Catholics across the Sydney Archdiocese are being called to take an active role in shaping the future of the Church through the upcoming Sydney Synod 2026. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
A new video featuring Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Meagher, and voices from diverse communities within the archdiocese, offers a clear and heartfelt invitation to participate in a process of spiritual renewal and practical transformation.
Sydney’s first diocesan synod in more than 80 years will be held from April 30 to May 3, and is the fruit of years of listening, discernment, and prayer.
It focuses on three profound and recurring longings from the faithful in Sydney: for more prayerful liturgies, more Christ-centred communities, and a more missionary Church.
The word “synod” comes from the ancient Greek word “synodos” which when translated, means “together on the way.”
The most common form of a synod is a diocesan synod which refers to a gathering of clergy, religious and laity to consider the specific needs of a diocese or archdiocese under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Archbishop Fisher, chair of the synod working party, hopes the Sydney Synod will inspire “positive, faithful and practical ideas” to meet the deep longings of the Catholic community.
Rather than starting from scratch, it aims to build on the vibrant faith already present across Sydney. “Our proposal is not to begin again,” Bishop Meagher says, “but to continue the journey by responding to the longings of our people.”
The Sydney Synod is part of a broader national and global journey. In response to the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia – which called on every diocese to hold a synod within five years – Sydney has undertaken a period of deep listening and reflection on the voices of its people.
Insights drawn from the Plenary Council, the universal Synod on Synodality, and the development of the archdiocese’s mission plan have revealed common hopes and challenges among the faithful. From this prayerful discernment, three Spirit-led longings have emerged, now guiding the Sydney Synod’s path forward.
All are encouraged to participate through prayer, submission of ideas, and regional gatherings. Three regional consultation sessions will be held in August and October, and online and paper submission options will also be available later this year.
Details: Sydney Synod 2026.
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Sydney Catholics invited to help shape the church’s future (The Catholic Weekly)
