Towards the Synod for a Synodal Church, October 2024

Elizabeth Young rsm, 12 July 2024

I read through the new Instrumentum Laboris of the Second Session of the Synod 2021-2024 with an uplifted heart. It was not so much because of what was said, but the language used and the framing of the Agenda. The image of the eschatological feast, from the Prophet Isaiah, bookended the document, with a clear attention to the poor and marginalized, and equal participation in God’s saving mission.

After an introduction and explanation of the synodal process that is being used, the document highlighted several Foundations for subsequent discussion:

• The Church, People of God, sacrament of unity
• The shared meaning of synodality
• Unity as harmony in diversity
• Sisters and brothers in Christ: a renewed reciprocity
• Call to conversion and reform

This is followed by three larger Parts: Relations, Pathways and Places. There is an appreciation of all baptised people, their individual gifts, charisms and ministries, which should be authorised and exercised in a synodal co-responsible way. There is an acknowledgement of failures of the Church and societies to fully live right relationships, including appropriate transparency and accountability. And there is a call to re-examine and change ecclesial processes and structures in the light of today’s reality and its various contexts.

I found Part III to be especially encouraging for our focus on the diaconate for both men and women. The Pope’s role is to safeguard “a unity that can never become uniformity” #81 in the Church. Therefore, the document calls for greater “decentralisation of governance and pastoral planning” #96, whereby Episcopal Conferences are able to make decisions specific to their jurisdictions, “including genuine doctrinal authority” #96

The diaconate in itself is not treated on its own, for the most part. It is addressed within Part I: Relations, in the section on With ordained ministers: at the service of harmony. Those ordained to ministry are called to foster this synodal spirit in their service within a co-responsible Church. This includes relationships among themselves, between bishops, priests and deacons.  

“Bishops and priests are assisted by deacons in a bond of mutual interdependence of the two types of ministry for the implementation of the apostolic service. Bishops and presbyters are not self-sufficient with respect to deacons and vice versa. Since the functions of deacons are many – as tradition, liturgical prayer and post-Vatican II praxis show – they must be related to the particularity and specificity of each individual local Church. The service of each deacon must, in any case, be conceived in harmony and communion with that of all other deacons, in accordance with the nature of the diaconal ministry and within the framework of mission in a synodal Church.” #40

Finally, I will return to the Foundations section on Sisters and brothers in Christ: a renewed reciprocity. It was so refreshing to see the language of complementarity replaced – in the main – by the language of “interdependence and reciprocity” #14. While the section started with naming the difference between men and women, much more space was devoted to encouraging each person’s giftedness and potential to contribute to Christ’s mission.

In particular, three theological reference points were given as a “guide for discernment”:

1. “participation is rooted in the ecclesiological implications of Baptism;
2. we are a communion of baptized persons, called not to bury talents but to discern and call forth the gifts that the Spirit pours out on each for the good of the community and the world;
3. while respecting and acknowledging the diverse vocations and gifts of each, the gifts that the Spirit bestows on the faithful are ordered to each other in a complementary manner and the collaboration of all the baptised is to be practised as an act of co-responsibility.” #13

These points make fertile ground on which to base or further our discussion. Two more sentences are worth quoting in full:

“In this sense, the first change to be made is one of mentality: a conversion to a vision of relationality, interdependence and reciprocity between women and men, who are sisters and brothers in Christ, oriented to a common mission.” #14

“They also call for further exploration of ministerial and pastoral modalities that better express the charisms and gifts the Spirit pours out on women in response to the pastoral needs of our time.” #15

We keep this frame in mind as we engage in the longer discernment around women’s access to the diaconate. As the document continues,

“While some local Churches call for women to be admitted to the diaconal ministry, others reiterate their opposition. On this issue, which will not be the subject of the work of the Second Session, it is good that theological reflection should continue, on an appropriate timescale and in the appropriate ways. The fruits of Study Group 5 [Some theological and canonical matters regarding specific ministerial forms], which will take into consideration the results of the two Commissions that have dealt with the question in the past, will contribute to its maturation.” #17

This approach was already well known, but one more point was made in the introductory section: this study group “will complete [its] in-depth study by June 2025, if possible, but will offer a progress report to the Synod Assembly in October 2024” (page VI). So we wait in anticipation of the progress report and that the ‘appropriate’ time – the Kairos time – will be reached with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, in order to better participate in this synodal discernment, I feel extremely privileged to be invited to participate in the pilgrimage of Discerning Deacons to Rome for the opening week of the Synod’s October 2024 session.

Discerning Deacons is an organisation aimed at engaging Catholics in the active discernment about expanding women’s leadership roles in the Church, specifically restoring women to the diaconate. It was a key inspiration for the development of this blog and our own group, Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate, to promote the diaconate and dream about its potential for both men and women in our own country.  

The group of about 50 adults from across the globe will meet in Rome from October 1st through October 7th to pray, to connect, and to share good news of the Spirit’s work, particularly in the vocations of women in the Church. We will participate in the official opening of the Synod, offer a public St. Phoebe Prayer Service, facilitate a presentation on the diaconate, and meet with other global organisations who align with that mission.

I am humbled and excited to be preparing for this trip, with encouragement from both my religious and episcopal leadership. As I prepare to go, I would greatly appreciate your support.

Here are some ways that you might be able to support me and my fellow pilgrims:

• Financial support: The estimated cost for each participant is $3,000 (US), and we are pooling our funds to ensure every participant can make it to Rome. My plane ticket alone from Broken Hill costs over $3000 (Aus), and there are accommodation and food expenses. Would you please consider making a donation of to help us get there? Here’s the link to donate (note donations are in $US): https://discerningdeacons.org/donations/pilgrimage/ Please write “Rome Pilgrimage ‘24 Scholarship Fund” and my name (Elizabeth Young) in the comments so I will be alerted and can thank you for your donation.
• Your prayers: With less than 3 months to go until the trip, I ask that you pray for both the synodal process and for our pilgrim group as we prepare and travel. I would say straight away that I approach this time with a certain amount of fear, especially as I go to Rome from the Australian church, ACED, my religious order and my diocese. May the Spirit lead and guide us!
• Tune in live to our online St Phoebe Prayer Service from Rome on Friday October 4^th (registration details here).  
• Share the good news: If you know someone or an organisation that would be like to support the pilgrimage financially or in some other way, please share this with them or let me know.

Thank you so much for all of the kind words and gifts of support that I have already received. I will do my best to participate in this global discernment and pilgrimage, and will share updates as soon as I can.

God bless and Peace, Elizabeth