Three members of the Diocese of Northampton’s Pastoral Ministry Department have joined Catholics from across Europe for an important gathering looking at the future of the Church.
Avril Baigent, Canon Francis Higgins and Alex Sheldon-Bourke travelled to Austria to take part in Shaping Synodality in Europe, joining Bishop Nicholas Hudson for the four-day gathering at the Catholic Private University of Linz.
The symposium brings together bishops, priests, theologians and lay people from across Europe to reflect on what it means to be a synodal Church.
But what does that mean?
Quite simply, synodality is about walking together. It means listening to one another, listening to the Holy Spirit and recognising that everyone who is baptised has a part to play in the life and mission of the Church.
The Catholic Church has spent the past five years taking part in a worldwide Synod on Synodality. Millions of Catholics around the world have taken part in conversations about their experience of the Church, their hopes for the future and how we can better share the Gospel.
The worldwide process has now moved into a new phase: putting what has been learnt into practice.
That is why the gathering in Austria is particularly important. Participants are asking what synodality should look like in real life – in dioceses, parishes, schools and communities.
A journey we are already part of
The Diocese of Northampton has been part of this journey from the beginning.
Avril and Canon Francis have helped lead the diocese’s work on synodality, listening to people from across our parishes and communities and helping bring their experiences into the wider national and worldwide conversation.
Our diocese continues to explore how we can work together more closely and make better use of the gifts and experience of everyone within our Catholic community.
One example is our Pastoral Area Councils, which bring people together to consider the life and mission of the Church in their local area.
The work taking place in Austria therefore has a very practical connection with life here in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and northern Berkshire.
Why does it matter?
Synodality is not simply about having more meetings.
It is about creating a culture in which people are genuinely listened to, where different gifts are recognised and where priests, deacons, religious and lay people can work together in the mission of the Church.
For our parishes, that might mean asking some very simple questions:
- How can we welcome people who are new to our churches?
- How can we listen to people who feel on the margins?
- How can we encourage more people to use their gifts in the service of the Church?
- How can we help one another grow in faith?
- And how can we share the Good News of Jesus Christ more confidently with the people around us?
These are questions that matter whether we are sitting around a table at a European symposium or gathered for Sunday Mass in one of our parishes.
Bringing the experience home
Avril, Canon Francis and Alex will bring their experience of the symposium back to Northampton and continue the work of helping our diocese grow as a listening, welcoming and missionary Church.
The worldwide Synod may have taken place in Rome, but its future will be shaped much closer to home, in our parishes, schools, families and communities.
Synodality is ultimately about walking together as the people of God, listening to one another and seeking together to follow where the Holy Spirit is leading us.
And that is a journey in which every member of our diocesan family has a part to play.
