the sense of unity and a commitment to a common vision for mission feels tangible, and for this I am very grateful,” Ms Hood said.
Synod participants expressed a desire for deeper faith formation, renewed attention to young people and families, leadership that encourages participation and collaboration and a Church confident in its mission beyond its own walls.
For Toowoomba Bishop Ken Howell, one of the most encouraging aspects of the journey has been the willingness of people to engage with the process.
“I think it’s amazing, and the thing that’s inspired me so much is the fact that so many people are here and on-side with the process,” Bishop Howell said.
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Synod Journey Reaches a Milestone as Diocese Gathers (Toowoomba Diocese)
